| Volunteers
make the difference!
Salem Sound Coastwatch
firmly believes in the values and rewards of volunteer monitoring
of our natural resources. We believe that local citizens bring a unique
knowledge and perspective to environmental monitoring and are critical
to achieving the goal of effective stewardship of our region's habitats.
With these beliefs in mind, SSCW conducts several ongoing volunteer
programs, including the Coastal Habitat Invasives
Monitoring Program, Clean Beaches
and Streams Program, Wetlands Health Assessment
Toolbox (WHAT) Program, and more. SSCW is always looking for volunteers
for these programs - folks interested in learning more about their
local environment while making a real contribution to our regional,
scientific understanding of the ecological health of the region's
habitats.
Volunteers needed for:
Coastal
Habitat Invasives Monitoring Program
The invasion of nonindigenous (introduced)
species has emerged as one of the leading environmental threats to
our coastal habitats. Salem Sound Coastwatch, through the work of
volunteers, will collect information about current locations, abundance
and characteristics of these species along our shoreline. Volunteers
will receive classroom and field training on marine invasive identification
and survey techniques. If you are a concerned citizen who would like
to learn more about these species and is willing to make periodic
visits to a section of rocky shoreline, tidepool, or a dock/pier to
record data on the species observed, let us know.
Wetland
Health Assessment Toolbox (WHAT) Program
The 2005 sampling season will mark the seventh year of our training
volunteers to assess the health of local salt marshes with the WHAT
technique. Volunteers are trained to measure one or more of the following
parameters: birds, vegetation, fish, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water
chemistry, tidal influence and land use. Volunteers use these new
skills at one of our salt marsh testing locations and collect data
to measure the success of remediation efforts. Time commitments vary
for each parameter and we currently have salt marsh testing locations
in Gloucester.
Clean Beaches and Streams
Program
Water quality volunteers collect water samples from prioritized shoreline
sites, including stormwater outfalls and coastal streams from June
through September.
The goals of the Clean Beaches and Streams Program are to identify
sources of bacterial contamination flowing into Salem Sound and partner
with local Boards of Health and Departments of Public Works to identify,
post, and fix the pollution sources. This program provides the public
with education on the health threats linked to contaminated water
and notification of potential health risks, as well as actions individuals
can take that make a difference.
Coastsweep
and Beach Cleanups
Come out and help us clean up area beaches. Call us if you or a group
want to help with a beach clean up. We have trash bags and encourage
on-going stewardship of our beaches.
In the past, we have conducted clean ups at Dane St. Beach, Salem
Willows, Kernwood Marina, McCabe Park, Furlong Park, Forest River
Park and the Marblehead side of the Forest River Estuary conservation
land. We are currently looking for a Salem Sound site in need of a
good cleaning. If you have any suggestions, please email or call us.
The Coastsweep 2008 beach cleanup will be in September. Stay tuned
for more details.
Help us work with teachers and students from area schools on watershed
education.
If you like working with students, let us
know. We can provide materials and guidance for an assortment of environmental
awareness school projects.
We are also looking for help in the office
Help with event planning throughout the year
and outreach at summer festivals, assist with mailings, work on membership
development, or keep our "Salem Sound Coastwatch in the News"
scrapbook up-to-date documenting important local issues.
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