Abstract:
As the 2025 monitoring season approaches, the WatR Team at NORDIK Institute is seeking Sault Ste. Marie water enthusiasts to join our team! As a WatR volunteer, you will have the support of a network of like-minded community members as you learn more about water quality statuses, challenges (e.g., microplastics) and solutions in our region. By volunteering your time, you will contribute to collecting much-needed data to support Great Lakes’ decision-making and ensure a healthier and more resilient community by becoming a voice for our local waters.
Join one or more of our free, no-obligation training sessions to learn more! We currently have three topics to choose from: an introduction about our team’s water quality monitoring activities, how to conduct broader stream assessments, and how to survey for microplastics in and around our waterways. While we hope you will volunteer with us at any of our 25 sites across the city, there is no requirement to do so; we are proud to offer these sessions to all community members who want to learn more about local waters. See details of upcoming sessions below.
Event Details:
1. Water Quality Monitoring Training (two upcoming sessions, same content in both) February 12, from 3-4:30pm3pm in NW 201.
Description: This training is for any community members who want information about our team’s water quality monitoring activities. Learn how to use the Water Rangers Freshwater Explorer Test kit. Learn why monitoring is important, why we need data in the northern Great Lakes, and what we can do with this important data we are collecting. Become a citizen scientist! This session is mandatory for those who wish to be water quality monitoring volunteers. Register here.
2. Microplastics Exploration in the Northern Great Lakes (two upcoming sessions, same content in both) January 22 and February 19, from 3-4:30pm in NW 201
Description: Join us to explore how microplastics could impact freshwater quality and the health of those who live in and around waterways. We will discuss how we can reduce microplastics in our waters and environment. This is an active session where participants will identify and analyze microplastic samples using the Saturna Imaging System by Ocean Diagnostics. We are the first organization across the Great Lakes to make use of this new, state-of-the-art tool, and you can be among the first to use it! Register here.
3. Introductory Stream Assessment Workshop (one upcoming session) February 5, from 3-4:30pm in NW 201
Description: This hands-on training session will teach participants how to assess the physical characteristics of local rivers and streams, learn about biological indicators of water quality, and understand different biological sampling techniques such as invertebrate surveying, travelling kick and sweep and eDNA testing. Learn about qualitative observation and how the water can tell us its story. Register here
Dates:
2024- current
