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Creating a Successful Statewide Monitoring Program

Citizen Based Monitoring Conference August 20, 2004. Creating a Successful Statewide Monitoring Program. Recommendations from Ten Years Experience of the Illinois EcoWatch Network. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004. Illinois EcoWatch Network.

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Creating a Successful Statewide Monitoring Program

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  1. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference August 20, 2004 Creating a Successful Statewide Monitoring Program Recommendations from Ten Years Experience of the Illinois EcoWatch Network

  2. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Illinois EcoWatch Network • Statewide volunteer monitoring program established in 1993. • Monitoring programs for wadeable streams, prairies and forests. • Site selection based upon probabilistic sampling and volunteer preference. • Funding provided by the State of Illinois General Revenue Find and the C2000 Ecosystem Program Fund. • Annual Budget $640,000 (salaries and travel). • $2000 for equipment.

  3. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Continued……. • Organizational Structure: Network Manager, RiverWatch Coordinator, Forest/PrairieWatch Coordinator, QA Officer, Educational Coordinator, EcoWatch Trainers (4), Database/Web Specialist. • Annual average number of volunteers monitoring1,400. • Average retention rate 4 years. • Average number of sites monitored annually 650.

  4. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #1 Do One Thing to the Best of Your Ability • The biggest mistake volunteer programs make is trying to do too much, with the result that they don’t do anything well. • Maintain focus. • Establish your reputation based upon the quality of the data you produce.

  5. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Continued……. • Focus on activities that support data quality. • Do not make decisions based upon other considerations. • Data collection vs education vs Stewardship. • E and S are an unintended benefit of monitoring.

  6. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #2 Engage Data Users in Program Development • Potential data users should be included in program development from the beginning. • Most common mistake. • Include experts from natural resource agencies and universities. • Expert that contributed to program development are more likely to advocate its implementation.

  7. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Continued……… • Recommend that data users participate in: -developing monitoring protocols, -writing and implementing the Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP), -implementing special QA studies, i.e., shadow and comparability studies, -using data for publications and journal articles, -testing volunteers and reviewing herbarium collections.

  8. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #3 Bring Your Friends and Foes to the Table • Invite representatives from different interests to participate in laying the ground rules. • Diffuse tension and the potential for conflicts. • Discuss philosophical and practical issues. • This is also a good way to solicit resources and make contacts for the future.

  9. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Continued………. Will your data be used for enforcement and regulation? Consider the following? -impact on property access -cost increase for sample and evidence handling procedures -overall difficulty in technical procedures -volunteers are reluctant to join if they may one day be asked to testify in court

  10. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #4 Identify Target Constituencies and Gear the Program to Their Abilities and Needs • Identify the type of constituency you want to work with and stick with them. • Choose a narrow constituency range over a wide one. • Don’t “dummy down” your program for people that aren’t your target constituents. • Don’t split your program into less and more difficult modules. • Don’t get lured in by promises of “lots of volunteers” and new funding streams.

  11. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #5 Quality, not Quantity • It’s better to train four volunteers that monitor than it is to train 40 that don’t. • Focused recruitment will yield volunteers that are worth the time and resources you put into them. • Work with constituency groups to tap into their volunteer bases – form a network. • Make training and support your priorities.

  12. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #6 Establish a Concise Model of the Program’s Relationship with its Constituency . • Establish the role of the program and how members will interact with it. • There are no set rules for how this should work but keep in mind the following: -Don’t step on toes. Establish cooperation and coordination without completing amongst yourselves. -Try not to duplicate what others are already doing.

  13. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Continued…….. -take responsibility for functions that facilitate the collection of the data, i.e.,. data management, equipment, quality assurance, etc. -do not tamper with the identity of participating groups. -do not try to control groups and their activities. -do not forget that the data belongs equally to everyone. • Establish a Governing Board with representation from key groups. • Meet regularly.

  14. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #7 Pilot Your Program • Pilot various components of your program including monitoring and data input, classroom and field training. • Engage volunteers and experts to assist. Conduct a pilot whenever you change procedures beyond minor tinkering, or add new ones. • Work piloting into your QAPP and annual review process. • Publish your results, good or bad.

  15. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #8 Make Science the Basis for What You Do • Don’t include a monitoring protocol just because volunteers might find it fun. • Never incorporate junk science into your procedures. Use only commonly accepted scientific procedures. • Activities should reinforce the volunteer’s abilities. • Use quality assurance studies and volunteer testing to determine if procedures are suitable for volunteers. • Collect feedback on the training methods. • Collect the most detailed information possible without sacrificing quality. • Balance the input you get from the scientists with input from volunteers.

  16. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 #9 Communicate Frequently with Volunteers • Volunteer retention is critical to program success. Communication is the most important way to keep volunteers happy. • Develop web page for reports, notices and program quality assurance information. • Call volunteers prior to the beginning of the monitoring season. • Seek articles and activity lists from constituency groups for web. • After QA complete, communicate directly with volunteer.

  17. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Challenges Facing Volunteer Monitoring Programs • Expanding the use of volunteer program data beyond current uses • Establishing long term funding • Engaging new constituencies in volunteer monitoring • Improving team work among constituency groups at local, regional, statewide and national levels

  18. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Contact Information • Dana Curtiss • Illinois EcoWatch Network • Illinois Department of Natural Resources • Office of Realty and Environmental Planning • One Natural Resources Way • Springfield, Illinois 62702 • 217/785-5409 • http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/ecowatch

  19. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 Use of EcoWatch Data • IDNR’s Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP). CTAP is an ecosystem-based monitoring framework for monitoring long term ecological trends. It links the research efforts of scientists at the Illinois Natural History Survey with those of EcoWatch volunteers. • Annually CTAP scientists collect detailed biodiversity surveys on 150 sites. EcoWatch volunteers collect less detailed surveys of habitat and biological indicators from hundreds of additional sites. • The large volume of comparable data increases the speed and accuracy with which CTAP can assess changes in ecosystem health.

  20. Citizen Based Monitoring Conference-August 20, 2004 More Uses of EcoWatch Data • Demonstration project to illustrate the potential to use Ecowatch data with the Illinois Water Quality Report Assessments. • C2000 Ecosystems Program uses the data for watershed planning and project analysis. • Ecosystem partnerships use the data for evaluation of on the ground projects. • Special research by the INHS into the relationship between in-stream biology and channelized streams. • DNRIS web-based Intranet site

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