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Great Works Regional Watershed Coalition was created by and is driven by community volunteers. It's a great opportunity to get outside, learn about local water quality, gain experience and skills in water sampling, and meet neighbors who care about the Great Works River.
  We welcome new volunteers. See the options below. If you can think of some other skill you would like to contribute, let us know.

Field Sampler: Collect water samplers and data, 1-2 hours every other Saturday morning (before 10 AM), from May - Sept.

Lab Technician: Analyze water samples and record results, 2-3 hours every other Saturday (10:00 - 1:00), from May - Sept.

Outreach and Publicity: Educate the public about the health of the watershed, based on GWRWC sampling results, recruit new volunteers and contributions. Approximately 2-3 hours per month.

Data Technician: Record, analyze and graph water quality data. 2 hours every other week from May - Nov.

Full descriptions below

 

 
Field Sampler
Purpose: Field samplers are the foundation of the Great Works River Watershed Coalition (GWRWC). Most of the future efforts of the coalition will be based upon the data derived from field samples. In order for the data to be useful, it must be reliable. Reliable data begins with samples, properly collected, in a timely manner, by dedicated and responsible field samplers.

Responsibilities:
- Collecting water samplers and data at the specified location(s) and the specified times.
- Accurate documentation of samples and data as they are collected.
- Submission of samples and data to the laboratory coordinator.

Qualifications:
- Specific training in proper sample collection techniques. (Provided by GWRWC)
- Ability to reach specified sites at the specified times.
- Willingness to make the commitment to collect samples regardless of external pressures (i.e. weather, social commitments etc.)

Time Commitment:
Approximately 1-2 hours every other Saturday morning (before 10 AM), from May - Sept.

Sites:
Specific sites for field sampling will be determined so that the needs of the GWRWC are met and the commuting time of the samplers is minimized.
 


Laboratory Technician
Purpose:
Laboratory Technicians analyze the samples collected by the field samplers. Through various analytical methods, water quality (WQ) parameters are measured and recorded in a laboratory setting. This effort is crucial for collecting the data required by the Great Works River Watershed Coalition (GWRWC) for planning future efforts, and preserving and remediating the water quality throughout the watershed.

Responsibilities:
- Accurate measurement of WQ parameters.
- Accurate recording of the measured parameters for each site.
- Submission of measurements to the data coordinator

Qualifications:
- Specific training in analytical methods for evaluation of WQ parameters. (Provided by GWRWC)
- Ability to travel to the central laboratory location.
- Willingness to make the commitment to analyze samples when required.

Time Commitment:
Approximately 2-3 hours every other Saturday (10:00 - 1:00), from May - Sept.

Sites:
A central lab location as yet undetermined.

 


Outreach/Publicity
Purpose:
Outreach and Publicity volunteers will assist the Board in one of the key missions of the Great Works River Watershed Coalition (GWRWC). That mission is the education of the general public. In particular, education encompasses the mission of the GWRWC, the overall health of the watershed, and what individuals can do to improve and preserve the water quality of the watershed. In addition, outreach and publicity volunteers will help to solicit additional volunteers and monetary contributions to support the efforts of the GWRWC.

Responsibilities:
- Finding events and organizations that can be used to spread the mission of the GWRWC.
- Assist in staffing the GWRWC booth at various events in and around the watershed.
- Soliciting organizations and individuals for support (time and money) of the GWRWC.

Qualifications:
- Ability to engage people in conversation about the mission of the GWRWC and the benefits of participation.
- Ability to travel to various events at which the GWRWC participates.
- Willingness to make the time commitment required.

Time Commitment:
Approximately 2-3 hours per month.

Sites:
Various sites in and around the watershed

 


 

 

 


Data Technician
Purpose
:
Data Technicians record and manipulate data collected from the field sites and laboratory. This data is central to efforts of the Great Works River Watershed Coalition and will be used to evaluate the overall health of the watershed and as a guide for locating sources of poor water quality. In order for the data to provide this information it must be organized and displayed into forms (graphs) in which trends over time and geography may be observed.

Responsibilities:
- Accurate entry of data from field sites and the lab into a central database.
- Reduction of the data into useful forms.

Qualifications:
- General computer skills and spreadsheet (Excel) skills in particular. (some training available)
- Ability to travel to the central database location.
- Willingness to make the time commitment required.

Time Commitment:
Approximately 2 hours every other week from May - Nov. Specific times can be tailored to suit individual needs.

Sites:
A central database location as yet undetermined.