Sunday, May 22, 2016
10:30 - 12:00

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10:30 - 10:45: / 304-305 BEYOND LEVERAGING RESOURCES: CITIZEN SCIENCE OFFERS REAL SCIENCE AND REAL DATA TO ADDRESS AND SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS

5/22/2016  |   10:30 - 10:45   |  304-305

BEYOND LEVERAGING RESOURCES: CITIZEN SCIENCE OFFERS REAL SCIENCE AND REAL DATA TO ADDRESS AND SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS As California and the western US continue to face declining freshwater availability and explore issues of freshwater depletion, the consequences for freshwater ecosystems, and potential solutions will rely on not just sound science, but sound policy and an active and engaged populace. For many decades, citizen science has been engaging people with real science, real problems and offering real solutions for watershed stewardship issues. The need for innovative and collaborative science engagement with communities offers more than leveraged resources and stewardship. It brings informed and caring people to help solve today problems and prevent tomorrows dilemmas.

Erick Burres (Primary Presenter/Author), California SWRCB - Clean Water Team, eburres@waterboards.ca.gov;


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10:45 - 11:00: / 304-305 CONNECTING WITH OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT: CITIZEN SCIENCE IN ACTION

5/22/2016  |   10:45 - 11:00   |  304-305

CONNECTING WITH OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT: CITIZEN SCIENCE IN ACTION Citizen science, the practice of involving the public in scientific research, is undergoing a period of rapid growth. Sierra Streams Institute has practiced citizen science and trained hundreds of local community members to produce sharable, quality-assured data for over 15 years. SSI has created a community of “citizen scientists” who understand the value of local stewardship, monitoring and data collection and its contribution to a larger body of knowledge. Citizens and students working on our projects engage in rigorous scientific study in our local watersheds. Some of our citizen-based projects include: a phenology project using selected plant specimen data along a public trail to highlight the observable impacts of climate change; restoration and monitoring data collection including native vegetation surveys and planting, frog, bird and mammal surveys; E.coli health studies; water quality monitoring; the development of a field guide to local plants; and sampling and analyzing the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates to use as a stream health indicator. Our citizen science projects align with SSI’s overall vision, that effective environmental stewardship demands the engagement of people where they live.

Joanne Hild (Primary Presenter/Author), Sierra Streams Institute, joanne@sierrastreams.org;


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11:00 - 11:15: / 304-305 CITIZEN WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THE EEL RIVER WATERSHED 2012-2015

5/22/2016  |   11:00 - 11:15   |  304-305

CITIZEN WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THE EEL RIVER WATERSHED 2012-2015 The Eel River Recovery Project (ERRP) formed in 2011 to support citizen monitoring and assist community organizing for recovery of the Eel River ecosystem. Monitoring has included water temperature, flow and cyanobacteria. Since 2012, ERRP has acquired grants and built partnerships with other community groups, academic institutions, private entities, agencies and Indian Tribes to acquire needed information. Data are used to test hypotheses based on community concerns. For example, citizens felt that tributary and river flow were diminishing and water temperature increasing due to expanding cannabis farming after the passage of Proposition 215 in 1995. A grant from the State Water Resources Control Board in 2015 allowed comprehensive analysis of temperature trends that partially confirmed this hypothesis. ERRP has actively supported University of California Berkeley annual basinwide cyanobacteria studies since 2013. The hypothesis being tested in the latter case is that diminishment of flow and increased nutrients have pushed the Eel River ecosystem past a tipping point where it is dominated by sometimes toxic cyanobacteria instead of beneficial green algae species. More information at www.eelriverrecovery.org.

Patrick Higgins (Primary Presenter/Author), Eel River Recovery Project, phiggins@humboldt1.com;


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11:15 - 11:30: / 304-305 SCORE THE SHORE: DEVELOPMENT OF A SHORELINE HABITAT ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL FOR A VOLUNTEER LAKE MONITORING PROGRAM

5/22/2016  |   11:15 - 11:30   |  304-305

SCORE THE SHORE: DEVELOPMENT OF A SHORELINE HABITAT ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL FOR A VOLUNTEER LAKE MONITORING PROGRAM Lake shorelines provide critical habitat for innumerable species. An intact shoreline zone is also essential for slowing runoff, limiting erosion, and maintaining lake water quality. However, lake shorelines are threatened by human alterations. Residential and commercial development along lakeshores can lead to dramatic alterations of shoreline vegetation; habitat is lost, and water quality and biodiversity decline. Therefore, Michigan’s volunteer lake monitoring program has developed a new protocol, Score the Shore, that enables volunteers to assess and monitor the quality of their lake’s shoreline habitat. We began protocol development by researching existing shoreline habitat assessment techniques, and by gathering volunteer input on the feasibility and value of various approaches. We then developed a draft protocol for review and field testing with small teams of volunteers. The protocol was launched as a pilot during the 2015 field season, and became a permanent component of Michigan’s volunteer lake monitoring program in 2016. Data from these assessments will allow lake communities to identify high-quality shoreline areas for protection and opportunities for improvement and property owner education.

Jo A. Latimore (Primary Presenter/Author), Michigan State University, latimor1@msu.edu;


Paul J. Steen ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Huron River Watershed Council, psteen@hrwc.org;


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11:30 - 11:45: / 304-305 IMPROVING COMMUNITY AWARENESS FOR DETROIT RIVER FISH CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES

5/22/2016  |   11:30 - 11:45   |  304-305

IMPROVING COMMUNITY AWARENESS FOR DETROIT RIVER FISH CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES The Detroit River is an important source of recreation and food for residents of the Detroit area. Due to the historical chemical contamination of the river, some fish species have high contaminant levels creating a potential health risk for people consuming those species. The objective of this study is to determine whether education to inform anglers about fish consumption guidelines are successful. Educational efforts included posted signs at fishing spots, conversations between trained educators (Riverwalkers) and anglers, and distribution of brochures outlining fish consumption guidelines. Shoreline anglers were surveyed in 2013 (N=200) and 2015 (N=231) to gauge awareness of potential health hazards and consumption limits, and assess change in knowledge. In 2015, anglers in the lowest income (p<0.01) and educational levels (p<0.01) were least aware of published State fish consumption guidelines. In 2013, there was increased awareness for those 40 and older (p=0.04). All anglers reached by the Riverwalkers in 2013 stated they gained useful information about the guidelines. Overall, results indicate efforts are effective for increasing awareness of fish consumption guidelines.

Ali Shakoor (Primary Presenter/Author), Wayne State University, ali.shakoor@wayne.edu;


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11:45 - 12:00: / 304-305 A UNIQUE ROLE FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE IN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

5/22/2016  |   11:45 - 12:00   |  304-305

A UNIQUE ROLE FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE IN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION Citizen-based groups have a unique opportunity to contribute to both the science and practice of ecological restoration. As environmental managers plan and implement restoration projects, citizen science programs can play an important role in documenting the ecological benefits of these projects while also increasing stewardship and awareness of these important environmental restoration efforts. In this talk, we describe a partnership between scientists, high school students and a municipal agency to monitor a stream restoration project. We also present 6 years of invertebrate data collected by students to document the impact of an in-stream engineering project to increase the habitat complexitiy and ecological function of a small stream in western Oregon. The data show a clear response of the invertebrate community to the restoration activity and subsequent return to a post-restoration equilibrium that may indicate improved function of the stream reach. The partnership described here can serve as a model for other ecological restoration projects and the results of this study support the use of citizens to collect much-needed biomonitoring data to document the impact of restoration projects on ecological function.

Patrick Edwards (POC,Primary Presenter), Portland State University, patrick.edwards@pdx.edu;


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