Water quality monitoring Colorado River Watch Network Volunteers provide early warning system for pollutants
Volunteers conduct tests at strategically located sites throughout the Colorado River Basin.
The Colorado River Watch Network (CRWN) began with a small group of citizens concerned about water quality. It has grown into a sophisticated system of more than 100 certified volunteer monitors at 100 sites along the Colorado River.
The River Watch Network supports volunteers who monitor the water quality of the Colorado River. The network collects data from these sites, and analyzes it, creating an early warning system that alerts LCRA to potential water quality threats.
History
In 1988, a handful of Austin citizens, teachers, and students began sampling water along a tributary of the Colorado River. Within two years, their program had expanded to about 20 sites along the Colorado. The students' work turned up potentially problematic levels of phosphate, a water pollutant – then commonly found in laundry detergents. Phosphates encourage algae to grow, robbing the water of oxygen. In 1991, the group presented their findings to the Austin City Council, and the city passed the first ban in Texas of detergents containing more than 0.5 percent phosphates. By December of the same year, river watch monitors in Smithville, La Grange and Wharton successfully lobbied their city councils for similar ordinances.
In 1992, LCRA began to manage the Colorado River Watch Network program, and helped expand monitoring sites along the river from Brownwood to the Gulf of Mexico. The success of the program has earned grants from the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Colorado River Watch Network has been honored by the EPA, the State of Texas, the City of Austin and many other organizations.
Monitoring milestones
1994: City of Austin wastewater treatment facility corrects problems associated with high levels of nitrates detected by River Watch monitors.
1995: Students' report stops raw sewage seepage from Bastrop wastewater treatment plant.
1997: CRWN wins Texas Water Utilities Association's Leadership Award.
2000: US EPA's 6th National Volunteer Monitoring Conference co-hosted by LCRA in Austin.
2002: Volunteer communicates concerns about trash in the Tres Palacios River. Partnership with TCEQ and LCRA's Water Resource Protection team launches an effort to obtain a federal grant for the evaluation and prevention of illegal dumping.
2004: Earth Day celebrated by a 5 year snapshot report of 603 data records for 301 sites.
2006: Online entry form allows volunteers to immediately download water quality data.
2008: CRWN receives Texas Stream Team Outstanding Service Award.
