If you are interested in starting your own Water Monitoring Program we have some “how-to” guides on where to start! See various resources below.
Have more questions? Call our office!
Videos
Former Saint Mary’s University student, Cory Blanchard, created a series of videos featuring some of the CBEMN’s community partners and the role the Network plays in each organization’s monitoring efforts. To learn more about the Sackville Rivers Association, the Clean Foundation & the Eastern Shore Forest Watch, check out their videos.
Need to calibrate your YSI Professional Multiprobe? Check out our easy to follow video series below!
Documents, Manuals, Reports and References
Data Management Workshop: Water to Web
Workshop materials for AWN’s Winter 2019 workshop on Data Management.
Data Analysis Workshop: Data to Action
Workshop materials for AWN’s December 2019 workshop on Data Analysis.
Collaborative Social Media Workshop
Slides from an August 2020 online workshop on collaborative social media strategy.
Guide to Writing a Water Quality Monitoring Plan
This document was created by the CBEMN and CURA H2O to assist stewardship organizations in preparing a water quality monitoring plan.
Media Relations for Community-Based Water Monitoring
This guide was made to equip community-based water monitoring organizations with the tools to effectively build strong media relationships, and use these connections to communicate its findings to key audiences. It was created by a team of public relations students as part of the public relations advanced diploma program at Nova Scotia Community College.
The Indigenous Guardians Toolkit
This toolkit supports Indigenous communities across Canada to learn, share and connect about Indigenous Guardian programs. Be inspired by other communities, find practical information, and share your experiences.
The Citizen Science Central website based at Cornell University in the USA has developed some useful links and tools for developing citizen science projects.
Invasive Species (yellow floating heart & hydrilla)
We currently have invasive species fact sheets on the aquatic invasive plant species yellow floating heart and hydrilla. Early identification and removal are key in preventing this type of ecosystem transformation. These fact sheets provide guidance on identification, prevention, and what to do if these species are found in a local aquatic environment.
An Online Resource for Tree Identification
The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has launched a new website which presents a virtual tour of 30 commercial Nova Scotia tree species. A catalogue is available on this website in the hopes for “better forestry management and a keener appreciation of the natural world” (Louis Legge, The Chronicle Herald, March 2, 2008).
NatureWatch is a series of ecological monitoring programs that encourage you to become a citizen scientist. NatureWatch lets you learn about the environment while gathering the information scientists need to monitor and protect it. Data collected through NatureWatch is being used to add to our knowledge of the effects of climate change and other impacts on biodiversity.
Guidelines for the design of fish passage for culverts in Nova Scotia. Fish rescue guidelines from the Nova Scotia Salmon Association can be found on page 64.
Marine Community Monitoring Manual
This manual has been adapted from the Western Australia Marine Community Monitoring Program. It is intended to help interested and/or concerned citizens monitor and manage their marine environments. Authors: Chelsea Adams and Oliver Woods.
Environment Canada’s Ecological Monitoring Protocols have been developed for marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Formally under “The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN)”.
Nova Scotia environmental databases, mapping, stats, & more resources!
The Dynamic Environment & Ecosystem Health Research group at Saint Mary’s University have developed a comprehensive list of Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada open datasets, mapping resources, online tools, and other resources.
Public Perception of Water Quality in Halifax Harbour
Author: Sarah Weston (Department of Geography: Saint Mary’s University)
An Overview of Environmental Monitoring and its Significance in Resource and Environmental Management
Author: Sarah Weston (Master of Resource and Environmental Management Candidate, Dalhousie)
Maritime Community-Based Water Monitoring: Impacts on Local Decision-Making
Author: Alexandra Webb
How to Test Water Quality and Influence People: Celebrating Successful Community-Based Monitoring Initiatives in Maritime Canada
Author: Alexandra Webb (A companion document to Maritime Community-Based Water Monitoring: Impacts on Local Decision-Making)
Using Data from Community-Based Water Monitoring in Nova Scotia
Authors: Dr. Alice Cohen (Environmental Science & Environmental & Sustainability Studies, Acadia University) & Aislin Livingstone (Atlantic Water Network, Saint Mary’s University)
Guide to writing a Water Quality Monitoring Plan
This guide to writing a Water Quality Monitoring Plan was created by the CBEMN and CURA H2O to assist stewardship organizations in preparing a water quality monitoring plan.
Volunteer Lake Monitoring in New Brunswick
Prepared by the former ACAP group, the Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc. created this document to provide an overview of lake monitoring in New Brunswick as well as to describe what volunteer lake monitoring consists of and who can get involved.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Citizen Science Monitoring Guidance
Click here to access the Virginia Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Program Methods.
Virginia Water Monitoring Council Reference Material
Click here to access a variety of resources for non- governmental water quality information.
Government of Western Australia
A guideline to the development of surface water quality monitoring programs.
Queensland Government
Online guide to developing a monitoring plan.
Quality Assurance Project Plan Development Tool
Click here to check out the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Quality Assurance Project Plan Development Tool.
Water Quality Guidelines
This quick reference guide has been compiled based on guidelines established by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. It is intended for stewardship groups for the purpose of referencing monitoring data and to recognize any areas of potential concern. This document is also available in the ‘Resources’ section of this website.
