Activities listed are appropriate for adults, middle school students if accompanied by an adult and high school to college students. Volunteers should be comfortable walking over some rough ground and working under variable field conditions.
Water Quality Monitoring Volunteer: (April – October) Hodgson Brook water quality monitors use meters to collect and record data on the Temperature, Turbidity, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, and Specific Conductance of the water at seven sampling sites along Hodgson Brook. Sampling occurs twice monthly on Tuesday mornings beginning in April and continues through October.
Time Commitment: (Four hours each event) One evening training session in April followed by four hours in the field every other Tuesday morning. Volunteers will be part of a sampling team which does allow some individual flexibility in scheduling.
Flow Measurement Volunteers: (April-October) Measuring stream flow is a way to determine pollutant loading from a stream or tributary into a receiving body of water. In order to accurately determine stream flow, measurements must be made of the stream width, depth, and the speed (velocity) of the flowing water at many horizontal and vertical points across the stream.
Time Commitment: (Two hours each event) One evening training session in May and one field training session. Field days to be determined as needed.
Invasive Weed Surveys: (June-July) The Hodgson Brook Monitoring Plan uses the presence/absence of exotic macrophytes (aquatic plants large enough to be seen with the naked eye) to help determine if the stream supports aquatic life use. Aquatic macrophytes characteristically grow in water or in wet areas and are quite a diverse group. For example, some are rooted in the sediments while others float on the water's surface and are not rooted to the bottom. Aquatic macrophytes may be native to an area or they may have been imported (referred to as non-native or exotic). Exotic macrophytes are non-native, fast growing aquatic plants, which can quickly dominate and choke out native aquatic plant growth in the surface water and make access to cover and food sources difficult for animals. Volunteers will be working with an experience plant biologist.
Time Commitment: One full day training in the classroom and out in the field, additional field days to be determined.
Illicit Discharge Surveys: Dry weather discharges from storm drain systems have been identified as potential sources of several pollutants in the Hodgson Brook Watershed. Conducting dry weather discharge surveys is a tool used to identify the potential sources of these pollutants. Volunteers will work with the Hodgson Brook Watershed Coordinator to collect and deliver samples
Time Commitment: (Two hours each event) Field training and sampling to be determined.
Trash and Debris Surveys: Trash is a documented issue in the Hodgson Brook Watershed and can affect humans, fish and wildlife in a number of adverse ways. The pollutants and debris carried into Hodgson Brook via storm water are transported to North Mill Pond, the Piscataqua River and ultimately the ocean. Surveys are conducted as part of the Seacoast United Way Day of Caring (DOC) activities in the spring. Assistance is needed with logistics and support to DOC volunteers who come from area businesses.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours each event.
Internships: Internships are available in partnership with the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. Contact us for details.
