Amy Hochberg and family

Amy has been monitoring with us since 2015 in the Bear River Watershed.  She monitors Right Hand Fork with her kids and assists with additional E. coli and harmful algae monitoring on local reservoirs.  Her daughters were an excellent help in the lab analyzing the data this summer!

Why did you decide to participate in UWW?

I wanted to get my kids involved in an outdoor and volunteering activity.  This is an excellent family activity.  We also want to help monitor the water quality. 

What do you enjoy most about participating?

Going out monthly to our monitoring location on Right Hand Fork; being outside in nature and experiencing our site on a regular basis.  

Is there anything in particular that you have learned from monitoring?

There was one day we were out and the water was more cloudy from sediment in the stream channel.  It appeared to be an impact that day from some ATVs upstream and it was interesting to see the impact they could have.

Thanks Amy!

Graphs of data collected from 2015-2017:

Angie Olsen

Angie just started monitoring with us this year in the Weber River Watershed with two sites - Weber River and Steed Pond.  We have been impressed by her gusto to learn more and enthusiasm to participate!

Why did you decide to participate in UWW?

I have a friend who has been active and would post about it online.  She shared an upcoming training event and it looked like a fun activity.  I was also looking for different volunteer activities in the community to participate with. 

What have you learned from you experiences?

It is all new to me!  I started without any background in water quality and am really enjoying learning about it. 

What do you enjoy the most?

Getting out in nature and being out by the river.  I appreciate that I am able to collect helpful information.  My location, Steed Pond, is on a list for harmful algal bloom monitoring locations, so I plan to attend an upcoming training to learn more about what I can do. 

You take your granddaughter out with you to monitor.  what do you hope to share with her?  

She walks around the pond with me and we look for issues, such as dead fish.  It is a great experience walking around and exploring life (and the occasional dead fish) around the edge of the pond.  

Thanks Angie!

Graphs of data collected in 2017:

Doug Johnson

As years go by, sometimes we can find ourselves "waterlogged" and caught up in the stream of life. Well, our dear friend Doug may be busy, but he's been a killer volunteer since 2015. Doug monitors a stream and a lake site in the Weber River watershed. He's recently taken even more on helping with tier 2 projects and macroinvertebrate sampling. We appreciate Doug's willingness to help in so many different ways! When Doug's not volunteering, you'll find him in a duck blind,out fishing, or just jamming out to Jesus Culture. 

Why did you decide to participate in UWW?

While attending the Watersheds Utah Master Naturalist class as part of my Master of Natural Resources degree thru USU, the instructor taught some of the same water sampling processes that we use as UWW volunteers.  He mentioned that USU conducts training for anyone wanting to be a UWW volunteer so I decided to do the training and start monitoring.   

 What do you enjoy most about participating?

I enjoy being outside and near the water - I also enjoy making a contribution to the UWW program and staying connected with USU after having graduated. 

 What’s one thing you’ve learned from monitoring?

The first thing that comes to mind is – I have learned that I have a passion for being involved in protecting our watersheds and water systems and I want to continue to learn more! 

One thing I have learned from monitoring specifically, is how water temperature affects dissolved oxygen levels.  

Fun Fact: If you want to thank Doug, you oughta send him some cashews. It turns out, it's his favorite outdoor snack. I'd have to say we agree with that. Cashews are pretty good.

Thanks Doug!