GCSU Thirst for Knowledge: Georgia Adopt-a-Stream trainings and monitoring events

Are you looking for a fun way to start your Spring Break? Join us for a Georgia Adopt-a-Stream training (macroinvertebrate or chemical) and/or some water quality monitoring this week.

Do you want to see what it is all about?  Join us Friday at 9 a.m. at Lake Laurel where we will do chemical monitoring of Champion Creek and/or at 10:30 a.m. at Andalusia where we will monitor Tobler Creek. No experience necessary.  (Register here: https://givepul.se/q7uw31.)

Are you interested in adopting your own stream?  Then join us for one of our AAS trainings. The Macroinvertebrate Training will be offered Wednesday, March 13, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Lake Laurel Lodge (Register here: https://givepul.se/ou3fo2). The Chemical training will be Friday, March 15, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Lake Laurel Lodge (Register here: https://givepul.se/m47b90). Training certification is valid for one year.

Stream macroinvertebrates (insects, mollusks and crustaceans) are excellent indicators of the condition of both water quality and habitat. This workshop will focus on macroinvertebrate collection techniques and identification; in other words, catching cool animals. Volunteers who identify the macroinvertebrates with 90% accuracy and pass the written test with a score of 80% or better will be certified to conduct macroinvertebrate monitoring and can “adopt” a section of a local stream.

The Chemical Monitoring Workshop is designed to teach volunteers about basic stream water chemistry and how to conduct various chemical tests using hand-held field equipment. The basic set of tests include dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH and temperature. Volunteers who collect data within 10% accuracy and pass the written test with a score of 80% or better will be certified to conduct chemical monitoring. 

Students can satisfy CbEL requirements for GC Journeys through the Georgia College & State University Thirst for Knowledge Program, and the trainings and monitoring events are open to all.

For more information, email Ruth Eilers at ruth.eilers@gcsu.edu, or visit the Georgia Adopt-a-Stream website: https://adoptastream.georgia.gov/.