Task 1: Assess surface waters in order to achieve water quality standards.

Task Description: In partnership with the Cities of Laredo and Nuevo-Laredo, Stream Team recruited, trained and certified teachers, students and members of the general public to gather water quality data according to protocols approved through Stream Team’s approved EPA Quality Assurance Project Plan.  In conjunction with this activity, the Stream Team monitoring data sheet, and companion curriculum were translated into Spanish, printed, and distributed for use in the certification sessions.  The participating cities and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) selected monitoring sites and assisted with quality control activities including on-site screening of monitoring locations, geospatial referencing of monitoring sites, specification of site descriptions, and on-site visits of monitors that included side-by-side comparison sampling, data sheet review and other relevant quality control checks.

Task 1.1 – Translate into Spanish, print, and distribute Stream Team  monitoring manual and curriculum

Task 1.1 Translation Results – Stream Team Monitoring Curriculum, Watershed Survey Manual, and Watershed Survey Curriculum, and related documents were translated and distributed for use in this project.  The translated version of the Stream Team Monitoring Manual used in this project had been translated prior to this project and is not considered a product of this project.

Task 1.2 – Train monitors and conduct monitoring on a total of 10 sites in Laredo and Nuevo-Laredo

Task 1.2 Site Selection Results – The City of Laredo identified five monitoring sites with surrounding land use ranging from residential to commercial and industrial.  The sites were screened for safety and accessibility.  City staff provided site photos and GPS coordinates.  The City of Nuevo Laredo selected seven sites, five located around La Laguita, a small lake in the center of the city, and two sites located between the lake’s spillway and the Rio Grande.  The City selected the lake as the primary sampling location for two reasons: first, the effects of polluted discharge within the city can be observed in the lake and therefore tracked to its source, and; second, the tributaries to the lake are typically dry and therefore are not conducive to routine monitoring.  

Task 1.2 Monitor Training Results – June 3, 2006- Monitor training conducted in Laredo results in completion of Phase 1 and 2 training of six Laredo teachers, two Nuevo Laredo staff, and one Laredo staff member certified as a Trainer. June 23, 2006- Laredo teachers completed Phase 3 training.  September 2007, 12 TAMIU students trained. September 2006, 2007- Nuevo Laredo staff trained 36 students each year at three schools. September 2007- 15 Texas A&M International Students certified.

Task 1.3 – Certify monitors and train teachers on the use of monitoring and education curriculum

Task 1.3 Teacher training results – Monitoring manual curricula were incorporated into the June 3 monitor training and distributed to training participants.  Teachers committed at this time to implement the Stream Team curriculum in their classroom.  Nuevo Laredo teachers were provided the translated curricula by city of Nuevo Laredo staff and incorporated it into their classroom instruction.

Task 1.4 – Conduct quality control site visits-on going

Task 1.4 Quality control results – Quality control site visits in Laredo included side-by-side monitoring in conjunction with the June 23, 2006 Phase 3 training.  All Nuevo Laredo sampling was done under the supervision of a certified trainer.  Additional quality control sampling was conducted by a TAMIU student intern using a multi-parameter probe which was loaned to the project by the City of Laredo.  These sampling events took place at all Laredo sites on October 12, 15, and November 2, 2008, and in Nuevo Laredo on October 23, November 5, and 18, 2008.

Task 1.5 – Conduct 12 monitoring events per site

Task 1.5 Sampling event results – Participants in Laredo conducted 77 sampling events on five sites for an average of 15.4 events per site.  Texas Stream Team has secured documentation for 62 events in Nuevo Laredo on seven sites for an average of 8.9 events per site.  Documentation for additional sampling reported by Nuevo Laredo was lost in the process of transferring the information to Stream Team staff.