‘Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Training’ – Learn how to Monitor Small Streams and Watersheds
3 min read“Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Training”
Second in PASA Marcellus Shale Choices Workshop Series
Learn how to monitor small streams and their watersheds for early detection of the impacts from Marcellus Shale gas extraction
Smethport, PA. [June 13, 2011] The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) has received a grant from the Colcom Foundation to develop action-oriented tools and trainings throughout western Pennsylvania to help farmers, rural land owners, and other citizens make informed, integrated decisions, understand legal issues, and engage in environmental monitoring and local organizing efforts related to Marcellus Shale Gas issues within their communities. The second workshop in the series, “Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Training” will be offered in McKean County in partnership with McKean County Conservation District, with lunch provided by Seneca Chapter of Trout Unlimited, on Tuesday, July 12th from 9:00am-3:00pm at the 911 Center at 17175 Route 6 Smethport, PA 16749.
“Farmers and rural landowners are a key group impacted by the Marcellus Shale gas development, and we want to bring their voices into the debate and support them as they continue to steward their land in the complicated environment of Marcellus Shale gas play,” says PASA Member Services Manager Leah Smith.
Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Training
The second workshop in the Marcellus Shale Choices series, “Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Training” will be facilitated by staff of the Dickinson College Alliance of Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) and the Mountains Watershed Association. This training will focus on environmental monitoring. Participants will learn water quality monitoring protocols that have been developed for citizen projects with the goal of monitoring small streams and their watersheds for early detection of the impacts from Marcellus Shale gas extraction in the region.
Participants in this training will learn:
• The science of Marcellus Shale Gas
• The science of ALLARM’s Water Quality Monitoring Protocol
• How to choose monitoring locations
• How to get information on well sites
• Visual Assessment of Natural Gas Activities
• Chemical Water Quality Monitoring Protocol
Monitoring Equipment will be available for purchase from ALLARM during the workshop. The following equipment is available:
Water Quality Monitoring Kit: $120
• LaMotte Tracer PockeTester
• Calibration Solution
• Distilled Water Wash Bottle
• Sample Collection Bottles
Gage Stick: $5
• Wooden rod used to measure water depth
Tape Measure, 50 feet: $10
• Measures channel width
The workshop is FREE and open to the public, however, pre-registration is required. For more information about the workshop and to register online visit www.pasafarming.org/marcellusshalechoices. Also, register by contacting Heather McKean at the McKean County Conservation District at 814-887-4003 or hsmckean@mckeancountypa.org or Leah Smith at leah@pasafarming.org or 412-977-6514 with questions.
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About PASA
With nearly 6,000 members, the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) is one of the largest and most active sustainable agriculture organizations in the U.S. Through business support and regional marketing assistance for farmers, advocacy, and public education, PASA seeks to promote profitable farms that produce healthy food for all people while respecting the natural environment. PASA’s hallmark event, the Farming for the Future conference, draws thousands of participants from more than 30 states and six countries each February. For more information, visit www.pasafarming.org.
About Colcom Foundation
Colcom Foundation was created by the late Cordelia S. May. In southwestern Pennsylvania, the Foundation funds environmental projects addressing land conservation, watershed remediation, habitat protection, and air quality. In Pittsburgh, the Foundation supports programs enhancing the quality of life and community livability. Nationally, the Foundation addresses population issues. For more information, visit www.colcomfdn.org
