Volunteers Needed for Texas Stream Team Water Quality Program

Published on February 06, 2023

Equipment near body of water for water quality testing

By Melissa Walker, Environmental Education Specialist

The City of Arlington’s Environmental Management Team is looking for volunteers who are interested in protecting Texas’ natural resources for its new Texas Stream Team Water Quality Citizen Science program. The City of Arlington has partnered with the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment’s Texas Stream Team Program which supports local volunteers who perform water quality sampling throughout the State of Texas.

The Texas Stream Team is a network of trained volunteers and supportive partners working together to understand and protect Texas waterways. Texas Stream Team is administered through a cooperative partnership between Texas State University, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hundreds of Texas Stream Team volunteers collect water quality data on waterways throughout Texas. Visit The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment for more information about Texas Stream Team.

The only qualification is an interest in protecting Texas’ natural resources!

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Volunteers complete three phases of training using a test kit that measures physical and chemical parameters in water.
  • Volunteers are asked to monitor their site(s) monthly at the same time of day each month, for a one-year commitment. Monitoring takes approximately one to two hours per month per site.
  • Participants of the Texas Stream Team Standard Core training must be at least 13 years of age. A guardian is required to be present with minors under 16 years of age. All minors that are participating in any Texas Stream Team event must provide a guardian signed waiver BEFORE the minor can participate.
  • Training space is limited, priority will be given to Arlington residents and committed monitors.

Volunteer Training

  • 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023
  • East Library and Recreation Center, 1817 New York Avenue, Arlington TX 76010
  • Sign up for Volunteer TST training event by visiting http://bttr.im/640u7.

Standard/Probe Core Water Quality Citizen Scientist Training – (6 hours plus travel time, max 8 hours)

Texas Stream Team Standard Core citizen scientists are certified by completing a three-phase training that measures the physical and chemical parameters of water mentioned above. Citizen scientists performing water quality are encouraged to monitor their site(s) monthly at the same time of day each month. Monitoring takes approximately one to two hours depending on the time spent traveling to the site.

Prerequisite: Online Pre-Training Course (30 mins to 1 hour)

Preparation:

  • Complete Pre-Training Course
  • Complete waivers (legal guardian must sign documentation for minor(s))
  • Wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors and wet environments
  • Water Bottle
  • Packed Lunch

If you have questions about the TST workshop, please contact us at environmental@arlingtontx.gov.

 

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