SWAMP - Clean Water Team Citizen Monitoring Program

"To build and support the State's Watersheds' Stewardship through involvement in citizen monitoring in order to reduce and prevent water pollution."

About the Clean Water Team
The Clean Water Team (CWT) is the citizen monitoring program of the State Water Resources Control Board. The CWT Coordinators are members of the Assessment and TMDL Support Unit, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Section. Regional CWT Citizen Monitoring Coordinators are each assigned to work with three of the Regional Water Quality Control Boards in order to provide technical assistance, training, data management consultation, outreach and education to citizen monitoring organizations. The photo documentation procedures and the model Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) were developed through the CWT as guidance for citizen monitoring projects.

Citizen monitoring is defined as any monitoring activity that relies in whole or in part on participation by volunteers, students or non-paid staff. A variety of organizations may be involved in citizen monitoring projects, including but not limited to non-profit groups, Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), Coordinated Resource Management and Planning (CRMP) groups, local government agencies, and schools. Successful Prop. 13, 319(h), or 205(j) contractors are required to work with the CWT to ensure consistency and data quality whenever citizen monitoring is involved. In order to avoid confusion or conflicting goals CWT coordinators should be consulted, from the beginning of the grant process, including the preparation of proposals.

State Water Board Clean Water Team Volunteers and Staff
conducting extensive water quality monitoring.

(click on image to enlarge)