Roll up your sleeves and join The Watershed Foundation for its eighth annual Snapshot Water Monitoring Day, Thursday, Sept. 19. Photo provided by The Watershed Foundation.

By Sarah Marty-Schlipf
The Watershed Foundation

NORTH WEBSTER — Community members are invited to roll up their sleeves and join The Watershed Foundation for its eighth annual Snapshot Water Monitoring Day from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19.

Working in teams, Snapshot volunteers spend the afternoon as citizen scientists, collecting, testing and analyzing water samples at sites across Whitley, Noble and Kosciusko counties. They measure dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, E. coli levels and other key indicators of water quality. That data provides an accurate, up-to-date “snapshot” of water health across our region, which helps TWF make informed, strategic decisions about its water quality improvement projects.

“Snapshot Day is an opportunity to come together as a community to check in on the health of our local waterways,” said Caitlin Yoder, the event coordinator. “TWF could not assess water quality at this scale without volunteers.”

While the purpose of Snapshot Day is to gather valuable data, Yoder added that the event is also about community action. Snapshot Day is designed to be accessible and fun for people of all ages, physical abilities and experience. Water sampling takes place at a wide range of sites, from wetlands to large streams to small ditches on county roads. Sites have been assessed for safety and difficulty to access and volunteers can request options to fit their comfort and ability levels.

“You also do not need to be knowledgeable in the area of environmental science or any science, really,” Yoder emphasized.

“You just need to be interested and motivated.”

TWF will provide participants with the necessary training, sampling materials and comprehensive information about their testing sites. Volunteers typically spend just 2 to 2.5 hours completing their assignments.

Snapshot volunteers spend the afternoon as citizen scientists, collecting, testing and analyzing water samples at sites across Whitley, Noble and Kosciusko counties. Photo provided by The Watershed Foundation.

Lyn Crighton, executive director of The Watershed Foundation, encourages those interested in volunteering to sign up today.

“Everyone’s actions impact water quality and Snapshot Water Monitoring Day is a fun way to get involved as an active steward of our environment.”

To volunteer, register at tinyurl.com/TWFsnapshotday2024, contact Yoder at [email protected] or call (574) 834-3242. Registration closes Sept. 9.

To learn more about Snapshot Water Monitoring Day and see water quality data from past years, visit watershedfoundation.org/events/snapshot-day/

Snapshot Water Monitoring day is supported by ProWake Surf Shop and Watersports, Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners Association, Barbee Lakes Property Owners Association, Lake City Bank of Warsaw and Wawasee Boat Company. Event partners include the City of Warsaw, Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams and Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center.