Training

Volunteer Water Monitoring Training

Every year, Monitoring Montana Waters offers on-the-ground training in Standard Operating Procedures to funded groups. MMW personnel are available to travel to volunteer water quality monitoring groups watersheds to provide this in person training. Additionally, Monitoring Montana Waters, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and Montana State University Extension offer a bi-annual Volunteer Water Monitoring Training event. The next Volunteer Water Monitoring Training event will be held on May 12-14th, 2027, at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Scroll down for more information about this event.

 Volunteer Water Monitoring Training Flyer 4X4

Every other year, FLBS Monitoring Montana Waters (MMW), Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT-DEQ), and Montana State University Extension (MSU Extension) provide a training event at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. The next Volunteer Water Monitoring Training event is held on May 12-14th, 2027, at the Flathead Lake Biological Station.

Further information will be shared soon regarding the new Volunteer Water Monitoring Training event.

The previous training was held on May 14-16th, 2025, where groups received hands-on training from MMW, MT-DEQ, and MSU Extension. Groups received in-person support from completing a Chain of Custody form (COC) to collecting various samples from streams.


Scholarship Opportunities

In 2025, MMW provided one scholarship covering the full registration cost, awarded based on this competitive application. This scholarship covered the full cost of one attendee for the Volunteer Water Monitoring Training. This scholarship supported two nights of lodging and all meals. To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, participants had to be an active member of a volunteer water quality monitoring group and plan to monitor water quality in 2025. 

 Additionally, one member of each volunteer group was able to have their lodging in a cabin covered by MMW to help offset registration costs.

Those interested in attending the Volunteer Water Monitoring Training were also eligible to apply for the WMCC Watershed Fund, which has funding to help Montana’s local watershed conservation organizations build their capacity to reduce and prevent nonpoint source (NPS) pollution through professional development opportunities directly related to this work. Awards of up to $700 may support registration fees, lodging, and travel expenses, but may not cover meals or per diem. Funding requests must be submitted at least 14 days before the training or event start date.

Groups seeking local sponsorship to attend the May 14-16, 2025, training event were also able to use this fundraising letter template as wording guidance to help you initiate an ask of a local business. You are more than welcome to adapt the language of the letter as you see fit.

For information on previous biannual trainings, view the links below:

  • The 2025 training schedule is available here

  • The 2025 training survey is available here.

  • The 2023 training schedule is available here

On-the-ground Training

If you are in need of on-the-ground training for the 2028 sampling season, please don't hesitate to contact us!