SC Adopt a Stream activating the public to monitor water quality
June 6, 2019
The SC Adopt-a-Stream program has been transforming the public into certified volunteers all across the state of South Carolina for a common goal- improving water quality. There has been a recent surge of people monitoring in Greenville due to workshops hosted by Friends of the Reedy River and a team of employees from the City of Greenville’s Parks & Recreation Department and the Greenville Zoo.
While out on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, individuals may be seeing an increasing number of volunteers in the Reedy River. These are certified SC Adopt-a-Stream volunteers, and they are monitoring water quality through two different methods- the physical and bacteria methods and the macroinvertebrate method. By measuring the physical and chemical parameters, volunteers are obtaining data on current health of the river reach, available dissolved oxygen for fish, pH, and E. coli, measuring associated bacteria in waters. The macroinvertebrate method consists of collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates that call the Reedy River their home. Macroinvertebrates have different sensitivity levels to pollution and are good indicators to the site’s overall health.
The program has seen a great increase in the number of Greenvillians getting their feet wet and monitoring our hometown river. The City of Greenville, in partnership with Friends of the Reedy River, has been hosting SC Adopt-a-Stream workshops at the Greenville Zoo with access to the newly restored Richland Creek.
“The Greenville Zoo is proud to be a partner in hosting the Adopt-a-Stream workshops as it is a natural correlation to the Zoo’s mission, such as valuing conservation by protecting natural habitats locally,” says Lynn Watkins, Education Curator at the Greenville Zoo. “Everyday people, who are not trained scientists, can contribute to science and be directly involved in monitoring in their local watershed.”
These workshops are a one-day, free event that is open to the public. No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to learn and get involved in your watershed. Individuals can see more information and register for an upcoming workshop at www.scadoptastream.org.
Friends of the Reedy River supports SC Adopt-a-Stream as a way to activate the public and build greater awareness of the connection between land use change and stream health. The program is led by SC DHEC and Clemson University’s Center for Watershed Excellence and has EPA accreditation. Volunteer data is entered into a secure database with accessible data for the public, local stormwater departments, and more; data can be seen as a screening tool for further local action and evaluation. A monitoring team of certified volunteers is being developed by Friends of the Reedy River, and more information can be found by signing up for their newsletter.
The contribution of volunteers can have an especially big local impact right now, given the number of river projects underway. Volunteers have the opportunity to evaluate and collect data on improved habitat and water quality in relation to these major river projects. Paul Dow, Assistant City Engineer – Environmental for the City of Greenville states, “Stream monitoring provides a way to characterize and compare water quality across the city’s watersheds. This helps to target areas for improvement and also observe the performance of stream restoration and other water quality projects.”
Friends of the Reedy River is a 501(c)3 organization that advocates for the health of the Reedy River and works with area residents, businesses, and more to get involved in connecting with our local ecosystem. More information about the organization can be found at www.friendsofthereedyriver.org and our social media sites on Facebook and Instagram.
