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How to Become A Monitor
Be cautious of traffic when accessing the site. Park your vehicle safely off roads and out of the way of traffic.
Sample your site from bridges with pedestrian walkways, from docks, or from stream banks whenever possible. If you must enter the water, always have a partner on the shore nearby.
You can look at all current and historical monitoring sites on the Texas Stream Team Data Viewer.
If you need assistance selecting a site, call your partner (see Step 2 below) or e-mail Texas Stream Team.
Step 2. Determine your river basin and contact your partner. Texas Stream Team has many lead partners throughout the state that fully support volunteers. Look at the Texas Stream Team Lead Partner list to determine if there is a lead partner in your basin or city and call or e-mail the contact to let him or her know you are interested in volunteering. The local partner will assist you in site selection, getting a kit, and completing your monitoring plan and will schedule a training session with you.
If you are unsure of your basin, or if no partner for your basin or city is listed, e-mail Texas Stream Team.
Step 3. Complete a Monitoring Plan Form. The monitoring plan will help you ask questions, seek answers, and solve any potential problems before you begin monitoring. This will make your volunteer monitoring experience more productive and positive. A monitoring plan guidance is provided. The monitoring plans should be brought to your first training session.
If you need assistance completing the monitoring plan, contact your partner (see Step 2 above) or e-mail Texas Stream Team.
Step 4. Attempt to secure a kit. If your organization can afford to buy a kit, you can order a Texas Stream Team kit for $300 - $400. Talk to your partner (step 2) or e-mail Texas Stream Team for assistance in selecting a kit that is appropriate for your basin or site. Texas Stream Team encourages volunteers to find a local patron or sponsor to donate kits. Several partners provide kits and Texas Stream Team can assist groups in finding a kit as well.
| CODE | NOTES | PRICE FOR 1-9 KITS | PRICE FOR 10-24 KITS | PRICE FOR 25 & UP KITS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAP-9849-D3 or D4 | basic kit - D3 low range | $525.00 | $420.00 | $394.00 |
| D4 high range | ||||
| for TDS (conductivity) pocketester | ||||
| NAP-9859-D3 or D4 | same as NAP-9849 without goggles & gloves | $474.00 | $360.00 | $338.00 |
| XX00083-D4 | Same as NAP-9859 without pH kit;includes pH #10 pocketester and high conductivity pocketester. | $545.00 | $435.00 | $412.00 |
| XX00083-TDS3 | Same as XX0083-D4 except with low conductivity pocketester | $365.00 | $355.00 | $345.00 |
| XXOO416-D3 | $325.00 | $315.00 | $305.00 | |
| basic kit without secchi disk & goggles & gloves | ||||
| XXOO350 | storm drain pollution kit with ammonia-nitrogen kit and thermometer added | $460.00 | $368.00 | $345.00 |
| NAP-9857-D3 | DO KIT; PH KIT; Sample Bottle; Thermometer | $246.00 | $196.00 | $185.00 |
Step 5. Attempt to secure E. coli monitoring equipment. Like obtaining a kit, you can purchase E. coli monitoring equipment yourself or you can contact your local partner or Texas Stream Team to obtain the appropriate equipment.
Easygel E. coli equipment and accessories are purchased through Micrology Labs (http://www.micrologylabs.com/). Easygel is an agar replacement that comes in a sterilized, two-piece unit including a bottle of liquid medium and a plate treated with a special formulation. The material comes ready to use. Monitors just add a sample and pour the solution into a pre-treated petri dish.
The approved E. coli methodology requires an incubation time of 28-31 hours. Hovabators are typically purchased through bigappleherp.com or another Hovabator distributor.