The Michigan Clean Water Corps
A Statewide Volunteer Stream and Lake Monitoring Network
What is MiCorps?
The Michigan Clean Water Corps, or MiCorps, is a statewide network of volunteer stream and lake monitoring organizations. Many of Michigan’s lakes and streams benefit from the stewardship of local residents who volunteer their time and energy to monitoring efforts. The State recognized the value of this stewardship and in 2003 established MiCorps to coordinate and expand volunteer stream and lake monitoring organizations and facilitate the sharing of high-quality data with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and among monitoring groups, for water resource management and protection. The Great Lakes Commission and the Huron River Watershed Council are partnering to establish MiCorps under the direction of MDEQ, with support from Michigan Lake and Stream Associations, Inc., and Michigan State University Extension.
MiCorps builds upon MDEQ’s previous volunteer water quality monitoring programs, the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) and the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Grants Program (VSMGP).
The MiCorps Mission:
- To network and expand volunteer water quality monitoring organizations statewide for the purpose of collecting, sharing and using reliable data;
- To educate and inform the public about water quality issues; and
- To foster water resources stewardship to facilitate the preservation and protection of Michigan’s water resources.
MiCorps Resources for Volunteers
- Training in standardized monitoring methods
- Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) guidance
- www.MiCorps.net website
- Directory of Michigan volunteer water quality monitoring programs
- Online data management and exchange system
- Volunteer monitoring resources
- MiCorps Monitor newsletter
- Volunteer stream monitoring grants program
- Annual MiCorps Volunteer Monitoring Conference
- Volunteer recognition program
Long-Term Goal
The long-term goal for the MiCorps program is to produce a broad network of volunteer stream and lake monitoring programs using standardized methods of data collection with a strong focus on quality control and assurance. This emphasis on high-quality data, combined with the broad accessibility of the online data exchange system, will lead to greater use of volunteer monitoring data by MDEQ, local managers, and the volunteer programs themselves for water resource planning, protection and management.
Learn more at www.MiCorps.net
Last Updated: March 2006
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