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<br />Obtaining Reliable Water Quality Data Witb Volunteer Monitoring Networks <br /> <br />Steve Dittman <br /> <br />Mississippi Headwaters River Watch Project (MHRWP) <br /> <br />History <br /> <br />. Established in 1990 by the Mississippi Headwaters Board to create a data base of water quality <br />infonnation for the upper Mississippi River. <br /> <br />. Modeled on concepts developed by River Watch Network of Montpelier, Vennont. RWN is an <br />international network of volunteer monitoring programs. <br /> <br />. Funding for the MHRWP is provided by the Charles K. Blandin Fonndation of Grand Rapids, MN. <br /> <br />. Designed to provide high quality water quality data to be used by government agencies to guide land <br />use decisions in the river corridor and in enforcement of land use regulations. <br /> <br />Goals <br />1. <br />2. <br />3. <br />4. <br />5. <br />6. <br />7. <br />8. <br /> <br />Monitor water quality of the Mississippi River using chemical, physical and biological <br />indicators of river health. <br /> <br />Establish a data base of water quality for the Mississippi Headwaters, indicating trends over <br />~sons and over time. <br /> <br />Determine sources of nutrient input to the Mississippi Headwaters. <br /> <br />Detennine impact of nutrients on the river's health, especially impact of individual on-site <br />septic systems and municipal sewage treatment systems. <br /> <br />Detennine the impact of land use practices on the river's health, from development to <br />recreation. <br /> <br />Establish a water quality index for the Mississippi Headwaters that includes an indicator <br />species of macroinvertebrates. <br /> <br />Report results to communities in a variety of fonns, from news media to infonnational <br />programs to decision making bodies. <br /> <br />Build a partnership of schools, community groups, businesses, state and local government <br />committed to maintaining the waters of the Mississippi Headwaters as an "outstanding <br />resource value" for Minnesota <br /> <br />9. Use the data gathered by the monitoring program to design and carry out local projects to <br />improve and maintain water quality. <br /> <br />10. Promote awareness and stewardship of the Mississippi Headwaters. <br />