Project Summary: The Capitol Region Watershed District established a monitoring program in 2004.  The District and its partners monitor storm sewers, lakes, ponds and rainfall.  Since nearly all surface streams have been converted to underground pipes, most monitoring occurs in storem sewers.  Data collected from this program are used to assess achievement of water quality standards, evaluate BMP programs, identify water quality problem areas, calibrate computer models and perform trend analysis.  Data collected includes water level and velocity, nutrients, metals, chlorides, E. coli, solids concentrations and carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD). 

How Does a Monitoring State Work: Each site has a sensor that measures level, velocity and discharge/flow.  During storms, when the level or velocity reaches a predetermined threshold, the sensor signals the sampler to take water samples.  Samples are taken throughout the storm.  After the storm is over, CRWD staff  combine the samples and deliver them to the lab for analysis.

Water samples taken on March 30, 2005 from different subwatersheds and their corresponding transparency readings.

Water Quality Monitoring

Map of Monitoring Sites.pdf

Program Details                                                              Number of Sites: 17                                                            2007 Budget: $1,88650                                                                Number of Monitoring Full-Time Employees:2.2       Data Collection Efficiency:98% in 2006                       Percent of District Monitored: 67%

CRWD staff install a monitoring station in the Kittsondale subwatershed.

To Contact Us                     Phone (651) 644-8888        Fax (651) 644-8894             Office Hours            Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:30