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Since 2005, our Citizen Water Monitoring Program has worked to document the present condition of local streams and sloughs, to identify problem areas for future monitoring, and to find solutions that reduce such pollution. Our monitoring covers both the dry weather period in late summer and the "First Flush," when autumn's first major storm sends pollutants washing off streets into storm drains and creeks. Our volunteers are also monitoring McKinleyville’s waterways, which flow into the Mad River or directly into the ocean. We are currently working with Pacific Watershed Associates to analyze data from our first 5 years, and to refine our program to sample target streams more intensively to pinpoint pollution sources. Thanks to the dozens of dedicated volunteers and partners who help make our program successful. To get involved, send an email to
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Water Quality Monitoring Sites
 
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This year, First Flush brought approximately 1.23” of rain on October 16 in Arcata. On October 10, we collected dry weather samples in partnership with Humboldt State University students.
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Written by Jennifer Kalt for Forest & River News
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Humboldt Baykeeper was launched in October 2004 to safeguard coastal resources for the health, enjoyment, and economic strength of the Humboldt Bay community through education, scientific research, and enforcement of laws to fight pollution. As a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, we are a grassroots advocacy organization that works to ensure fishable, swimmable, and drinkable waterways.
Simply put, we work for clean water, which is essential for happy and healthy populations. Clean water supports healthier fisheries, which in turn support healthy bird and wildlife populations. For the human community around the bay and coast, this means more lucrative fisheries, as well as world-class birdwatching, bird hunting, and clean water for recreating, including boating, surfing, diving, and swimming. Our work requires the participation and commitment of our community.
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On February 13, Humboldt Baykeeper staff and 20 trained Citizen Scientist volunteers monitored water quality after a storm at 29 sites in the Humboldt Bay area. This monitoring event was held to compare mid-winter water quality with previous results from “First Flush” monitoring (just after the first major rainstorm of the year), when pollutants that have built up over the dry season are suddenly flushed into waterways). Samples were analyzed for pH, temperature, conductivity, fecal coliform, phosphates, heavy metals, nitrates, and dissolved oxygen.
Since 2005, our water monitoring efforts have found extremely high fecal coliform levels after “First Flush” compared with “Dry Weather” monitoring done in August.
In many streams, the levels are much higher than the recommended limit for recreational waters (waters that people come into contact with while swimming, wading, surfing, boating, etc.). The recommended limit is 400 MPN/100 mL is the limit for recreational waters, while <1 MPN/100mL is the standard for drinking water.
In 2009, 42% of our sites were considered unsafe for contact recreation during dry weather monitoring (>400 MPN/100 mL). During First Flush, 85% of our sites had E. coli levels above 400 MPN/100 mL. In mid-winter, after several months of rain, 64% of the sites exceeded 400 MPN/100 mL (see graph below).
Click HERE to enlarge map.
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Thanks to our partners who help make our Citizen Water Monitoring Program a success! City of Arcata’s Environmental Services City of Eureka’s Stormwater Division Humboldt County Department of Environmental Health Humboldt County Department of Public Works North Coast Laboratories North Coast Stormwater Coalition
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Pacific Watershed Associates Salmon Forever
State Water Resources Board’s Clean Water Team |
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