User:Yadsalohcin/Wye-CitSci

For the wider picture of the River Wye Catchment, see User:Yadsalohcin/Wye-kipedia

And for activities in other nearby waterbodies see Citizen Science in Neighbouring or near the Wye catchment

Citizen Science in the the River Wye Catchment was kicked off by the Wye Salmon Association (WSA) with Water Quality Monitoring activities; expansion in 2021 included FoUW and CPRE(H) coordinated by Elle vonBenzon at Cardiff University:

Citizen Science groups

• WUF (hosts of WCP; have procured kit for local groups)
• WSA Subsequently WSA began soil monitoring with a study sampling across the Garren Brook subcatchment, reported via the NMB meeting of 28 September 2022.
• FoUW See their report to the EAC and the EAC report. With consultancy from Mott MacDonald, FoUW have kicked off further efforts to coordinate CitSci across the catchment
• FoLugg (through CPRW)
• FoDore
• GVAG (Golden Valley Action Group)
• Yazor Brook group
• Newton Brook group
• CPRE(H) (see CPRE)
• CPRW (See FoUW)
• FotLW
• WCCSA/BC9/TWA

Training

A set of Citizen Science training manuals and videos is kept at WUF/WCP.

Measurements

What is measured:

• All measure
  • Nitrates,
  • Phosphates (mostly via Hanna, some via Lamotte) and
  • water temperature
• All except WSA measure
  • Turbidity and
  • Electrical conductivity
• WSA measure
  • Total Dissolved Solids as an alternative to EC (note: there is no simple conversion between TDS and EC).
  • pH and
  • Ammoniacal Nitrogen
• FOLW measure
  • Nitrites
• CPRE Lugg measure
  • Water Level either below a bridge datum point or as Gauge board depth above Gauge Zero

Data acquisition app

In the 'first phase', each group has its own version of a Data acquisition app hosted at EpiCollect5.

Databases

Each group's database is hosted at EpiCollect5. In the 'first phase', the column order across the different groups' databases does not match. As at early 2023, work is in hand through TWA (and with encouragement from FoUW/MottMacDonald) to coordinate a unified EC5 App which would have all columns (in the same order) in a single database.

Site locations

Various maps have been produced to show the testing site locations at different stages of progression and for various purposes, e.g.

• WCCSA 2021 Phosphate Levels, early 2022, (ca. March)- initially just to avoid duplicate sites
• Wye Catchment Citizen Science Alliance (WCCSA) Sampling points, 2022, June
• Sites on the Wye and Lugg main stems for matching with phosphate targets for specific waterbodies, 2023, March.
• Sites in the Lower Wye subcatchment covered by CPRE(H), FotLW, and WSA, 2023, March.

Results

The groups' databases at EpiCollect5 are mirrored by the WUF/WCP and downloaded by the EA. During the 'first phase', they are merging them and using them for input to their quarterly/ subsequently 6-monthly summary reports. They are sharing the merged set with NRW.

AdHoc

Some preliminary demonstrations were created using 'Google MyMaps' to show the distribution of concentration of phosphates across the catchment:

• 2021 Mean phosphate levels
• April '22 phosphate levels (WSA numbers were not available for this mapping)
• June 2022 phosphate levels (WSA numbers were not available for this mapping)

Longer term

For the FoUW, 'Tableau' has been used to provide a fully interactive data visualisation. Via TWA and the FoUW/MM meetings, groups have gathered with the intention to adopt a uniform combined version of EpiCollect, feeding into a single database, with the possibility that the Tableau tool might be used to display results across the entire catchment at a page called 'WyeViz'. As a preliminary interim step, a cut-down version has been produced showing phosphate levels across FotLW, FoUW and CPREH sites.

Mapping

Area shape files

To assist with mapping the results, overlays of various areas have been found, including:

• Waterbodies in the English part (c/o EA)
• Waterbodies in the Welsh part (c/o NRW)

Files containing Multiple shapes may be read into G MyMaps, components removed, and then (ideally after re-naming the result in GMyMaps) the reduced set of shapes downloaded. kml files can be edited in any text editor.

Conversions between coordinate systems

For checking individual locations, the page at gridreferencefinder is good (gives aerial view c/o iMaps). Any form of input, many forms of output (w3w, 6-figure GR, 10-figure GR, GPS lat/long, Deg/min/sec lat/long, etc.

Batch conversion facilities between GR and GPS lat/long may be found at these -despite its claims, one of the services I found seemed to only go in one direction...

But the best method I've found yet for converting batches between GR and GPS lat/long is at 'doogal.co.uk'.

For converting batches between w3w and GPS lat/long, w3w have a tool.

Interaction with regulatory authorities

As at early 2023, the EA, NRW and DCWW are preparing positioning statements as regards their policy towards Citizen Science.

In their 2022 quarterly reports (which will become half-yearly in 2023), the EA began reporting Citizen Science results.

It is likely that the relationship with EA will transfer to being coordinated through CaSTCo.

Other CitSci initiatives

See for example Invertebrate sampling, Observational data

Instrumentation

Algae via chlorophyll flourimetry

Algal levels may be measured via chlorophyll flourimetry.