The Van Buren Conservation District is offering everyone a chance to volunteer outdoors this month to help protect the heath of the Black River. On October 2, the volunteers will collect samples of insects from the river. The Van Buren Conservation District told us more:
The Van Buren Conservation District (VBCD) and the Two Rivers Coalition (TRC) invite volunteers to join us Sunday, October 2nd at 1:00 PM for our Macroinvertebrate Sampling Stream Monitoring event. We are excited to host this event for the public and to
ensure our streams and rivers are monitored consistently and properly.
We are looking for volunteers to help us collect aquatic insects from the water and preserve them for later identification. There will be opportunities for getting in the water or for staying on shore. Volunteers may either wade into the water collecting insects or stay on shore to identify insects. This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring naturalists, natural explorers, and anyone who wants to get their hands dirty!
If you wish to volunteer, please contact Alex Florian at invasivesed@vanburencd.org or 269-633-9044. Everyone is welcome, but we ask that individuals under the age of 18 be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult. All volunteers will need to fill out a volunteer waiver at the beginning of the event.
The VBCD and the TRC are hosting this event to monitor the health of the Black and Paw Paw River Watersheds. Aquatic insects are one of the best ways to monitor stream health. By looking at what lives in the water, we can measure water quality – how pollutants and runoff are affecting our watershed. This sampling event will contribute to nine years of sampling of data, giving us an excellent picture of how the rivers have changed over time.
Volunteers meet at the Lawrence River Park off of Paw Paw St. in Lawrence on the Paw Paw River. Carpooling to sites will be available. All necessary equipment and snacks will be provided by the VBCD. Volunteers must be able to traverse uneven and difficult terrain to access river sites. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the early October weather as well.
This project was made possible through funds provided by the Van Buren Conservation District millage. To learn more about the work of the Van Buren Conservation District, please visit www.VanBurenCD.org and find us on Facebook and Instagram. To find out more about the great work Two Rivers Coalition does for the Black River and the Paw Paw River watersheds, please visit www.tworiverscoalition.org.
