Welcome to our ongoing effort to catalog citizen science and other public participation in scientific research (PPSR) projects for UC California Naturalists and other citizen scientists. We invite you to browse the listed projects or enter key words (like birds, youth, invasive, coast, Alameda, etc.) in the search box above to find projects in your area. It's a great way to stay involved and keep developing your skills as a natural scientist!
A vast majority of the information in the database was gathered from project websites and may be out of date. We encourage you to contact projects directly to get involved and learn about most recent opportunities. If you work with a listed project and would like to add to, update, or correct the information we have, please email cghdixon@ucdavis.edu. Also, please consider filling out the "PPSR perspectives" survey. Click here to access the survey, which will help guide this project in the coming year.
If you know of a project not on our list, please go to the "tell us about a project" link on the left so we can list the project here. Thanks for your help!
Special thanks goes to the National Science Foundation Informal Science Education program and the Stephen J. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation for supporting this database of projects.
Urban Watch - Monterey Bay
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Organization NameCoastal Watershed Council
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Project Website
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Organization Website
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PartnersN / A
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Contact NameN / A
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Contact EmailN / A
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Contact PhoneN / A
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Other Contact Information
Volunteer sign-up page: http://coastal-watershed.org/how-can-i-help/volunteer-signup/
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Project Purpose (taken from project materials)
Answer questions about what kinds of urban runoff pollution are entering our storm drains, creeks and streams, and the Monterey Bay during the dry weather season (June – September). See http://coastal-watershed.org/what-do-we-monitor/ for description of water quality measures.
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Participant Activities
Urban Watch volunteers perform in-field analysis on flows from local storm drain outfalls looking for some of our most common “urban pollutants” like detergents, chlorine, copper, and turbidity. Volunteers are trained to analyze water samples using the Urban Watch Storm Drain Monitoring Kit. Volunteers are also trained to monitor water temperature, conductivity, pH , water color and odor and to collect monthly samples for bacteria and nutrient analysis.
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Data Entry
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Website
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Collection Kits
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Other Participant ActivitiesN / A
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System Studied
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Water Quality
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Wetlands - Freshwater Streams and Marshes
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Geographic ScopeLocal
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RegionSanta Cruz
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LocationCreeks and run-off sites near Capitola, CA
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Location - MapCapitola, CA
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Time Commitment
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Other (see Other Information below)
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Volunteer Qualifications
No chemistry background or prior monitoring experience is needed to participate.
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Volunteer Training
Volunteers are trained to analyze water samples using the Urban Watch Storm Drain Monitoring Kit, to monitor water temperature, conductivity, pH , water color and odor, and to collect monthly samples for bacteria and nutrient analysis.
Website resources include background information on watersheds and monitoring, policy and science implications and links to data portal.
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Cost to ParticipantN / A
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How will the findings be used?
Data is displayed on the Coastal Watershed Council's Stewardship Portal: http://50.16.247.99/cwc-data-portal-ver2/
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Other InformationN / A
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Photo
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last update:9/26/12
If you work with this project and would like to add to or update the information below, please email cghdixon@ucdavis.edu.
If you know of a project not on our list, please go to the "tell us about a project" link on the left so we can list the project here. Thanks for your help!
This database is focused on projects in California focused on the environment. For opportunities outside California, as well as national projects that don't have a California-specific components, check http://www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit/projects.