What our volunteers do!

Across the state of Oklahoma, over 300 volunteers actively monitor 100 streams in an effort to help protect these water bodies. Blue Thumb volunteer monitoring is a 4-step approach to learning about local streams.
students collecting macroinvertibrates
Biological Monitoring:

Benthic macroinvertebrates and fish are collected to gather information on the life in the stream.

 stream with riparian area
Physical Monitoring:

A stream assessment is done with the fish collections to gather information on how the stream rates as a home for fish and macroinvertebrates.
volunteer collecting water sample
Chemical Monitoring:

A look at water quality at the instant sample water was collected.

 two people working on reports
Quality Assurance and Data Interpretation:

Volunteer data is used to gain valuable information about the state's streams.