Volunteer Activities in Coasts and Oceans

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Citizen volunteers help our nation’s waters through many local monitoring programs. Water quality data are used to characterize waters, identify trends over time, identify emerging problems, determine whether pollution control programs are working, help direct pollution control efforts to where they are most needed, and respond to emergencies such as floods and spills. Volunteers also contribute valuable information on chemical and biological measures, as well as marine debris.

Volunteer Estuary Monitoring - a Methods Manual
Specifically written for volunteers in the complex ecosystems of estuaries, where rivers and other freshwaters meet the waters of the ocean, this is a comprehensive manual for new as well-established and experienced volunteer monitors. The manual covers such diverse information including how to get started, training and retention of volunteers, and how to present and manage data. Volunteer with one of your local estuary programs and you will be trained and, if necessary, given equipment to monitor your estuary.

Many other opportunities exist for volunteers

Volunteer Monitoring
Many volunteer opportunities for all waters, including how to get started, and how to manage data.

International Coastal Cleanup  
The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is the world’s largest volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment and collect marine environmental data from both land and underwater sites. Every year, volunteers from over 100 countries and territories bordering every major body of water on Earth participate in cleaning up millions of pounds of trash from coastlines, rivers and lakes.