MBNMS Volunteer of the Year 2006 Mary Scannell

Mary Scannell has volunteered for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network (The Network) for the last 5 years doing water quality monitoring in all four of the Network's monitoring programs. She is a team leader for the annual Snapshot Day event. She monitors twice a month from June through October for the Urban Watch program in Monterey, CA. Mary participates each year in the First Flush monitoring program in which volunteers mobilize day or night to capture samples of the first big rain of the season (this program is not for the faint of heart). Beginning in 2005, Mary began monitoring water quality monthly in two watersheds in the City of Salinas. She faithfully participates in all of the training events and provides leadership to the new volunteers. She is a skilled water monitor and her dedication and expertise make her a very valuable member of the Citizen Monitoring Network.

Mary is dedicated and concerned for the MBNMS and its watersheds. Mary is committed to doing her part to establish a valuable long term water quality data set that will help resource managers to effectively protect and manage the biodiversity and habitats found in and around the Monterey Bay. She is committed to resource protection and improved water quality. She is a person that never stops learning. She currently works full time and also attends Cal State University Monterey Bay in the Earth System Science and Policy Program. She integrates her science based education to help improve the quality and quantity of the data collected by citizens. As a long term volunteer, Mary is instrumental in the success of the Citizen Monitoring Network and the recognized value of citizen collected data.