Bidwell Citizen Science Investigations (CSI)
What have we done
With support from the Westcountry Rivers Trust, a team of >30 citizens scientists monitored water quality monthly for over a year to make a baseline assessment of water quality. Testing in collaboration with SWW and Friends of the Dart also assessed the level of bacterial contamination in the river.
Our aims were to…
- Produce data to help target work and identify degraded water quality.
- Spot pollution events as they occurred such that quick remedial action could be delivered.
- Involve volunteers in helping to protect our local environment.
So far, our CSI Team has involved over 30 volunteers, doing regular basic water quality testing. This is producing useful data, as well as enabling people to learn and engage with their local water environment. The BBP CSI volunteers have joined a network of catchment communities across the South West that are invested in their local environment.
Bidwell CSI Scorecard
The work done by our Citizen Scientists enabled the Westcountry Rivers Trust to publish a CSI Scorecard for the Bidwell. This shows that the catchment is in relatively good ecological health.
Contact us if you would be interested in joining our team of Citizen Scientists. Your role would be to take and analyse monthly water samples from the Bidwell Brook. This will produce data that can be used to target work and identify degrading water bodies and help to spot pollution events so they can be dealt with as quickly as possible. You will be part of a network of catchment communities that are invested in their local environment. Training will be provided.
For further details of what’s involved, see Westcountry CSI – Westcountry Rivers Trust
