Springing Into a Very Busy Training Season!

AWW Staff and Volunteer Trainers have started off a strong 2023 Monitoring Training Season with nearly a dozen trainings including recertifications, full certifications, large trainings, and one-on-one sessions for over 170 monitors! Read on for a recap of staff-led trainings!

New monitors test bacteria using R-CARDS®. Photo Credit: Carolina Ruiz

Auburn – February 16

AWW Staff were joined by Volunteer Trainers Matt and Ann Campbell in Auburn to train new and existing monitors in the R-CARD® method for bacteriological monitoring. Photo Credit: Mona Dominguez

AWW Staff, along with Volunteer Trainers Matt and Ann Campbell of Lake Watch Lake Martin, conducted water chemistry and bacteriological monitoring (using the new R-CARDS®!) at Auburn University. Participants included folks from Lake Watch of Lake Martin, the AU Plant Pathology Lab, students, and many others.

New monitors conduct water chemistry practices at Town Creek Park. Photo Credit: Mona Dominguez

Special thanks to the the City of Auburn for sponsoring lunch and a great talk about stormwater and waste management from the Watershed Division‘s Marla Smith.

Foley – March 4

Volunteer Trainers Jackie McGonigal (with the Orange Beach Wind and Water Center), Angie Eckman, and Michelle Berardinelli (Dog River Clearwater Revival) led the show with AWW Staffer Sydney assisting at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley, AL.

Volunteer Trainers Jackie, Michelle, and Angie describe the dissolved oxygen test. Photo Credit: Sydney Zinner

Workshop participants monitored one of Wolf Bay Watershed Watch’s regular sites at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve Kayak Launch and another site along the scenic boardwalk wrapping around the park.

Graham Creek Nature Preserve Kayak Launch. Photo Credit: Sydney Zinner

Long-time Wolf Bay Watershed Watch monitors, Jeff and Linde Lynn, sample using R-CARDS® on the boardwalk. Photo Credit: Sydney Zinner

Special thanks to Angie Eckman for organizing the training location at Graham Creek Nature Preserve!

Gadsden – March 10

AWW Staff Rachel McGuire and Sergio RuizCordova joined Volunteer Trainer Dana Herren for a training at Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, AL. This training was held in conjunction with an Alabama Watershed Stewards Watershed Management Planning workshop the day prior, led by Laura Bell Cooley.