Choosing A Site
Choosing a new monitoring site can seem daunting, even to an experienced monitor. Selecting representative sites is one of the most important elements in designing a monitoring program. Before selecting monitoring sites, you should determine two things:
What kind of monitoring is already being done in your watershed, and where?
What question(s) would you like your monitoring to answer?
The answers to both of these questions will help you map out the most effective monitoring locations. Site locations will depend on the goal of your monitoring program:
- If you want to know what the water quality is of a particular stream, you might select a site close to the mouth of the stream.
- If you want to know the water quality at a particular fishing or swimming spot, you might want to select a site within that spot.
- If you want to know if a development is impacting a stream you might want to have one site upstream of the development and one site downstream of the development to compare results.
- If you know of developments that may happen in the future, you may want to monitor local streams to establish a baseline health reading prior to those potential impacts.
- If you want to collect data to assist the state in developing water quality assessment reports, you might want to select a site within a watershed that is not currently monitored.
Local Impact
What streams need to be monitored? If you’re a brand-new monitor, it might be best to start at a stream or creek you’re already familiar with – one that runs through your backyard, or you walk by every day. You might already know what potential pollution sources might exist upstream, or of a planned development nearby. What are the current and potential future impacts to the health of your stream?
If you don’t have a stream nearby, or aren’t familiar with the waterways in your area, pull out a map! You can use printed or online maps to see where local streams and creeks are in your area, as well as public access points. Visit a few of these sites in person to see which may be best to monitor.
Safety
The most important factor in choosing a stream site is safety. The stream should not normally flow above your knees – if there has been heavy rain or flooding, don’t monitor until the water level returns to normal. You should be able to easily access the water, without climbing down steep, eroded banks or scrambling over rocks. Remember, you will need to bring your monitoring kit with you, which may require two hands to carry. If you can’t walk to your site, be sure there is safe, adequate, and legal parking nearby.
*VA DWR recommends that all permittees display at least 100 square inches of solid blaze orange material at shoulder level within body reach and visible from 360 degrees, especially during hunting season.
Who’s in the Area
Talk to local IWLA chapters, VA SOS monitoring partners, watershed groups, conservation associations, or wildlife associations to find out if they are monitoring streams, or would be interested in having you monitor. Reach out to your local Soil and Water Conservation District. Do they have a stream on their property? Do they know of a potential water quality issue?
You can also view our currently monitored sites to see if there are streams near you that are not being sampled. Sites must be at least 1/4 mile from another site.
Permission & Permits
Monitoring sites must be on public land, unless you have received written permission from a private landowner. Check with your local town or city government to confirm accessibility of a site if you are unsure. Public parks may also require permission or additional permits to conduct scientific monitoring on their land.
All VA SOS monitors are given a copy of our sampling permit from the Department of Game and Wildlife Resources. Monitors must carry this permit every time they monitor.
Sampling Habitats
When you’ve identified a potential monitoring site, you need to find the best area to sample for macroinvertebrates. If you are sampling using the Rocky Bottom Method, look for riffles in the stream, where flowing water forms small white-caps over cobbles and stones. In the Muddy Bottom Method, choose a section of stream that includes a variety of the four sampled habitat types.
Use this Rocky vs Muddy Fact Sheet to help you decide.
Virginia GIS Map
The map below has information to help you locate a stream site of interest to you. Use the legend at the top left of the map to toggle between layers. Scroll into the map to see the rivers and streams near you – as you zoom in, smaller streams will become visible. Click on different features on the map to view a pop up of information.
- The orange dots represent the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s planned 2024 benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring stations. We don’t need to duplicate their efforts, so locate a site that is at least 1 mile from their sites.
- The VA Major River Basins layer will allow you to see which major watershed you are located in. This information will be used as your create your sites in the database and permit.
- The Virginia City and County Boundaries will help you find sites that are within a specific county. This information will also be used when you submit your sites, and can also be helpful as you determine which local representatives you may want to contact about water quality concerns.
GIS Data Files Courtesy of:
<Water Quality Monitoring Plan Stations (2024)>. <5/14/2024>. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
<Virginia Major River Basins / HUC 8 Watersheds>. <1/19/2023>. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
<Virginia City/County Census Boundaries>. <1/19/2023>. Virginia Department of Transportation