Volunteer Monitoring
The Colorado River Watch Network (CRWN) is the first and largest regional volunteer network of water quality monitors in Texas. The success of the program is due in large part to the uncommon commitment of the volunteers.

Volunteers enjoy the beauty of the Colorado River during a raft trip at LCRA's McKinney Roughs Nature Park.

Though CRWN only requires a two-year commitment to monthly monitoring, many volunteer monitors have been conducting sampling events for 5 to 10 years. Some monitors visit their sites on a weekly basis, often driving 50 miles to and from their chosen location.

There are approximately 100 certified water quality monitors who actively submit data to CRWN. The group of certified monitors consists of adult citizens, teachers, professionals, and students.  Many of our sites have more than one person working together, with several spouses, children-parent teams, close friends, and colleagues working together to test water quality parameters at their sites each month.

A field kit, containing $400 of testing equipment, is loaned to a monitoring group or individual for the duration of their active participation. As long as the group continues to regularly provide data, monitoring supplies are provided.

Volunteer monitors Russ, Willow and Jae Howard spend time as a family each month testing the water quality of Barton Creek outside of Austin.

Annual Events

Each year, CRWN hosts a stewardship workshop at which certified volunteers have an opportunity to network with other monitors and present information about their sites and concerns. Biologists, botanists, and other professionals from LCRA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), City of Austin, Texas Stream Team, Texas Parks and Wildlife and other agencies provide presentations and offer hands-on field experience. Topics covered have included identifying macroinvertebrates, fish, aquatic and riparian vegetation, stream assessments, flow measurements, xeriscaping, and other relevant water quality education.

Other opportunities for participation are offered each year. Basinwide data collection for such widely recognized events as Earth Day, World Monitoring Day, and the EPA sponsored Secchi Dip-In are also supported by CRWN.

Texas Water Development Board staff presented at the 2010 CRWN Stewardship Workshop (above).  Volunteer monitors have the opportunity to attend these annual workshops where water quality professionals offer presentations and hands-on training.