Volunteer

Volunteer Monitoring ​

Help us monitor the health of a local stream! There are approximately 3,000 miles of streams and 100,000 storm drains in Mecklenburg County. We have an extensive surface water quality monitoring program, but we need your help monitoring this vast network of streams and storm drains. Participating in the Volunteer Monitoring is easy… just go look at a stream! 
 
Streamside Snapshot 
Have you seen our signs along some of the greenways?  We are asking for you to send us a picture of what you are seeing in the stream with a 😊 if you think the stream looks good, or a ☹ if you see any sign of pollution.  We also ask if you see a threat to water quality (ex: oil sheen, gas odor, colored water, etc.) that you please call 3-1-1 to report the issue.  Don’t want to send us a text? Just fill out the​Streamside Snapshot Form.

Streamside Visual Assessment
If you like our Streamside Snapshot program but want to get a little more involved, you can join our Streamside Visual Assessment program.  Volunteers will participate in an “Introduction to Volunteer Monitoring: Streamside Visual Assessment Workshop”. This workshop will introduce participants to surface water quality and how to visually identify pollution issues within our streams. Once volunteers have attended the training they can choose from a list of possible stream locations that need attention. Volunteers should provide monitoring data to us as soon as they collect it so we can quickly follow up on any issues found. Just fill out the ​Streamside V​isual​ Assessment Form.

Streamside Chemical Monitoring 
Some groups may like something a bit more involved.  We also offer training on how to use our monitoring kits to take samples of the stream and report back information on the pH,  turbidity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen.  If you are interested in this training, please email Ken Friday for more information. Volunteers should provide monitoring data to us as soon as they collect it so we can quickly follow up on any issues found. Just fill out theStreamside Chem​ic​al Monitoring. 
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Our next Streamside Snapshot workshop will be held on Saturday, March 23, 9:00am-12:00pm at 2145 Suttle Avenue, Charlotte, NC. Register for this workshop.
 
Visit our VOLUNTEER EVENTS page for upcoming workshops.
 
Questions?
 
Ken Friday 
Kenneth.Friday@MeckNC.gov
Mecklenburg County Environmental Specialist
704-280-2926