Volunteer Data

Central Coast Ambient Monitoring Program (CCAMP)

CCAMP is the ambient water quality monitoring program for the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Luis Obispo, California. CCAMP is a regional database that stores a wide variety of data and has structured its "volunteer" version of the software to address conventional water quality, bioassessment, transect and habitat data only.

Use of Volunteer Data

Volunteer data provides valuable information that might not otherwise be available due to personnel shortages and funding constraints of resource agencies. Below are examples of opportunities

To determine where education, outreach efforts and additional resources are needed
To determine the effectiveness of specific programs or projects
To develop a long-term data set which will provide information on trends related to weather, season, human land use, stochastic fluctuations, etc.
To integrate into local and regional water quality protection programs such as the Phase II Compliance (EPA regulations for small communities
To "flag" problem areas that might require further investigation

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Quality and Reliability of Data

There are many factors that affect the quality and reliability of citizen monitoring data. The best volunteer data is that which has been collected for many years by highly trained individuals using the most concise, calibrated equipment. The goal of the Network is to ensure that future programs achieve these objectives. The network supports volunteers through pertinent training, hands on experience, sufficient quality assurance, and scientific review and advice. Those using the data generated from these efforts must act with professionalism to ensure it is used appropriately and in

Factors that affect volunteer data are:

Training and experience of the volunteer
Amount of data that is available for a waterbody
Sophistication and care of the equipment being used
Design of the monitoring program
Data management and quality assurance/ quality control

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Disclaimer

Click here to view our Volunteer Data Disclaimer.

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