• Learn to do River Monitoring

• Take the River’s Temperature

• Plant Native Plant "Grow Zones"

• Explore and Assess Natural Areas

• Help With Local Events Like the HRWC Community Swim or Huron River Day

The Middle Huron Partnership Initiative coordinated by HRWC is seeking volunteers and an intern to collect data at local streams this spring and summer. 2009 marks the 8th year that HRWC staff and volunteers have collected water quality data at 10 sites from Dexter to Ypsilanti, and the second year we will be monitoring sites in Livingston County.

No prior experience is needed, as training is provided, but it is appreciated. Volunteers will work in teams or alone and can be involved in one or multiple activities including: measuring stream flow, collecting regular water samples and other water quality parameters, and collecting storm samples.

You can volunteer for one or all monitoring activities. The information collected is analyzed and presented to elected officials and decision makers from local units of government in Washtenaw and Livingston counties, MDEQ, universities and other organizations that are members of the Middle Huron Partnership Initiative. The data collected is critical to evaluating progress from projects designed to reduce eutrophic conditions in the watershed.

Measuring & Mapping to Read the River, Sunday, July 26, 2–5pm at the NEW Center. Contact Joan at jmartin@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x11. Go to Adopt-A-Stream Events for detailed event description.

River RoundUp Leader & Collector Training, Saturday, September 12, 12 – 5 PM. Register by Sept. 7. Contact Joan at jmartin@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x11. Go to Adopt-A-Stream Events for detailed event description.

TAKE THE RIVER'S TEMPERATURE!
Help HRWC measure temperature in our streams, July and August. A quick and easy read of one of our stream-based thermometers once a week during these two summer months is all we ask. We will find someone to cover for you during your vacation. This is a nice way to get acquainted with a local stream! There are only a few sites, so register NOW while they are still available. See below to attend a training session to learn how. Contact Joan at jmartin@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x11. Go to Adopt-A-Stream Events for detailed event description.

Train for Stream Temperature Study, Saturday, June 20, 10 -- 11 AM at the NEW Center. Contact Joan at jmartin@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x11. Go to Adopt-A-Stream Events for detailed event description.

PLANT GROW ZONES THAT HELP SLOW AND INFILTRATE STORM WATER!
"Grow Zone" Native Plant Restoration, June 4, 1 PM, at Huroc Park. Learn about native plants from an expert while helping to plant a riparian buffer. About 10 or more volunteers are needed to establish native plants around the public gazebo as an educational initiative.

Huroc Park is in Flat Rock at the Dam off Arsenal Rd. (see the link for a map to the location) Contact Ric at rlawson@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x13.

"Grow Zone" Native Plant Restoration, Saturday, June 6, 10 AM -- 1 PM at Lower Huron Metropark. Learn about native plants from an expert while helping to plant a riparian buffer. Native plants will replace turf grass along Woods Creek. 40 or more volunteers are needed to help with this extensive installation.

The site is at the Woods Creek Picnic Area (follow link for a map to the site). Follow the signs to the event location. Contact Ric at rlawson@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x13.

"Grow Zone" Native Plant Restoration, June 7, 10 AM, at the South Rockwood Village Hall & Lebo Park. Learn about native plants from an expert while helping to plant a riparian buffer. 10-20 volunteers are needed to help plant educational rain gardens at the Village Hall and to help establish native vegetation along an eroding slope in Labo Park.

Volunteers will meet at the Village Hall at 5676 Carleton Rockwood Rd. (see the above link for a map and directions) Contact Ric at rlawson@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x13.

EXPLORE LOCAL NATURAL AREAS AND HELP THE HRWC BIORESERVE PROJECT!
Perform field assessments on natural areas beginning in May and continuing throughout the field season into September 2009. Help identify high-quality natural areas for protection. You will walk a designated site with a team and answer questions about the kinds of plants growing there as well as vegetation structure (e.g. tree size distribution, percent cover of native vs. invasive plants), soils, and signs of human disturbance. Expected time commitment is 4 hours per site. We will use the information you collect to compute scores for ecological integrity and levels of human disturbance for each site. See below to attend a training session for the assessments. Prior experience or completion of our training session for conducting field assessments is needed. Contact Kris at 734/769-5123 x16 or kolsson@hrwc.org to find out more and get on the list for the next training session.

How to use the calendar:
- Use the calendar below to see when and where site assessments are scheduled and which ones best fit your schedule and interests.
- To view the locations on a map, see the Bioreserve map at www.hrwc.org/bioreserve/b_map.pdf, zoom in to the township, and find the site #. The parcel we’ll be assessing is within that site number.
- IGNORE the Google Maps link that pops up with the calendar. Once you know your preferences, contact Kris at kolsson@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x16 to add your name to a team.

Plant ID experts needed!
If you are experienced in plant identification, we especially need your help doing field assessments! Every field assessment team will need at least one "expert" (someone who has some experience with identifying plants). If you have had a plant identification class, or have become familiar with wildflowers, grasses, and trees over time spent hiking this beautiful watershed, we'd love your help!

For additional information or to sign up for the above Bioreserve opportunities contact Kris: kolsson@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x16.

Click for detailed information about the Bioreserve Project.

WORK LOCAL EVENTS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC -- set up, clean up or anything in between!
Ann Arbor’s 9th Annual Green Fair, Friday, June 12, 6 – 9 PM, Main Street. Help staff our HRWC table for an hour or two while we talk to Ann Arbor residents who come out to learn about going "Green" at this free festival. Contact Pam at plabadie@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x17.

Huron River Canoe Challenge, Saturday, June 20, 9 AM, at Gallup Park. Help by doing jobs like checking-in racers, handing out snacks, posting signs, timing races, etc. Contact Margaret at msmith@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x19.

Community River Swim with Liz Elling, Sunday, July 12, 10 AM at the U-M Sailing Club on Baseline Lake. Help by doing jobs like greeting and checking-in swimmers, making coffee, handing out snacks, selling t-shirts, etc. Contact Margaret at msmith@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x19.

Huron River Day, Sunday, July 12, 12 – 5 PM at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. Help staff our HRWC table for an hour or two to talk with the public about your experience with the river. Contact Margaret at msmith@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x19.

Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Green Tent, Friday, Saturday, Sunday August 21 – 23, at Riverside Park, Ypsilanti. Help staff our HRWC table for an hour or two or assist at an in-stream bug collecting demonstration. Contact Pam at plabadie@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x17.

Last Updated: April 2009