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19 people are interested
Baywatchers-Water Quality Monitors for 2019!
ORGANIZATION: Buzzards Bay Coalition
Please visit the new page to apply.
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19 people are interested
Baywatchers are people like you - local residents who love the water and want to do their part to protect it. These "citizen scientists" go out about one morning per week in summer to test key aspects of the water’s health. Baywatchers volunteer at over 200 monitoring stations in 30 major harbors, coves, and rivers across Buzzards Bay - an area covering more than one-quarter of the Massachusetts coast. Visit our Bay Health section to learn more about where Baywatchers test the water.
As part of volunteering, Baywatchers:
- Commit to monitoring at a designated location one morning per week from May to September.
- Attend a training to learn how to collect and test water samples.
- Follow instructions in the Baywatchers kit to ensure accurate measurements.
- Are comfortable working on docks, piers, beaches, and boat ramps at the water’s edge.
The purpose of the program is to:
- Establish baseline water quality in approximately 30 harbors and coves.
- Document long-term trends in water quality.
- Evaluate the success of clean-up efforts.
A program of this magnitude is unique to the Greater New Bedford area and it could not be accomplished without the dedication of volunteer citizens.
The Bay Health Index is the sum of five health indicators: nitrogen (organic and inorganic), dissolved oxygen, algal pigments, and water clarity. Data are combined and reported as a single score that provides a snapshot of a waterway’s health. (Note: The Bay Health Index does not include bacteria and is not an index of swimmability or shellfish bed status.)
The Baywatchers program is focused on nutrients and the effect that excessive nutrient quantities have on the health of the water. All Baywatchers attend a spring training session to learn the proper sampling techniques and receive a training manual, sampling kit, and learn the necessary sampling procedures/protocols. Once properly trained the Baywatcher will then monitor their site once a week between 6:00-9:00 A.M. from May through September. Four times during the sampling season the Baywatcher will also collect water samples that will be analyzed in a Marine Biological Ecosystems laboratory for nutrient concentrations.
More opportunities with Buzzards Bay Coalition
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Buzzards Bay Coalition
Location:
114 Front Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, US
Mission Statement
The Buzzards Bay Coalition is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to the restoration, protection and sustainable use and enjoyment of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. The Coalition works to improve the health of the Bay ecosystem for all through education, conservation, research and advocacy.
Description
Founded in 1987, The Coalition is supported by more than 8,000 individuals, families, and businesses. Active programs at The Coalition for Buzzards Bay...
- Involve volunteers bay-wide - from Westport to Woods Hole - in the collection and analysis of Bay water quality in 30 major coves and harbors along Buzzards Bay's shores. The Coalition for Buzzards Bay Baywatchers are providing the scientific data needed to fix problems where they exist and protect areas not yet harmed by human activities.
- Engage thousands of children in the classroom, on the Bay, and in the watershed with a sense of wonder and respect for our fragile coastal environment through our year-round Educational Programs.
- Protect the most important lands for conservation in the Buzzards Bay watershed. The Bay Lands Center focuses on enhancing the land acquisition capabilities of each of the Bay area land trusts and increasing the amount of protected shoreline, forestlands, and critical habitats in the Bay area.
- Work with town officials, business leaders, legislators and citizen groups to clean up the Bay's problem spots and serve as effective advocates for open space protection, coastal habitat restoration, and Bay-sensitive redevelopment.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
This is a Virtual Opportunity with no fixed address.
DATE POSTED
October 25, 2018
SKILLS
- Environmental Education
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Science
GOOD FOR
- Teens
- People 55+
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be at least 16
- Orientation or Training
- 1 - 2 hours per week