Accelerating and Enhancing Surface Water Monitoring

The Accelerating and Enhancing Surface Water Monitoring Project was designed to pilot new monitoring approaches for streams (biological and remotely sensed), and to educate and increase citizen participation in water monitoring efforts in Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) goal was to develop and pilot a systematic, intensive, watershed assessment monitoring system to identify waters exhibiting impairments. MPCA staff using LCMR funds sampled 57 sites in the Snake River Watershed using the intensive watershed assessment monitoring system. In addition, staff sampled 105 sites in the Rainy and Red River Basins to complete sampling needed to develop a state-wide index of biological integrity. The University of Minnesota Remote Sensing Laboratory's (RSL) objective was to develop and evaluate the potential of remote sensing for monitoring water quality of rivers. The RSL continued work started with 2003 LCMR funds to collect hyperspectral remote sensing data and water quality data in 2004, 2005, and 2007 for 7 major river systems in Minnesota. Strong relationships were found between the remote sensed data and water quality data; this indicates an excellent potential for use of this technology in large river systems. The University of Minnesota Water Resources Center's (WRC) goal was to expand and support a network of volunteers monitoring macroinvertebrates and E. coli bacteria on lakes and streams in Minnesota. The WRC trained 66 volunteers in 9 workshops, resulting in 48 sites being monitored on 28 different lakes and streams in 18 Minnesota counties. In total, 369 bacteria samples were collected, with 22 samples exceeding state standards. Minnesota Waters' objective was to continue enhancement of the ability of volunteer citizen groups to collect water quality data that will be useful for local water management and/or state water quality assessment.