During a recent government meeting, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) presented an overview of its volunteer monitoring programs aimed at enhancing water quality assessments across the state. Elena Onion, who coordinates these programs, highlighted the importance of community involvement in monitoring efforts mandated by the Clean Water Act and state environmental laws.

The DEC's oldest initiative, the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSAP), has been operational since 1972 and primarily engages lakeshore landowners. This year, the program is expanding its focus to include environmental justice and disadvantaged communities through a pilot initiative. Participants in CSAP pay a minimal fee, with costs waived for those in disadvantaged areas.

Onion also introduced the Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE) program, which has been active since 2012. This program allows volunteers to assess stream health by collecting and identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates. The data collected through WAVE is crucial for identifying water quality conditions and prioritizing sites for professional follow-up assessments.

The meeting emphasized the significance of local engagement in water quality monitoring, particularly in areas identified as environmental justice communities. Two pilot projects are set to launch in 2024, aiming to involve both urban and rural populations in monitoring efforts. These initiatives will leverage partnerships with local organizations to enhance community participation and awareness.

In response to questions about data integration, Onion explained that volunteer-collected data is treated similarly to professional monitoring data, although it may cover fewer parameters. This distinction is important for understanding the limitations and potential human error in volunteer sampling.

Overall, the DEC's volunteer monitoring programs represent a collaborative approach to environmental stewardship, empowering communities to take an active role in protecting their water resources.