ATC Needs Volunteers for World Water Monitoring Day 2008

(August 6, 2008)-As part of the Appalachian Trail MEGA-Transect Initiative, ATC is participating in World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) on the A.T. again in 2008.  A month long event held annually between September 18 and October 18, WWMD is an international outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world.

The Appalachian Trail runs through many important watersheds. An analysis of long-term water quality trends will help improve and sustain the water resources of the A.T. by providing valuable information to land managers. Water samples collected by volunteers participating in WWMD help develop a Trail-wide snapshot of the status of water resources and raise awareness of the significant freshwater resources that occur along the Trail. Last year, almost 900 volunteers sampled water sources along the length of the A.T.; we hope to build on those results in 2008. 

Who Can Volunteer?

Adults, supervised youth groups (classes, clubs, scouts, etc.) and families are encouraged to participate in this program. No special skills are required. Volunteers must be able to hike to a water testing site and follow simple instructions.

To register, go to www.worldwatermonitoringday.org, click on “Participate” and fill out a simple online form.  Be sure to identify yourself as an Appalachian Trail Conservancy volunteer when asked for your group affiliation. 

If you participated in WWMD last year, you will not need to register a second time – click on “Participate” to login and access your profile and site data. 

If you are NOT a member of a Trail Club, you must sign a consent form; this form will ensure that you receive medical coverage if injured on the Appalachian Trail while participating in WWMD.  To receive the appropriate consent form, e-mail waterquality@appalachiantrail.org and identify if you are volunteering as an individual or leading a group.

If you are a member of an ATC Trail Club, follow your club’s usual policies.

Necessary Equipment

Water sampling equipment is available through www.worldwatermonitoringday.org. There is a nominal cost of $20.20 which includes shipping and handling. The kits will provide supplies to conduct 50 water samples, and can be shared by groups of volunteers. You may also use your own equipment.

Locating and Registering a Water Source to Sample

When planning your outing, start with your A.T. map. Most good maps identify water sources. If you have a hand-held GPS unit, ATC managers have identified these sites (PDF) of known springs, seeps, streams, and rivers along the Trail that we are interested in monitoring.

When you choose a site, you must register it on www.worldwatermonitoringday.org, after you login, click on “Add a Site” and enter this information about your site:

Water body Name: (e.g. Blackwell Creek)
Water body Type: (Choose from a drop down menu.)
Site name: Enter “Appalachian Trail”
Monitoring site description: (Enter a detailed description of your site.)
Site Country:
Site State:
Site City: (Enter the city or town closest to your site.)
Latitude/Longitude: (If you don’t know the latitude and longitude of your site, you can use the interactive map on the WWMD website; latitude and longitude will be automatically entered once you click on the map to choose a site.)

Volunteers will generally hike along the A.T. to a waterway, so be sure to prepare for a half day or full day of hiking. See Hike the Trail for more details on how to prepare for a hike.  Maps and guidebooks include emergency numbers. Information on how to get help in an emergency is found in the Health and Safety section.  You should also review the water sampling safety tips provided by WWMD. Please report any incidents or problems you encounter to us upon your return.

Entering Water Sampling Data in the WWMD Database

When you return from the field, login to your account on www.worldwatermonitoringday.org and enter the data you collected and the total number of participants in your group on the World Water Monitoring Day Web site.  You must enter your data by December 18, 2008.  Then e-mail ATC the number of hours you spent volunteering (include hiking time) and traveling to your site.

For additional assistance send e-mails to: waterquality@appalachiantrail.org.

Corporate and Foundation Support

ATC participates in WWMD thanks to the generosity of REI and the Quimby Family Foundation.

Quimby Family Foundation