FreshWater Watch

Features

• Data Management: More information coming soon. 
• Sensor Measurements:
  • Nutrient pollution (nitrate and phosphate concentrations)
  • Turbidity
  • Water colour (categorical)
  • Ecological conditions (presence of algal blooms, in stream vegetation)
  • Hydrological conditions (river velocity, lake height)
  • Site characteristics (bank vegetation, land use, water uses, litter presence/absence, pollution evidence)
• How it works:
  

  Measurements and observations are made by citizen scientist then time stamped, location stamped and uploaded onto data platform where they are checked for anomalies.

  https://freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org/content/your-test-kit

Specifications

• Resolution: Spatial depending on GPS of participant cell phone; Temporal depending on citizen scientist; 
  No greater than daily, no smaller than annually
• Dimensions: 50 cm x 3 cm
• Power requirement: None
• Method to transmit data: Dedictaed free App
• Deployment method: Manual

Publications

• Thornhill, I., Loiselle, S., Clymans, W. and van Noordwijk, C.G.E., 2019. How citizen scientists can enrich freshwater science as contributors, collaborators, and co-creators. Freshwater Science, 38(2), pp.231-235
• August, T.A., West, S.E., Robson, H., Lyon, J., Huddart, J., Velasquez, L.F. and Thornhill, I., 2019. Citizen meets social science: predicting volunteer involvement in a global freshwater monitoring experiment. Freshwater Science, 38(2), pp.321-331.
• Dawson, M.R., Hutchins, M., Bachiller-Jareno, N. and Loiselle, S., 2019. The spatial and temporal variation of water quality at a community garden site in an urban setting: citizen science in action. Freshwater Science, 38(2), pp.352-364.
• Miguel-Chinchilla, L., Heasley, E., Loiselle, S. and Thornhill, I., 2019. Local and landscape influences on turbidity in urban streams: a global approach using citizen scientists. Freshwater Science, 38(2), pp.303-320.
• Cunha et al. Landscape patterns influence nutrient concentrations in aquatic systems: citizen science data from Brazil and Mexico 
• Pérez-Belmont et al. Water quality monitoring in the Xochimilco peri-urban wetland: experiences engaging in citizen science 
• Cunha, D.G.F., Dodds, W.K. and Loiselle, S.A., 2018. Factors related to water quality and thresholds for microcystin concentrations in subtropical Brazilian reservoirs. Inland Waters, 8(3), pp.368-380.
• Thornhill, I., Chautard, A. and Loiselle, S., 2018. Monitoring biological and chemical trends in temperate still waters using citizen science. Water, 10(7), p.839.
• Hadj-Hammou, J., Loiselle, S., Ophof, D. and Thornhill, I., 2017. Getting the full picture: Assessing the complementarity of citizen science and agency monitoring data. PloS one, 12(12), p.e0188507.
• Loiselle, S.A., Frost, P.C., Turak, E. and Thornhill, I., 2017. Citizen scientists supporting environmental research priorities. Science of the Total Environment, 598, p.937.
• Cunha, D.G., Marques, J.F., Resende, J.C., Falco, P.B., Souza, C.M. and Loiselle, S.A., 2017. Citizen science participation in research in the environmental sciences: key factors related to projects’ success and longevity. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 89(3), pp.2229-2245.
• Chandler, M., Rullman, S., Cousins, J., Esmail, N., Begin, E., Venicx, G., Eisenberg, C. and Studer, M., 2017. Contributions to publications and management plans from 7 years of citizen science: use of a novel evaluation tool on Earthwatch-supported projects. Biological conservation, 208, pp.163-173.
• Thornhill, I., Ho, J.G., Zhang, Y., Li, H., Ho, K.C., Miguel-Chinchilla, L. and Loiselle, S.A., 2017. Prioritising local action for water quality improvement using citizen science; a study across three major metropolitan areas of China. Science of the Total Environment, 584, pp.1268-1281.
• Cunha, D.G.F., Casali, S.P., de Falco, P.B., Thornhill, I. and Loiselle, S.A., 2017. The contribution of volunteer-based monitoring data to the assessment of harmful phytoplankton blooms in Brazilian urban streams. Science of The Total Environment, 584, pp.586-594.
• Loiselle, S.A., Cunha, D.G.F., Shupe, S., Valiente, E., Rocha, L., Heasley, E., Belmont, P.P. and Baruch, A., 2016. Micro and macroscale drivers of nutrient concentrations in urban streams in South, Central and North America. PloS one, 11(9), p.e0162684.
• Thornhill, I., Loiselle, S., Lind, K. and Ophof, D., 2016. The citizen science opportunity for researchers and agencies. BioScience, 66(9), pp.720-721.
• Loiselle, S., Thornhill, I. and Bailey, N., 2016, September. Citizen science: advantages of shallow versus deep participation. In Front. Environ. Sci. Conf. Abstr. Austrian Citiz. Sci. Conf.(Vol. 2016) (p. 4).
• Castilla, E.P., Cunha, D.G.F., Lee, F.W.F., Loiselle, S., Ho, K.C. and Hall, C., 2015. Quantification of phytoplankton bloom dynamics by citizen scientists in urban and peri-urban environments. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 187(11), p.690.

Technical Resources

Technical drawing