Accessing Community-Based Information Sources for Improving Surface Water Quality

Accessing Community-Based Information Sources for Improving Surface Water Quality

Summary

The project’s primary goals were to:
1) expose the participants to the concept of biological macro-indicator species, to the uses and limitations of biological macro-indicators in assessing surface water quality, and give them practical hands-on field experience in identification of biological macro-indicators and surface water quality assessment;

2) familiarize the participants to concepts related to surface water quality on a watershed basis and demonstrate downstream impacts by providing the opportunity for them to participate in hands-on water quality assessment exercises;

3) introduce the participants to a range of community-based resources outside the infrastructure of their respective agencies; and

4) help participants understand the basic tools used for on-site water quality analysis and develop a portable kit of sampling tools to be used when assisting clients.

The project consisted of two half-day training sessions, two half-day field sessions, post training individual site and phone consultations, program evaluations through both phone and site participant interviews, and a written survey. In March 1996, letters were sent to 22 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, and Soil Conservation District (SCD) staff members. A total of 16 individuals agreed to participate in the project. The agency background of the participants was six NRCS, six MSU Extension, and four SCD staff members. The individuals ranged in tenure in their positions from eight months to 33 years. A total of 13 participants completed all four half-day training sessions.

The first half-day training session was a classroom session conducted in June 1996. The session presented basic concepts of stream ecology and the use of macro-invertebrates a indicator species as indicators of relative water quality. The training was held at the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (WRI) on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and was conducted by WRI staff members. There were 14 individuals who took part in the classroom training held at WRI.

The second half-day session was a field session also held in June 1996. The purpose of this session was to practice the concepts introduced in the previous session and to introduce participants to the water quality tool kit. Staff members from WRI facilitated the field session. The training was held at a small stream in northeastern Kent County. Participants received additional instruction on stream ecology and macro-invertebrates, as well as stream sampling techniques. They also received a basic water quality sampling kit containing a 5-quart plastic bucket with the bottom removed and replaced with a 1/4-inch rigid metal mesh screen and a fine flexible nylon screen. In addition, each participant received a stream thermometer and forceps. Participants then conducted a basic stream inventory and assessment, including the measurement of physical attributes such as temperature, estimated flow rate and volume, and structure and bottom condition. Macro-invertebrates were collected and identified. Participants were then asked to make a water quality assessment and to comment on management practices they would recommend to land managers to improve the stream water quality. Fifteen participants took part in this session.

The third half-day session was held in August 1996 aboard GVSU’s research vessel G. Jackson. The participants received a briefing on water and sediment sampling techniques and collected samples from two locations in Muskegon Lake. An attempt was also made to collect samples from within the plume of the Muskegon River in Lake Michigan; however, weather conditions prevented successful sampling in Lake Michigan. These tests were similar to the tests conducted at the stream sampling field training so the participants could draw parallels during the debriefing. Participants conducted tests to evaluate physical characteristics including turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and surface and depth temperature. Water and sediment samples were collected and the macro invertebrate populations were identified and evaluated. The staff of the G. Jackson facilitated a discussion on the water quality at the terminus of a watershed versus water quality at smaller streams within the watershed, and the impact of various management practices on downstream water quality. All 16 participants took part in this activity.

The final half-day training session was also held in August 1996 at the offices of the Muskegon County Soil and Water Conservation District. Project Manager Rich Bowman and Michigan NRCS sustainable agriculture training coordinator Larry Dyer conducted this classroom session. During the session, participants viewed a videotape on sustainable agriculture produced by Wisconsin Public Television and reviewed materials on water quality and related management practices from other states in the North Central region, including computer software. Participants were able to make copies of the materials relevant to their program activities. Eleven participants took part in this session.

Following the formal training program, individual interviews with 14 of the 16 project participants were conducted. Two of the interviews were not conducted because participants had left their positions with their respective agencies. Eight of the interviews were conducted in person during site visits and six were conducted by telephone. The interviews were conducted during July and August of 1997. A follow up written mail survey was conducted during April and May of 1998.

North Central Region SARE 1998 Annual Report.

Collaborators: