Site Selection
Site Selection Guidance
You are encouraged to select a sampling location that is of special interest to you. This can be a site that is on your personal property, in a local park, or part of a larger sampling effort to better understand watershed-level conditions. First, it is critical that you consider safety and access.
Here are some general considerations for accessibility and appropriateness of a stream sampling location:
Access on your personal property, using public rights-of-way, or through landowner permission (see Landowner Permission Brochure)
Physical safety in accessing the stream via the streambank and a clear, stable location to set sampling supplies
Wadeabilty of the stream, but deep enough to collect a sample without disturbing sediment on the streambed
Presence of year-round flows
Far enough from major tributaries or point source discharges to allow mixing and minimization of backwater effects
Bridges often provide easy access points, but their presence may modify the natural stream flow. You may want to walk upstream or downstream to find a more representative location. If permission allows, an upstream location is preferable.
If sampling near a lake, select a site upstream of the lake.
If you aren’t sure where you would like to sample, check the site location map on the Watershed Watch website for historic sites that aren’t currently being monitored. You can also reach out to the nearest Sampling Team or Support Hub for suggestions. If neither of these options are available in your area, contact Watershed Watch leadership for guidance. They may be able to suggest a site of interest or need.
Sampling at sites upstream and downstream of a stream’s confluence (where it joins) with another waterway is informative because it captures water quality conditions from the entire upstream watershed (Sites 2 and 3).
Bracketed sampling sites above and below a discharge (point source) can also help determine water quality impacts. (Sites 4 and 5).
Working Together as a Sampling Team
Watershed Watch is encouraging the formation of Sampling Teams of at least two people who agree to work together to monitor stream sites, enter data, and discuss and act upon their findings. Sharing sampling sites can make sampling easier, more efficient, and more accurate. The team approach also encourages collaboration on assessing sampling results and the pursuit of potential improvement activities. Local teams can help inform the community about water quality conditions and build support for protecting high quality streams or addressing poor quality streams.
When determining where to focus your efforts, review the Watershed Watch sampling site map for sites that are already being monitored and attempt to join others in your area. If there are no other samplers in your community yet, you get to start your own sampling team!