This is open to everyone," said Linda Saad, representative of the ELANCO Source Water Collaborative. Saad is seeking volunteers to collect and test water samples from streams throughout northeastern Lancaster County, where she noted no creeks are currently being monitored. "We have no volunteers," explained Saad. "We may have some recommendations for streams we'd like to have monitored. We'd like to get some data on the upper Conestoga, but (volunteers) can pick a stream in this area."

Saad pointed out that the purpose of the Water Quality Volunteer Coalition (WQVC) will be to obtain information. "More than 50% of the 140 miles of streams in this county are compromised," said Saad, who noted that watching for evidence of the effectiveness of restoration projects, such as planting trees around streams, is a goal. "We will see changes in temperature and water quality ... (and) changes in sedimentation and runoff," she noted.

The long-term water testing project is a partnership between the Lancaster County Conservation District, an organization working to enhance awareness of the relationship between human activities and the environment, and ELANCO Source Water Collaborative. "The WQVC is a group of local volunteers who care about their local streams and want to see how they're doing," said Amanda Goldsmith, watershed specialist with the Conservation District, who added that a number of county partners, volunteers, government agencies, and citizens are all working together to clean up local streams. "Through water quality monitoring, volunteers are able to help tell the story of local stream improvement," Goldsmith explained.

"We will pair up with the Conservation District to train volunteers to begin monitoring various sites," explained Saad, who added that water testing began about 20 years ago with the Senior Environment Corps working with the Office of Aging, but later, it became a more generalized program where any citizen could volunteer. "People need not be seniors. This is open to everyone," said Saad.

Monthly requirements for volunteers will include chemical, biological, and physical testing. Volunteers will check water temperature and look for nitrates and oxygen. Regular biological testing will include searching for macroinvertebrates, insect larvae, and small aquatic life in the stream. "(Finding life) is an exceptional indicator of water quality," noted Saad. Other volunteer work will include assessing whether the stream bank is stable and whether there are vegetation issues, such as the presence of invasive plants.

"Once the training is complete, experienced mentors will accompany (volunteers) until they feel comfortable doing it themselves," noted Saad, who pointed out that the Conservation District has a satellite site at Garden Spot Village (GSV), where volunteers will be able to pick up supplies for testing the water. Samples may be brought to GSV for testing and to enter results into a computer database. "The database is maintained by the county, and it's available to any citizen group that wants to take a look at water quality in various areas of the county," said Saad. "The program isn't meant to create any kind of a regulatory atmosphere, (rather) it is done for awareness and so that professionals can keep an eye on the level of water quality issues in the county."

According to Goldsmith, the WQVC sampling will provide volunteers with an opportunity to become an integral part of data collection. "Monitoring also identifies areas that aren't improving and where restoration efforts are needed most," she said.

Readers who are interested in volunteering in the program may email llsreply2@gmail.com or call the Terre Hill Borough at 717-445-4581.