Sep 23, 2013 2 min read

For anyone who is concerned about protecting and improving the water quality of Washington County streams, a two-session training course has been scheduled.

C-SAW, the Consortium for Science Assistance to Watersheds, will conduct the training for volunteer water quality monitors. The training, intended for new volunteers and as a refresher course for those with experience, will be held on two Saturdays. The training will be held at the North Strabane Township Municipal Building on Route 519.

The first session, to be held Saturday, will provide water quality training. This training will run from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The second session, to be held Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., will focus on identifying macroinvertebrates, the tiny creatures that live in the streams, which is an essential tool for determining whether the water quality of the stream is good or poor.

As attendance is limited to 25, pre-registration is important. There is no charge for the training, which is intended for active volunteers who want to improve their skills and for new volunteers who will commit to volunteering during the coming year. Preference will be given to members of the Chartiers Creek and Buffalo Creek watershed associations.

To register, call Beth Kahkonen at 724-503-4785 or email bethk@pawccd.org.