Coordinating Water Quality Monitoring

Water quality monitoring provides information about the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and health of a water body. Monitoring data is synthesized to understand current conditions in the watershed, screen for potential pollution problems, and inform adaptive management decisions and best management practices or identify data gaps.

Stone Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Through Delta WIN, the Conservancy is collaborating with Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) to coordinate water quality monitoring. The Refuge contains over 1,000 acres of managed permanent and seasonal wetlands and provides vital habitat for migratory birds and resident plants and wildlife. Good water quality is essential to the health of the plants and wildlife that use Refuge waters, and to ensure continued opportunities for recreation related to wildlife viewing. The objective of this monitoring effort is to determine the current water quality conditions and to determine trends in water quality for scientifically based watershed management decisions.

Implementation of Best Management Practices
Many water quality problems can be addressed through Best Management Practices (BMPs). BMPs are techniques, measures, or structural controls that can be implemented to protect, restore, or improve water quality before runoff reaches the main water system. For more information about common BMPs, visit the US Department of Agriculture and UC Davis websites.

(Image courtesy of Conservancy staff)