The water monitoring program has adopted 4 sites in the watershed – North Fork Highway 26 Bridge; Middle Fork Highway 26 Bridge, South Fork Mokelumne below Licking Fork, and Electra Road on the main stem. These sites are sampled once every three months throughout the year. Local team members also identify stream and riparian habitat characteristics on an annual basis at each site. The total time on site typically varies from 2-3 hours on a Saturday morning – with 4 hours or so during the annual habitat assessment activity. With increased interest to participate in the program we will be able to broaden our sampling sphere and potentially increase efforts on the Upper Calaveras River watershed.

Members of each monitoring team complete a 3-part training program that allows them to effectively and accurately measure water quality and habitat characteristics. The training includes bacteria sampling and analysis as the council plans to expand the bacteria monitoring program as early as this winter. The last training for water quality monitors was over two years ago and now the Council is seeking additional individuals to participate in the citizen water quality monitoring program. For those of you that want to experience the monitoring program prior to the training, we have scheduled Saturday, October 28th as the next water quality and stream habitat survey date. Anyone interested in participating in the water quality program is invited to participate. For questions, information or training sign ups contact Terry Strange, Watershed Coordinator Upper Mokelumne River Watershed. 235 New York Ranch Road, Suite D, Jackson, CA 95257 Office (209) 257-1851 ext 105.