Snapshot Day Volunteers
Sites
The 17th Annual Snapshot Day took place on Saturday, May 7, 2016. 57 volunteers visited 45 sites from Año Nuevo Creek to the Pajaro River to get an annual “snapshot” of water quality in Santa Cruz County. Volunteers were trained to perform in field monitoring and to collect samples that were sent for lab analysis. When lab results are received, CWC staff compares outcomes of various water quality parameters to water quality objectives set by the EPA and other regulatory agencies and compiles the results in the 2016 Snapshot Day Report.
What we learned this year, is that most monitored sites met water quality objectives for nutrients in the water like nitrate and orthophosphate. About half of all sites met water quality objectives for bacteria. Sites with higher bacteria levels were generally more proximal to urban areas, a reminder of our human contribution to bacteria in the environment.
Read the full 2016 Snapshot Day Report
Thank you to the dedicated 2016 Snapshot Day volunteers. Many thanks to the City of Santa Cruz, City of Scotts Valley, City of Watsonville and County of Santa Cruz for the support of citizen science work monitoring and to our events sponsors: Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, Upper Crust Pizza and Pasta, Vivas Organic Mexican Food and Verve Coffee Roasters.
Save the date for Snapshot Day 2017 on Saturday, May 6, 2017. If you’re interested in getting involved, sign up below.