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  2. Wetlands

Volunteer Wetland Monitoring

 The following selection of publications and contacts have been placed in categories that indicate the main approach of each publication. Some publications are listed in more than one of these categories.

  • Technical and Training Manuals
  • General Water Monitoring
  • Public Involvement
  • Educational

Technical and Training Manuals

  • Adopt-a-Beach. Field Guide to Wetland Characterization: A Non-Technical Approach. (Out of print, but some copies still available from: Washington State University Cooperative Extension, King County, Land/Water Stewardship Program, 612 Smith Tower, Seattle, WA 98104), Tel. (206) 296-3900. $4.
  • Stone, Amanda Lindley, Frank Mitchell, Rick Van de Poll, and Nancy Rendall. 2015. Method for Inventorying and Evaluating Freshwater Wetlands in New Hampshire. Published by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
  • Bryan, R., M. Dionne, R. Cook, J. Jones, and A. Goodspeed. 1997.  Maine Citizen's Guide to Evaluating, Monitoring, and Managing Tidal Marshes (pdf) (9.37 MB) (PDF) (142 pp, 9.37 MB) . Maine Audubon Society, Falmouth, Maine.
  • Carlisle, B.K., A.M. Donovan, A.L. Hicks, V.S. Kooken, J.P. Smith, and A.R. Wilbur. 2002. A Volunteer's Handbook for Monitoring New England Salt Marshes. Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. Tel. (617) 626-1212, czm@state.ma.us. Free download.
  • Gray, A., R.P. Brooks, D.H. Wardrop, J.K. Perot. 1999. Pennsylvania's Adopt-a-Wetland Program Wetland Education and Monitoring Module: Student Manual . Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center. Free download.
  •  Marsh Monitoring Program Training for Birds and Amphibian Monitoring. CD and Scripts for the Great Lakes and Canada. Published by Bird Studies Canada in cooperation with Environment Canada .
  •  Magee, T.K. et al. 1993. Research Plan and Methods Manual for the Oregon Wetland Study. EPA, Environmental Research Lab, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333, Tel. (541) 867-5000. $25-60. NTIS# PB93-212-058*.
  • Miller, T., J. Martin, L. Storm, and C. Bertolotto. 1996. Monitoring Wetlands: A Manual for Training Volunteers (collaboration with EPA Reg. 10 and King Cty). Adopt-a-Beach (Washington non-profit), 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Rm 305, Seattle, WA 98103. $15. May be out of print.
  • Rock River Coalition and University of Wisconsin-Extension Basin Education Initiative. Monitoring Your Wetland. Series of nine free downloadable PDFs.
  • Save the Bay. Narragansett Bay Method: A Manual for Salt Marsh Evaluation. Save the Bay, 434 Smith St., Providence, RI 02908-3770, Tel. (401) 272-3540. May be out of print.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2001. Volunteer Wetland Monitoring: An Introduction and Resource Guide. EPA 843-B-00-001.

General Water Monitoring

  • Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. RiverTrends Publications . P.O. Box 1951, Richmond, VA. Tel. (804) 775-0951.
  • USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2003.  National Water Quality Handbook 2003 (pdf) (7.12 MB) (PDF) (368 pp, 7.12 MB). 450-VI-NHWQM.
  • USEPA. 1996. The Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance Project Plans. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (4503F), Washington, DC 20460. EPA 841-B-96-003.
  • USEPA. 2006. Volunteer Estuary Monitoring: A Methods Manual. Second Edition. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (4504T), Washington, DC 20460. EPA 842-B-06-003.
  • Volunteer Lake Monitoring: A Methods Manual (pdf) (8.06 MB, 1991, 440491002) USEPA. 1991. Volunteer Lake Monitoring: A Methods Manual. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (4503F), Washington, DC 20460. EPA 404-4-91-002.
  • USEPA. 1997. Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (4503F), Washington, DC 20460. EPA 841-B-97-003.
  • USEPA. 1990. Volunteer Water Monitoring: A Guide for State Managers. EPA Office of Water, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (4503F), Washington, DC 20460. EPA 4-90-010.

Public Involvement (and/or Advocacy)

  • Lalo, J. (Ed.). 1993. Saving Wetlands: A Citizen's Guide for Action in the Mid-Atlantic Region. National Audubon Society, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office; 1104 Fernwood Ave., Suite 300, Camp Hill, PA 17011, Tel. (717) 763-4985. May be out of print.
  • Miller, T., J. Martin, L. Storm, and C. Bertolotto. 1996. Monitoring Wetlands: A Manual for Training Volunteers (collaboration with EPA Reg. 10 and King Cty). Adopt-a-Beach (Washington non-profit), 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Rm 305, Seattle, WA 98103. $15. May be out of print.
  • Pritchard, K. 1994. A Manual for Wetland Characterization. Adopt-a-Beach (Washington non-profit) 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Rm 305, Seattle, WA 98103. May be out of print.
  • Rave, K. 1996. Wetland Walk Manual (10 pp, 273 K). USEPA. EPA 910/R-009. 
  • Southam, T., and E.A. Curran (eds). 1996. The Wetlandkeepers Handbook: A Practical Guide to Wetland Care . British Columbia Wildlife Federation, Surrey, BC, and Environment Canada, Delta B.C. Free download (PDF) (214 pp, 6.26MB) .
  • Williams, C., K. Firehock, and J. Vincentz. 1998. Handbook for Wetlands Conservation and Sustainability . Second Edition. Izaak Walton League of America. Tel. (800) 233-8787. $39.95.

Educational

  • Adopt-a-Beach. Field Guide to Wetland Characterization: A Non-Technical Approach. (Out of print, but some copies still available from: Washington State University Cooperative Extension, King County, Land/Water Stewardship Program, 612 Smith Tower, Seattle, WA 98104), Tel. (206) 296-3900. $4. May be out of print.
  • California Coastal Commission. 2007. Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds. 45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA, 94105, Tel. (415) 904-5200, coast4u@coastal.ca.gov, online order form.  Free. Spanish Supplement available.
  • Environmental Concern. 1995. WOW!: The Wonders of Wetlands, an Educator's Guide . Environmental Concern Inc., P.O. Box P, St. Michaels, MD 21663-0480, Tel. (410) 745-9620. $21.95.
  • Isaac Walton League of America. Wetlands Stewardship - A Call to Action . Tel. (800) 233-8787. $14.95 VHS Video.
  • National Audubon Society. 1988. Project Mayfly: Guide to the Determination of Water Pollution in Local Waterways, Secondary School Level. York Audubon Society; Audubon Pennsylvania, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110, Tel. (717) 213-6880 Ext. 14. $4.
  • Rave, K. 1996. Wetland Walk Manual (10 pp, 273 K). USEPA. EPA 910/R-009. 
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8. 2008. Wetlands and Wonder: Reconnecting Children with Nearby Nature. 14-minute video. EPA 980-V-08-002. 
  • Williams, C., K. Firehock, and J. Vincentz. 1998. Handbook for Wetlands Conservation and Sustainability . Second Edition. Izaak Walton League of America. Tel. (800) 233-8787. $39.95.
  • Yates, S. Adopting a Wetland: A Northwest Guide . The Adopt-A-Stream Foundation, 600-128th St. SE, Everett, WA 98208, Tel. (424) 316-8592, NOSPAMaasf@streamkeeper.org. $5.

*For "NTIS" publications, call National Technical Information Service: 1-800-553-6847.

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Last updated on July 23, 2025
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