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Help us help the River!
Help us help the River!
Stream sampling is a fun and easy way to help the River.
We are always on the lookout for back-up volunteers who are willing to sample on any sampling days when our volunteers aren't available. Read more below.
Stream Sample Collector:
If you'd like to help collect water samples from a location near you, email us at Volunteer@SaturdayStreamSnapshot.org OR checkout our 2025 Volunteer Interest Form here.
Responsibilities: Take water samples with the sampling kit provided. Then, bring them to sample drop-off at Ike's Lodge (Izaak Walton League, 544 Branch Hill-Loveland Road in Loveland) from 8:15am -10am.
Time commitment: 1-1.5 hours on the 2nd Saturday morning of each month March-November (as you are available).
Before going sampling, all volunteers need to:
Watch this 2025 Sampler training video (link here) and
Complete our volunteer waiver form (link here) and bring it ahead of time or email it to: Volunteer@SaturdayStreamSnapshot.org.
Lab Analyst:
Learn how to properly handle water samples and use the equipment provided to process the samples in our lab. As part of our lab team, you'll work under the supervision of a certified lab analyst.
Responsibilities: Process volunteer-collected water samples to help us measure one of these important water quality indicators: Nitrate-Nitrogen, Phosphates, Conductivity, Turbidity, pH, Optical Brighteners or E. Coli and Total Coliforms.
Time Commitment: 2-4 hours, between 9am - 1pm, on the 2nd Saturday of each month from March - November (as you are available).
FAQs:
FAQs:
Do I have to be available every month? No! Just let us know when you can help and we will work with you.
Can I recruit others? Yes, please do! It's always more fun with a friend!
Can I switch jobs? Yes, just let us know and we will get you trained.
Can I switch sample sites? Yes, email Volunteer@saturdaystreamsnapshot.org and we'll let you know which sites are available.
What if I take bottles and need to skip a month? No worries, just please let us know that you can't sample so we can find a backup. And the bottles? Just save them in a clean, dry location and don't open then; they'll be ready to use next time. If you can't sample again, please return them to the lab.
What do these analyses tell us?
What do these analyses tell us?
Site conditions where the sample was collected help us interpret the data, providing valuable information about potential water issues at the location.
Bacteria data help identify possible problems with leaking sewers or failing septic systems and indicate whether the water is safe for body contact.
Nitrate-Nitrogen and Total Phosphates are two pollutants identified in the main stem of the Little Miami River. This information helps us identify possible sources from tributaries. Nitrates are the primary contaminants causing the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico and the source is tributary streams of the Mississippi River watershed.
Sediment is another issue and turbidity measurements help us see where the sediment is coming from.
pH and conductivity are two general measurements water quality professionals use to identify problems.
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