Citizen Science

To make good decisions about managing the Sonoma Valley Watershed, we must continually strive to understand its history, how it operates, how it supports its inhabitants, how it changes over time, and so on. A commitment to manage is a commitment to continual study: gathering and pooling information, looking for patterns, and thinking carefully about what it all means. Much of this study is done by community members--citizen scientists--who are curious about their home environment. 

Become a citizen scientist.  Browse the dropdowns under this tab for a look at real-time streamflow in Sonoma Creek, reported from the United States Geological Survey website.  This site is especially interesting during storms!  Also learn about photomonitoring--how can you get involved documenting the watershed with your camera.  You can also find out how to provide input to ongoing planning for the environmental health of the watershed.  Do you have additional ideas for research that could be conducted by citizen scientists? Send an email to Julie Jehly, Watershed Stewardship Coordinator, at Sonoma Ecology Center, or call her at 707-996-0712 x115.

Jeff S., a Kenwood Stream Steward, installed this professional weather station at his home. This is only one example of Citizen Science at work in the Sonoma Valley Watershed.