MDC plans Volunteer Water Quality Monitor training in Moberly March 23

MOBERLY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) works to sustain healthy forests, fish, and wildlife and relies on citizen science, private landowners, and community engagement to further these efforts. That’s the idea behind Missouri’s Stream Teams, and the Volunteer Water Quality Monitor program.

“Clean, safe, usable water is essential to all life,” said MDC Stream Team Coordination Biologist Amy Meier. “Protecting the health of our streams and watersheds takes a collaborative network of dedicated, educated citizens all working together to understand and raise awareness about water issues, prevent water pollution, and improve health.”

The Stream Team Program, sponsored by MDC, the Missouri Department of Natural Resoureces (DNR), and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, offers workshops across the state each year to train volunteers on how to help collect and develop baseline data on streams throughout Missouri. This data is used to establish long-term trends and locate streams in need of professional follow-up monitoring by DNR.

The Stream Team Program will offer a volunteer water quality monitoring introductory workshop Saturday, March 23, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Municipal Building Conference Center, 204 N. Clark St. in Moberly.

This training is free and open to all ages, though attendees younger than 18-years old must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited and preregistration is required by March 13. To register for this training, visit mostreamteam.org. For questions or more information about this training, contact Molly Vannoy at (573) 526-1156, or email streamteam@dnr.mo.gov