StreamWatch
Encyclopedia
StreamWatch is an environmental monitoring program focused on the 766 square miles (1,983.9 km²) Rivanna River
watershed in central Virginia
in the United States. The data StreamWatch collects helps communities in the city of Charlottesville
and in Albemarle
, Fluvanna
, and Greene
Counties maintain healthy streams and restore damaged ones. StreamWatch believes that “when diverse sectors of the community share fundamental agreement on the condition of a resource, the chances of sound, collaborative management are enhanced.” Founded in 2002 as a joint project of The Nature Conservancy
, the Rivanna Conservation Society, the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, StreamWatch continues to be administered and financed by nongovernmental and governmental organizations. Conservation groups, local governments, and natural resources agencies use StreamWatch data to gauge stream conditions and to inform planning and environmental management decisions.
A cadre of approximately 70 trained volunteers monitors stream conditions at representative sites throughout the watershed. Benthic invertebrate (see bioindicator
), sedimentation, stream habitat, and other types of data are collected by volunteers and professionals using established scientific protocols. StreamWatch tracks land-use data, including data about agriculture, forestry, and residential and commercial development. Fieldwork, interpretation, and reporting are guided by a technical advisory committee composed of academic and resource agency scientists. StreamWatch also compiles Rivanna watershed data collected by other organizations.
Rivanna River
The Rivanna River is a tributary of the James River in central Virginia in the United States. The Rivanna's tributaries originate in the Blue Ridge Mountains; via the James River, it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay....
watershed in central Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the United States. The data StreamWatch collects helps communities in the city of Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and in Albemarle
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
, Fluvanna
Fluvanna County, Virginia
As of 2002, Fluvanna County's population was 20,047. There are 7,387 households, and 5,702 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile . There were 8,018 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, and Greene
Greene County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there are 15,244 people, 5,574 households, and 4,291 families residing in the county. The population density is 97 people per square mile . There are 5,986 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
Counties maintain healthy streams and restore damaged ones. StreamWatch believes that “when diverse sectors of the community share fundamental agreement on the condition of a resource, the chances of sound, collaborative management are enhanced.” Founded in 2002 as a joint project of The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
, the Rivanna Conservation Society, the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, StreamWatch continues to be administered and financed by nongovernmental and governmental organizations. Conservation groups, local governments, and natural resources agencies use StreamWatch data to gauge stream conditions and to inform planning and environmental management decisions.
A cadre of approximately 70 trained volunteers monitors stream conditions at representative sites throughout the watershed. Benthic invertebrate (see bioindicator
Bioindicator
Biological indicators are species used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem. They are any biological species or group of species whose function, population, or status can be used to determine ecosystem or environmental integrity. An example of such a group are the copepods and other...
), sedimentation, stream habitat, and other types of data are collected by volunteers and professionals using established scientific protocols. StreamWatch tracks land-use data, including data about agriculture, forestry, and residential and commercial development. Fieldwork, interpretation, and reporting are guided by a technical advisory committee composed of academic and resource agency scientists. StreamWatch also compiles Rivanna watershed data collected by other organizations.