Stream monitoring is an important component of stormwater management. Each year, volunteers are needed to take water samples from various local streams. These samples are sent to a lab and analyzed.
How can I get involved?
Monitor a Stream
The Stream Team is currently monitoring the following streams and rivers in Chittenden County:
What does the Stream Team Monitor?
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and animals in the aquatic food web. It is naturally limited in most fresh waters; therefore, even a modest increase can set off a chain of undesirable events. Such events include algae blooms, accelerated plant growth, low dissolved oxygen, and death of aquatic animals. Phosphorus naturally occurs in soils and rocks. Additional phosphorus enters waterways through runoff from wastewater treatment plants, fertilized lawns and cropland, failing septic systems, animal manure storage areas, pet waste, and erosion.
Chloride
Chloride is a component of salt found naturally in minerals and oceans. Elevated chloride levels in surface waters can lead to poor health and reduced reproduction in aquatic species, according to the Vermont Surface Water Management Strategy. The sources of chloride in water include road deicing salts, wastewater from industries and municipalities, and leachate from landfills.
Turbidity
The turbidity of a water sample refers to its cloudiness. This measurement is based on the amount of algae, microbes, and sediment suspended in the water. Turbidity measurements can be used as an indicator for erosion and/or nutrient concentration. Higher turbidity levels can indicate a higher chance of disease-causing organisms being present.