Join the CMC

How to Join

  1. Fill out the Application for Assistance, provide some basic information about your monitoring program so we can connect you with the appropriate CMC Service Provider.
  2. Connect with a CMC Service Provider to review or finalize your monitoring program details.
  3. Complete a methods review (existing monitoring programs) or study design workshop (new monitoring programs) with your CMC Service Provider.
  4. Complete a water quality or benthic macroinvertebrate training with your CMC Service Provider.
  5. Upload data to the Chesapeake Data Explorer at least annually.

*If you are an individual looking volunteer with a monitoring program, complete the Application for Assistance and be sure to include your location so we can connect you with the nearest program.

What does it mean to be a CMC Member?

CMC members include organizations, groups and communities, working with the CMC to collect and share data throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. To become a member a monitoring group at a minimum agrees to:

  • Follow written sampling protocols and quality assurance procedures consistent with the CMC standard operating procedure and quality assurance project plans
  • Document site locations with latitude and longitude coordinates
  • Document data on field datasheets
  • Upload data to the Chesapeake Data Explorer annually

The CMC service providers in return provide general support for starting or maintaining a monitoring program based on the needs of the CMC members.

Who can participate?

Any group interested in establishing a new volunteer-based or community water quality monitoring program or has an existing monitoring program and wants to contribute to the Chesapeake Bay Program and wider audiences. This can include, but is not limited to:

  • Watershed organizations
  • Environmental and conservation groups
  • Soil and water conservation districts
  • Local and state governments or commissions
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Educational groups
  • Individuals

Check out our list of current CMC Members!

 

Keep up with the CMC

Join our newsletter to find out about trainings happening around the watershed, events related to water quality monitoring, and the member groups that make up the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative.

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