BECOME A citizen SCIENTIST and help monitor our SPRINGS!
SpringsWatch is a monthly citizen science monitoring program that facilitates hands-on volunteer work while contributing to our own database as well as those of other environmental agencies around the state. Currently, we have ten active SpringsWatch groups on the Silver, Ichetucknee, Rainbow, Santa Fe, Wakulla, Weeki Wachee, Wekiva, and Homosassa, Panhandle, and Jackson Blue spring systems. During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers and FSI staff collect data such as water quality field parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance), water surface stage readings, measurement of vertical light attenuation, measurement of horizontal Secchi depth visibility, photo station documentation of aquatic plants and wildlife, and observations of other wildlife and human uses. SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and volunteer!
7
YEARS MONITORING
10
WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS COLLECTED
235
SAMPLING TRIPS
>1,600
SpringsWatch
VOLUNTEER HOURS
SPRINGSWATCH GROUPS
Curious about the data collected by our SpringsWatch volunteers? Click on the photos below to learn more about each SpringsWatch group and check out our SpringsWatch Dashboards! Each Dashboard includes a map of the SpringsWatch stations, summaries of the data collected by each SpringsWatch program, and downloadable data!
Springswatch volunteer application form
*Groups with a wait list are at capacity and are currently not accepting new volunteers. If you wish to select one of these groups, we suggest applying for an additional group with no wait list to ensure you are able to participate in sampling as soon as possible. Apply for as many as you like!
Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
SPRINGSWATCH
volunteer COORDINATOR
Jill Lingard
The Florida SpringsWatch program was funded in part through generous support from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.