StreamSmart

Stream Smart is a cooperative effort between Audubon Arkansas, Beaver Water District, the Arkansas Game and Fish Stream Team program, Ozarks Water Watch, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Arkansas Water Resources Center, and the Beaver Watershed Alliance.  Stream Smart envisions a proactive citizenry working to monitor the water quality of the tributaries within the Beaver Lake Watershed. Citizen science is a term used for scientific projects in which individuals or networks of volunteers, many who have no scientific training, perform research related tasks such as water quality monitoring. Teaching volunteers to properly collect samples and analyzing samples at a lab with a standard quality assurance plan or certification by a third party reduces the sampling collection and analytical error resulting in reliable data.

Using volunteer scientists is not only economical, but also educational – citizen science programs are a great way to get stakeholders interested in environmental issues and promote a sense of responsibility to protect and improve water quality. By collecting chemical, physical, and biological data from tributaries of the Beaver Lake Watershed, citizens participating in Stream Smart will have the ability to raise awareness and understanding of watershed health issues in a personal and public behavior at the local level.  The continued intention of this project will focus on teaching concepts, building skills, and facilitating communication between communities to ensure clean and healthy lakes and streams for current and future generations.

For information about how you can become involved, contact send an email to mviney@audubon.org.