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Monitoring & Assessment
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Restoration
Monitoring & Assessment
Monitoring Programs:
The Forum’s Cooperative Monitoring Program involves water
quality sampling and analysis by the United States Geological
Survey (USGS), Fort Collins Water Quality Lab and Loveland Water
Quality Lab. In 2008, the Forum will collect and analyze
water samples from 21 sites, including the Big Thompson River
and its tributaries, and canals. Samples will be collected
throughout the year and over 30 water quality parameters analyzed through our Cooperative Monitoring
Program, including nutrients, metals, pathogens and physical parameters.
Since this program’s inception in 2000, the Forum has provided
more then 50,000 water quality data records on the Big Thompson
Watershed.
For access to these data, contact Zack Shelley at
(970) 613-6163 or
zshelley@btwatershed.org.
The Forum also coordinates a
monitoring program with community volunteers. Eleven sites are
sampled times a year by volunteers trained by the Forum. The
Forum partners with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to analyze samples collected by our volunteers.
From 2005 to 2007, over 25 parameters were collected at each
site, including nutrients, pathogens and physical parameters.
This program will continue into 2008.
Small Lakes Focus Group:
The Forum, along
with the High Plains Environmental Center and Silver Lake
Homeowners Association, developed the Small Lakes Focus Group (SLFG)
in 1998. The objective of the SLFG was to assess and improve the
environmental quality of Silver and Equalizer Lakes and Houts
Reservoir. The SLFG Program ended in December, 2007. Data
collected for the SLFG Program may be viewed and downloaded from
the Forum's monitoring data website.
Data Management & Assessment:
The Forum manages over 50,000 records of water quality data.
These data are assessed on a regular basis as part of the
Forum’s Water Quality Management Plan and to detect spatial and
seasonal trends throughout the watershed. In addition, the Forum
produces a triennial Big Thompson water quality report.
Education
Annual Meeting:
Each year the Forum hosts our annual
members meeting which is also open to the general public. At
this meeting we review the accomplishments and challenges of the
past year, and take advantage of the opportunity to present
information on topics of special interest – through expert
presenters, educational exhibits and vendor booths. Last year's
meeting was held on Thursday, September 20, 2007 in Estes
Park. Click
here
for more details.
Loveland Children's Water Festival:
The Forum participates in this
day-long,
interactive event with educational activities for Thompson School District
5th-graders. Teaches children the importance of good water
quality, how to protect it, and easy-
to-do water conservation
techniques.
 Self-Guided
Tour:
visit nine kiosks between the
Loveland Visitor's Center and Rocky Mountain National Park for
information about the ecological and physical aspects of the Big
Thompson Watershed and the importance of protecting its unique
ecosystems.
Rotary Club Kiosks:
seven interpretive kiosks and a
three-paneled information station along the City of Loveland's bike
and hike trail describe local riparian zones, cottonwood
ecosystems, stream life and more. The joint project of the
Big Thompson Watershed Forum, Loveland Rotary Club, Thompson
School District, and the City of Loveland was unveiled in
February 2005 as the Loveland Rotary Club's Centennial Project,
celebrating the 100th year of Rotary International.
Restoration
Big Thompson
Watershed Water Quality Management Plan:
a two-year planning process that will
evaluate the water quality impacts of nutrients in the Big
Thompson Watershed and identify management strategies to reduce
or eliminate these impacts.
 Annual Spring Waterway Cleanup:
Last year's annual spring waterway clean up was the best yet!
With the help of 170 volunteers, we removed 10 tons of trash!
Keeping our waterways clean is not only aesthetically
beneficial, but can actually help improve water quality by
removing
potential contaminants from the water. In 2008 the
City of Loveland Public Works/Storm Water Department will be
sponsoring this event on Saturday, April 19 from 9am to 12. For
more details, click
here.
 Big
Thompson River Revival:
Our 6th Annual Big Thompson River Revival
took place on
Saturday, September 22, 2007
at Centennial Park in Loveland, Colorado.
Click
here for more details.
With
the help of over 120 volunteers, we removed more than 15 cubic
yards of trash!
 Mariano Exchange Ditch
Improvement Project:
Phase One assessed the impacts of the Mariano Exchange Ditch (MED)
on water quality in the Big Thompson River and identified
mitigation strategies to reduce or eliminate these impacts.
Phase Two awaits funding.
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