Volunteer River Monitoring

Program (VRMP)

Introduction | History | Program Contact | VRMP Data | Guidance Documents | Volunteer Groups | Other Data | Links

Introduction

In 2009, the DEP launched a statewide volunteer river monitoring program (VRMP). The VRMP is a network of volunteer groups participating in quality-assured river and stream sampling. The program operates under a program-level Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP). Individual volunteer groups develop Sampling and Analysis plans to tailor the program-level QAPP to their specific project goals. As part of the program, VRMP staff provide annual trainings and certification, guidance about data quality objectives, technical support and assistance, data storage in DEP's Environmental and Geographic Analysis Database (EGAD), and annual reports.

History

DEP began work to establish a statewide volunteer monitoring program in 2004 because of the lack of standardization among volunteer monitoring groups and centralized access to data. In addition, a 2007 report assessed the need for a statewide citizen-based monitoring program and demonstrated the benefits of such an initiative. If you would like a copy of this report, "Citizen Stewardship and Monitoring for Clean Water in Maine", please contact program staff.

Program Contact

Kristin Feindel (Program Coordinator) - (207) 215-3461
Volunteer River Monitoring Program
Maine DEP
17 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0017

VRMP Data

• VRMP Data Dashboard – Recent data collected by VRMP groups. Map of sites, graphs of results and data by site. Can filter by year, organization, and other attributes.
• VRMP Annual Data Reports – Summary of program information, parameters collected, sampling locations and results for each organization by sample year, beginning in 2013.

VRMP Monitoring Guidance Documents

• VRMP Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (PDF)
• VRMP QAPP Appendices (PDF)
• VRMP QAPP Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (PDF)
• Stream Survey Manual

Current Volunteer Groups Contact your local volunteer group to get involved. Field sampling is generally June-September.

Other Data

• Maine Department of Environmental Protection
  Maps and Data Page - A wide array of data types available from MDEP.
  Rivers & Streams - Biomonitoring Maps and Data
  
  
• Gulf of Maine and its watershed
  Knowledge Base. (off-site) Catalog of datasets and documents for the Gulf of Maine.
  
  
• U. S. Geological Survey (Maine region)
  U.S. Geological Survey (Maine region) - The Maine water science center-including flow data.
  
  
• Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
  Seacoast Watershed Information Manager - Provides tools and information to guide sustainable management of your community's water resources.

Links