Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE)

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WAVE (Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators) is a DEC program where volunteers collect, or sample “stream bugs” to assess water quality in wadeable streams in New York State. The bugs, or macroinvertebrates, are the “canaries in a coal mine”, that can tell us if a stream is affected by pollution or not. We call these organisms bioindicators.

Sampling Forms

For your convenience, all the necessary forms to collect a WAVE sample are also contained in the WAVE Sampling Guide. Additionally, links to the data sheet, user perception form, and habitat assessment form are also provided below for quick access. Please use the electronic data forms if at all possible.

Electronic data forms for WAVE sampling are available below. Please use these forms if possible; paper copies mailed to the Central Office are still acceptable.
Electronic Data forms for WAVE Sampling
Sampling Guide (PDF)

Functional instructional booklet for citizen scientists. This sampling guide includes instructions on how to sample and select sites through a survey123 link.

WAVE Data Form (PDF)

Form 1 of 3 - for recording macroinvertebrates and site information.

User Perception Form (PDF)

Form 2 of 3 - for recording the recreational use of the stream site.

Habitat Assessment Form (PDF)

Form 3 of 3 - for recording habitat conditions of the site.

Invasive Species Concerns

WAVE is collaborating with the NYS Regional PRISM offices: Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management. The mission of each PRISM office is to coordinate efforts to manage aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. WAVE participants can assist the PRISM effort. As you conduct your WAVE sampling, keep a look out for riparian and aquatic invasive species. The particular species of concern were highlighted at this year's WAVE training and can be found on this flyer (PDF).
 

WAVE Data

All of the WAVE data that have been collected since the beginning of this project are published on the online map of surveyed sites. For comprehensive data files, email [email protected].

Visit DEC's Google Maps and Earth web page for general information about Google Maps and for more maps available in Google Maps.

WAVE FAQ and General Information

Check out this WAVE brochure (PDF) to learn more about volunteering for WAVE.

  1. Print and sign this WAVE waiver (PDF)
  2. Mail your waiver to this address: Sarah Goodrich 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233
  3. Review online WAVE training modules.
  4. Pick your sampling sites using the link on page 8 of the sampling guide (link in step 5), making sure to review the unassessed stream sites here: Division of Water's WAVE Program: Volunteer macroinvertebrate monitoring at wadeable streams
  5. Review WAVE sampling guide (PDF).
  6. Conduct sampling in accordance with the sampling guide, between May and September.
  7. Send samples to Sarah Goodrich 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233
  8. Wait for results.

Volunteers are encouraged to select sampling locations along any accessible reach of the highlighted streams on the map. However volunteers may sample where-ever is locally valuable and accessible.

View the online WAVE map for a representation of the results of the Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE) program.

The central office can supply vials for pick up or shipping, NYSDEC regional offices generally provide kick nets. 

Email [email protected] 

Contact for this Page

DOW, WAVE Program
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

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