River Monitoring Network Volunteers

The RIVER MONITORING NETWORK/WATER SENTINEL PROGRAM of the Sierra Club's River Prairie Group Welcomes You to Participate!

The River Monitoring/Water Sentinel Program:

The Sierra Club's River Prairie Group is monitoring the water quality of two river systems that run through DuPage county. Water samples are being taken at regular intervals along designated collection points on the Salt Creek and the East Branch of the DuPage River. Sierra Club volunteers collect the water samples and analyze them for a number of pollutants including phosphorous , ammonia, and chloride. The data is compiled into a detailed spreadsheet to determine the overall pattern of the water quality of these rivers systems. This data will be used to educate the public on the water quality of these river systems and to persuade the appropriate governmental regulatory agencies to adopt environmental policies that will help to produce cleaner river systems in the DuPage County area.

Volunteers are needed to assist with this project. If you are interested in contributing to the goal of establishing cleaner river systems in the DuPage County area, please consider joining the River Monitoring Network.

To join the River Monitoring Network, please fill out this application and mail it to Bonnie Blake, 1177 Londonberry Rd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.

Name
Address
City State
Zip Illinois County
Home Phone Number
e-mail address (optional)
Sierra Club Member (Yes or No)

Please answer the following questions. Check those areas you are interested in participating.

1. Do you wish to be notified when the River Monitoring Network has a meeting or special event? Yes No
2. Are you willing to help collect water samples at one of the designated collection points (training will be provided)?
Yes No
2a. If yes, which river would you prefer to take samples from?
2b.Salt Creek
2c.East Branch of the DuPage
2d.Both Rivers
2e.Not Sure at this time.
2f.At a later date the West branch will be monitored. When
that occurs, I would be interested in collecting water samples.

3. Are you willing to learn how to conduct the chemical analysis of the water samples using a Hach meter (training will be provided) and conduct the analysis of the water samples taken? Yes No
3a. If you learn to conduct the chemical analysis of the water samples, would you be willing to train other volunteers how to use the Hach meter? Yes No
4. Are you willing to become a River Captain at one of the designated collection points? A River Captain would be responsible for making certain that someone from a pool of volunteers would be collecting the water samples on designated days. Captains would also train new volunteers on how to collect water samples. Yes No
5. Are you willing to take the data collected and add the results to a spreadsheet and maintain the spreadsheet? Yes No
6. Are you willing to speak at public meetings and hearings about the results of the River Prairie Group's findings and the other topics related to developing environmental policies that would result in cleaner water in the rivers in DuPage County? Yes No
7.Are you willing to distribute literature about the River Monitoring Network and other environmental literature about cleaner water? Please indicate at which function(s) you would be willing to distribute the literature?
7a. Door to door in your neighborhood.
7b. Door to door throughout the Greater DuPage County area.
7c. At Sierra Club booths at county festivals.
7d. On public bulletin board locations in your neighborhood.
7e. On public bulletin boards throughout Greater Dupage Cty.
8. Are you willing to write letters about the River Monitoring Network and other environmental issues dealing with water quality? Please indicate which letters you would be willing to write.
8a. To public officials. 8b. To newspaper editors
8c. To radio stations. 8d. To T.V. stations
9. Are you willing to make phone calls to public officials about the water quality of the rivers in the Greater DuPage County area and other environmental topics? Yes No
10. Would you be willing to appear with Sierra Club members on a T.V. or radio station to discuss the River Monitoring Network? Please indicate which media you would be willing to appear on with other Sierra Club Members.
10a. Radio stations 10b. T.V. stations
11. Are you willing to participate in official Sierra Club Lobby visits to public officials to discuss the River Monitoring Network and other related environmental issues (training would be provided)? Yes No
12. Are you willing to assist in the research and writing of a final report based upon the collection of water samples and their analysis (This report would probably be written after water samples had been analyzed for a period of about one year.)?
Yes No