The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation is recruiting participants for the 2016 summer sampling season to conduct water quality assessments in streams and rivers as part of the Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators project known as WAVE.

  A WAVE training session is scheduled in Delmar on Monday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WAVE data are used to augment the work of the DEC Stream Biomonitoring Unit, which samples streams and rivers across the state to create an inventory of stream water quality. Citizen monitors will provide valuable information to assist in identifying healthy stream sites and flagging sites that have potential water quality concerns.

The data is included in federal and state water-quality reports and helps to target professional assessments and local restoration or conservation efforts where they are most needed.

Citizen monitors visit stream sites once per year, anytime between July and September, and collect macroinvertebrates — insects and other small organisms — from the rocks and rubble on the stream bottom. If six or more of the "Most Wanted" organisms are found, the stream segment is unimpaired and fully supports aquatic life. If mostly "Least Wanted" organisms are found, then the stream segment is flagged for possible investigation by professionals.

Citizen monitors can participate in the WAVE project in one of three ways. They can:

— Serve as local coordinators who coach and coordinate their own team of WAVE participants. Local coordinators must attend a full-day training to participate;

— Sample independently. Independent samplers must also attend a full-day training to participate; or

— Join a local team led by a WAVE local coordinator. No training is required for this option.

To register for a training session or for more information, contact the DEC WAVE Coordinator Alene Onion by email at .