Tools for Volunteers

• Shoreline Survey
• River Continuity (Culverts & Dams)
• RIFLS Flow Monitoring
• Habitat
• Stormwater/Non-Point Source Pollution
• Water Quality Monitoring
• Cleanups
• Lake Watershed Surveys

Shoreline Survey

The Shoreline Survey is a visual survey of the river, based on data sheets and protocols created by the Adopt-A-Stream Program. The Shoreline Survey is designed to provide a qualitative overview of the river and to identify problems to be solved and resources to be protected. Shoreline Surveys provide groups with direct field experience that enables them to take action to protect the river. Most Stream Teams start their work with a Shoreline Survey.

The data sheets cover instream conditions, stream corridor conditions and land use, recreational opportunities, habitat and wildlife. Shoreline Surveys have proved valuable for river advocates of all types, town officials and those who are having a first look at a neighborhood stream.
• Stream Team Process Flow Chart (pdf)
• Shoreline Survey Case Study (pdf)
• Shoreline Survey Data Sheets (doc)
• Estuary Shoreline Survey Data Sheets (doc)

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River Continuity (Culverts & Dams)

River Continuity is an innovative tool to use to assess fish and wildlife passage along rivers. Through a partnership with UMass Extension, River Continuity aims to reduce adverse impacts of road crossings on fish and wildlife movement. The River Continuity Partnership has developed surveys to inventory road crossings and works with local advocates and towns to improve culverts through retrofit or replacement. Riverways is also working to assess the location and condition of dams across the state. A dam assessment form is available to record information about dams in your watershed.

• River Continuity
• River Continuity data sheets
• Dam Assessment Form (pdf)

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RIFLS Flow Monitoring

The RIFLS (River Instream Flow Stewards) Program helps local groups identify, document and restore rivers and streams suffering from abnormally low flows. Through this process, citizens and local officials learn about the importance of healthy streamflow, work together to restore more natural flow regimes, and establish high quality streamflow data records for local, regional and state uses.

• RIFLS page

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Habitat

Adopt-A-Stream has developed a riparian area survey that allows volunteers to assess the health of stream bank and buffer habitat. Also see below for a list of native species recommended for planting in riparian areas and a fact sheet about the importance of snags (woody habitat) in rivers.

• Riparian Area Survey (doc)
• Snags, Brush and River Health (pdf)
• Fact Sheets on Functions and Values of Riparian Areas
• Native Species for Riparian Areas (pdf)

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Stormwater/Non-Point Source Pollution

Adopt-A-Stream has developed a stormdrain mapping manual and data sheet that allows volunteers to assist town officials in identification of stormdrain outlets and illicit discharges. We also have resources related to stormdrain stenciling and have developed a rain garden fact sheet for homeowners and town officials who are interested in stormwater infiltration. Please let us know if you would like Adopt-A-Stream to give a workshop on rain gardens to your garden club or watershed group.

• Stormdrain Mapping Manual (pdf)
• Stormdrain Data Sheet (pdf)
• Stormdrain Stenciling Notebook (please email us for a copy)
• Rain Garden Fact Sheet (pdf)
• Rain Garden Slide Show (pdf)

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Water Quality Monitoring

Groups interested in water quality monitoring should contact the Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership at UMass Extension. The Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership (MassWWP) provides training and other technical assistance to citizen organizations who conduct water quality monitoring programs on the lakes, rivers, and estuaries of Massachusetts.

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Cleanups

Many groups use cleanups as a way to gain support for their river protection efforts and to conduct a highly visible activity on the stream in which people can easily participate. Cleanups, when done properly, can help to enhance stream habitat by removing trash and other discarded items that often accumulate along rivers. Cleanups should focus on human deposited debris.

• How to Organize a River Cleanup (pdf)
• Conservation Commission Application Form for a Cleanup (pdf)

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Lake Watershed Surveys

The Lake Watershed Program was a pilot project whose purposes were to (1) help citizens find root causes of water quality problems and (2) support grassroots planning and implementation of actions that help restore lake water quality and improve watershed management.

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