Volunteering

The UMRWP is able to function because of its partner’s support and volunteer activities. We are always looking for individuals or organizations to assist with the implementation of UMRWP goals and objectives. Becoming a partner entails crafting a written letter of support pledging either financial or in-kind resources to the organization. This most often amounts to pledging so many “man hours” of an organization’s paid staff to work on UMRWP related efforts.

One of the most important elements of the UMRWP planning process is community input and decision making. Coming to public input meetings is one of the most effective ways to create action around issues in your communities. Confirmed concerns have direct input into watershed plans and watershed plan updates, which leads to direct impact in our local watersheds.

We are looking for volunteers to help with grant writing – by expanding our financial base we can aid in the implementation of BMPs by means other than 319 funding. Projects we seek funding for are: the development of regional stream data for Indiana and the Midwest and a nature center in Muncie to feature water ecosystems. If you have any interest in writing a grant for the UMRWP it would be greatly appreciated. Any other ideas are welcomed.

We are looking for volunteers to aid in the development of white papers that can lead to publica­tion credits. This is ideal for natural science students that are seeking publication materials for scholastic work such as school papers, thesis, or dissertation.

We utilize volunteers to aid in our stream assessment procedures that range from Chemical Testing, Biological Testing, and Sediment Testing (Rosgen). Each of these methods have a degree of the following: direct field measurements, bank pins, remote sensing, BEHI and NBS sediment assessments, sheet runoff calculations, water quality sampling and benthic community assess­ment, Hoosier River Watch methodology, windshield surveys, aerial analysis, general cartogra­phy, and community input surveys.

Students and community volunteers interested in Geographic Information Systems such as Arc­GIS or Google maps are encouraged to aid the project by developing map and communica­tions resources to aid in community outreach and planning efforts. This can also be in conjunc­tion with site analysis efforts such as stream assessment.

Volunteers can work to develop brochures and educational resources from a list of current projects. These materials will be included on handouts and websites. The majority of work is feature/technical writing.

We are always in need of volunteers to aid in the staffing of education and outreach events.