Volunteer Manual 

US EPA's Volunteer Monitoring: A Methods Manual was written to provide a better understanding of the concepts and procedures needed to evaluate the conditions of streams and rivers.  To review a section of interest, simply click on its link below; chapters, sections or the entire Manual (30.8 MB) can be downloaded.  For more specific information refer to the program's standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

Introduction  

Water Quality 

    1.1  Manual organization 

    5.1  Stream velocity 

The Stream Study 

    5.2  Dissolved oxygen and BOD 

    2.1  Basic concepts 

    5.3  Temperature 

    2.2  Designing a stream study 

    5.4  pH 

    2.3  Safety considerations 

    5.5  Turbidity 

    2.4  Basic equipment 

    5.6  Phosphorous 

Watershed Survey  

    5.7  Nitrates 

    3.1  Conducting a basic survey 

    5.8  Total solids 

    3.2  The visual assessment 

    5.9  Conductivity 

Habitat and Macroinvertebrates 

    5.10 Alkalinity 

    4.1  Habitat walk (survey) 

    5.11 Bacteria 

    4.2  Streamside biosurvey 

Managing your Data 

    4.3  Intensive biosurvey 

    6.1  Managing the data 

    6.2  Presenting the data 

    A: Glossary 

    6.3  Producing reports 

    B: Scientific supply companies

Volunteer Monitor's Guide to QAPPs 

Note: The manual's sections and the complete manual are portable document files (pdf).  Printed copies are available at the discretion of the coordinator to certified volunteer monitoring groups.