Aquatic Alliance for Texas Stream Team

A statewide citizen science project to monitor water quality in partnership with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, and Texas State University. Trained citizen monitors assist professionals by collecting water quality data on lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, bays, bayous and estuaries in Texas. Stream Team also participates in environmental education events for students and adults and promotes positive communication within the community about water resource protection.

The name of the state project is Texas Stream Team, and Aquatic Alliance is the name of our local group. Volunteers complete a training program to become certified monitors (CWQM). The training consists of a day of classroom and outdoor hands-on instruction in which the volunteers learn about nonpoint source pollution, watersheds, stream order, and the techniques of the water monitoring tests (Core Methods) – dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, temperatures, clarity, field observations. New monitors can select a monitoring site or can be assigned one.

Once certified, volunteers test their monitoring site once a month and submit their data online securely to Stream Team HQ/TSU in San Marcos. Aquatic Alliance volunteers are encouraged to monitor with a partner or as part of a group. As available, test kits will be issued to those who actively monitor with a 2-year commitment. In addition to Stream Team water chemistry training, participants may study other approved water quality-related topics such as macro invertebrates, fish, mussels, aquatic plants and amphibians.

Training is approved AT for 6 hours. Two hours of VH monthly is typical for a one-site monitor. Aquatic Alliance has introduced high tech digital probes into the water quality monitoring toolbox. Digital probes greatly reduce the amount of time needed to perform tests of dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity as well as eliminate the use of toxic chemicals. Expansion of digital equipment and E. coli testing supplies is funded by grants and NTMN budget allocations.

 2024 Activities – 13 volunteers with 372 hours of service performed

• Four quarterly classes of Texas Stream Team Core Training conducted by DWU.
• Richard Grayson was re-certified in San Marcos in Feb 2024 for E. coli Bacteria.
• Tom Heath was re-certified in San Marcos in Feb 2024 for Advanced Methods.
• One E. coli Bacteria training class was held Nov 2 in which 10 Monitors were trained and certified or re-certified (7 of 10 are MN).
• Approximately 25 active monitors were sampling regularly in 2024.
• There were 25 active monitoring sites in Dallas and Collin County in 2024.
• Activated new Water Monitoring site # 81807 at Ten Mile Creek in DeSoto, TX.
• Partner FTLOTL donated $700 for purchase of E. coli bacteria sampling supplies.
• Partner NTMN donated $1700 for purchase of E. coli bacteria supplies, digital probes and testing supplies.