Training

Training Opportunities

 

In 2023, FLBS Monitoring Montana Waters, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and Montana State University Extension provided a training event at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. The Volunteer Water Monitoring Training event will be held again on May 14-16, 2025, at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. MMW is also available to travel to funded group's watersheds to provide training. 

 

Registration for the Volunteer Water Monitoring Training event on May 14-16, 2025, opens Friday, March 21 and closes on Monday, April 28 at 5 pm. 

 

MMW will provide one or two scholarships covering the full registration cost, awarded based on this competitive application. This scholarship will cover the full cost of one attendee for the Volunteer Water Monitoring Training. This scholarship supports two nights of lodging and all meals. To be eligible to apply for this scholarship you must be an active member of a volunteer water quality monitoring group and plan to monitor water quality in 2025. Applications will be open from Wednesday, March 12th until Wednesday, March 26th. Applicants will be notified of their application status before the end of the month.  

 

Those interested in attending the Volunteer Water Monitoring Training are 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 may 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.

 

Training topics for the 2023 Volunteer Water Monitoring Training event focused on field monitoring methods and peer learning to implement effective volunteer water monitoring programs. The training was intended for watershed coordinators, conservation districts, and others who develop, implement, and manage water monitoring programs throughout Montana. The two focused workshops that were offered included: Starting a Volunteer Monitoring Project and Creating Rating Curves for Discharge. 

 

The 2025 training schedule is available here.

The 2025 training survey is available here.

The 2023 training schedule is available here. 

 

 

If you are in need of on the ground training for the 2025 sampling season, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Contact us:

For questions about on the ground training please contact Rachel Malison (rachel.malison@umontana.edu) or Brianna Elizondo (brianna.elizondo@flbs.umt.edu).

 

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