07/31/2013 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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SHEP, a new model for water quality assessment: • Monitors the health of valuable water resources • Uses research -based multiple index metrics • Professionally trains adult volunteers • Utilizes multiple levels of quality control to ensure quality results • Provides relevant, reliable data to local decision makers • Engages citizens in water resource management and assessment • Promotes water resource health to community members • Promotes partnership between local governments, state agencies and community residents. 1.2 Rice Creek SHEP SHEP was first implemented in a pilot phase into the Rice Creek Watershed District in the summer and fall of 2006. In 2012 SHEP was led by Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) in partnership with the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and Fortin Consulting. Local program partners included the Anoka Conservation District, University of Minnesota Water Resource Center, City of Lino Lakes, City of Centerville, Anoka County Parks, The Wargo Nature Center, and local landowners. Primary funding for this program was made possible by the Rice Creek Watershed District. Matching resources for the 2012 SHEP season were provided by Friends of the Mississippi River. The program recruited 30 adult volunteers organized in three teams to monitor a total of nine sites in the fall of 2012. These sites were located in Hardwood Creek, Clearwater Creek, Rice Creek, and the inlet /outlet of Locke Lake. Some sites were chosen in part to gauge the effects of recent restoration and stewardship activity. For more information on site selection, see section 4.0. The SHEP monitoring protocol was divided into two sections: a physical habitat assessment and a biological assessment of benthic macroinvertebrates. Volunteers participated in 1.5 days of training, covering the in- stream physical assessment and macroinvertebrate collection methods, and laboratory macroinvertebrate identification procedures. For more information on site selection, see section 2.0. Each volunteer team collected physical assessment data and benthic macroinvertebrate samples at each site. In addition, each team also cross - checked one site sampled by another team. This was done to improve overall sampling quality and monitor standardized sampling methodology. After macroinvertebrate collection was completed, volunteers participated in laboratory analysis sessions to identify samples. The samples were later cross - checked by macroinvertebrate identification professionals at Fortin Consulting, and results were reported to program partners, local governments and made available to the general public.