Learn to be a Water Quality Monitor to protect the Willamette River!

In 2008, Willamette Riverkeeper will be having yearly trainings for Water Quality Monitors earlier than usual.  Trainings will be held in the evenings.  Details of the trainings are posted online. 

Dates / cities for the trainings are:

Thu., Jan. 31 -- Eugene

Wed., Feb. 6 -- Wilsonville

Thu., Feb. 21 -- Corvallis

Wed., Mar. 5 -- Salem

Wed., Mar. 12 -- Portland

Willamette Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Monitoring program was implemented in 2001 with the intent to provide an independent water quality monitoring program and database for the Willamette River. This database can be used by Willamette Riverkeeper to monitor the effects of restoration projects, make management decisions, and highlight areas for future investigation. WRK’s data is also submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality (the generous suppliers of WQM equipment) to bolster the DEQ database.

A good portion of WRK’s water quality data comes from sampling by volunteer Water Quality Monitors. These volunteers test water quality at their designated site once a month for turbidity, conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sometimes E.coli concentration and pH. WRK staff tests a number of sites in the Lower Willamette from the WRK jetboat.

WRK currently monitors water quality at 15 sites in the Lower Willamette and is actively seeking more participants and sites. Eventually we would like to expand this program all the way to Eugene. In addition to monthly WQM data, focused projects can be developed to test a single area or factor will answer specific water quality questions.