Come get certified to monitor our streams! Learn how to measure macroinvertebrate diversity.

Adopt-A-Stream Workshop: Macroinvertebrate/Biological Monitoring

What to expect: Become a certified community water quality monitor! This workshop will give you the tools and training to assess the health and condition of a stream, wetland, or lake near you. You will also be able to report your data to a statewide database where we can track water quality at your site through time.

This is a combo workshop for Macroinvertebrate and Chemical Monitoring. Participants can expect to learn…

1. Basic macroinvertebrate identification using field guide
2. How to use field tools to collect macroinvertebrates
3. How to calculate macroinvertebrate diversity
4. How to use this information to assess the health of your water source

Program leader: Your guide will be Ranger Rachel Roberts, the DeKalb County Park Naturalist at Arabia Mountain as well as Michael O’Shield, a Public Relations Specialist with DeKalb Watershed.

Where to meet: Find Ranger Rachel in the classroom of the Nature Center (3787 Klondike Rd.).

What to bring: Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes that can get wet. There will be bug spray and sunscreen available. Please bring a reusable water bottle.

Restrooms: Public restrooms are available in front of the Nature Center. You will look for a brown building with red doors.

Recommended ages: This program content is designed for adults.

Dogs: This program is NOT appropriate for dogs, so please leave your pup at home.

Weather contingency: This program will be held rain or shine unless conditions are deemed unsafe by DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs (RPCA).

Walking distance: Approximately 2 miles (1 mile out and 1 mile back)

Exposure: The classroom part of the program will be inside the Nature Center while the field portion will be under both shade and sun.

Trail surface & accessibility: During the walking portion of the program, we will stay on established soft trails of mixed terrain. There are sections of the walk that are quite steep and also have exposed roots. Questions if this program will work for your mobility? Reasonable accommodations may be available upon request. To request an accommodation, please contact the program organizer at least 48 hours in advance of the event. Contact Ranger Rachel: rcroberts@dekalbcountyga.gov

Program Photos: We love documenting our programs and may share photographs on DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs’ websites, publications, and social media platforms. While participants are welcome to take their own photos, photographs taken by staff are generally intended for County documentation and promotional purposes and are not routinely distributed to participants.

Register here or at the link below.