The Summer 2024 Snapshot is a great way to get involved and take action in our community! Join Partners of Scott County Watersheds on Saturday, July 13th from 8am-12pm for a day of citizen science.
Volunteers will start the day off at Nahant Marsh Education Center for a brief overview about water quality and quick training on how to collect the data. During this time, you’ll be able to meet your data collection group while enjoying some coffee and donuts!
After training, you and your group of 3-4 people will take off to collect data from 5-7 sites around Scott County. This data will include pH, nitrogen, chloride, and phosphorus levels. During the Summer Snapshot, we also survey benthic macroinvertebrates (a.k.a. water bugs) in some streams. After collecting this information from each site, groups will meet back at Nahant Marsh for FREE pizza & T-shirts!
Benthic macroinvertebrates can provide information on the biological integrity of a stream. This year, we are excited to host a pre-Snapshot Macro ID Workshop to train volunteers on how to collect and identify these organisms. More information at https://xstreamcleanup.org/.
The data collected from our Snapshot goes to one of the largest water quality databases in Iowa. This data is then analyzed for patterns and trends to identify any areas of impairment. With this information, PSCW can take the next steps to continue to protect and improve the county’s water quality.
