Current Projects:
Water Quality and Aquatic Environment Monitoring Project
Past Projects:
Technical Papers Library
Traditional Mapping Project
Model Plan for Tribal Resource Management
Salamatof Seeds Project
Sitka Tribe’s Natural Resource Management
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Water Quality and Aquatic Environment
Monitoring Project (WQAEMP) Project Overview
Background
The Native Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) is a national
Tribal
Organization established informally during the early 1980’s and
incorporated in 1983. The Society has evolved into a dynamic organization
that represents professional biologists, natural resource managers,
technicians, and conservation law enforcement officers. The Society
represents seven geographical regions across the United States with
a regional office in Alaska.
The Alaska Region is committed to furthering the role of Alaskan Natives in resource management by increasing tribal technical capabilities while honoring traditional knowledge, experience and values. It will work to increase resource management capabilities while respecting and preserving the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Alaskan Natives.
The mission of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
is to assist Native Americans and Alaskan Tribes with the conservation
protection and enhancement of their fish, wildlife, habitat, and cultural
resources.
NAFWS currently has a cooperative agreement with the Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 10 for the Water Quality and Aquatic Environment Monitoring
Project (WQAEMP). Over the course of three years the WQAEMP has been
able to reach 91 Alaskan communities and provide education and training
to over 142 community members.
WQAEMP Program Objectives
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To provide training that builds local capacity in Alaskan villages
for monitoring the quality of water resources.
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To develop networking opportunities for water quality monitoring programs including, program support between participants, technical assistance and funding resources.
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To provide information and referrals for the development of
water quality monitoring projects.
Program Training Description
The training program includes a combination of class-room style instruction and hands-on field experience. The trainings have been modified based on evaluations and staff observations. At this time the training program is offered in three phases, with phases two and three building on previous work.
Phase I: Introduction to water quality monitoring:
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Envisioning a program for your community, steps for
developing a water quality monitoring program. -
Fisheries Habitat
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Traditional Ecological Knowledge documentation and water quality monitoring
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Rapid Bioassessment
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Water Chemistry
Phase II: Development of water quality monitoring:
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Review of Phase I
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Study of Lake and Ocean ecosystems
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Continuation of Rapid Bioassessment
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Introduction to Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
Phase III: Development and Implementation of Quality Assurance Project Plans:
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Implementing a Quality Assurance Project Plan
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Maintaining your equipment and supplies
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Data Management
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Ensuring the quality of your data
What to Expect
Listed below are the resources the Society will provide:
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Lodging and lunches at training site
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Transportation to and from lodging facilities and training site
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Water quality monitoring “tool kit”
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Workbooks and educational materials
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Lab analysis assistance: Provide funding for one lab test
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Technical assistance regarding development of monitoring programs
or referrals to other resources
Comments from participants who have taken the training:
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The workshop allowed me to understand the biology of fish habitat that I was
never aware of and learn the effects of toxins in our waterways.
-
I learned the importance of the quality and quantity of life in waterways and how
to test for them.
-
My Tribal Council can use the information to gain an understanding of why our
sockeye salmon runs are declining.
-
It shows how the pollution affects the amount of food in our streams/rivers. This
also shows what can help or hinder fish habitat.
-
The information was presented in a manner that was easily understood. I
especially liked learning about contaminants that affect our water systems and
fisheries habitat.
