VEMN is a revival of a former program that was thriving but lost funding several years ago. VEMN utilizes volunteers to monitor the waters and shoreline, the riparian area, along the Merrimack River in Massachusetts. To prepare for the trips, project assistants research historic maps to locate where past pollution sources may have been a contributor to current water quality. They visit previously monitored sites as well as determine new sites to be tested. Once the project leader has finalized the location of the monitoring sites, volunteers and project leaders travel to the monitoring sites in a boat, also owned and operated by volunteers in the area.

The group then tests water samples taken from the river and photograph the area. A lot of information can come from such a small amount of water! The project team tests the water for dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, conductivity, salinity, nitrates, ammonium and phosphates. The different levels of these components show the water quality in that specific area. Currently, we are monitoring from Lowell to Lawrence and would like to expand the program. This can be made possible with more monitoring volunteers and motor boaters to help in the effort. You could find the region near your home and join in on the cause! Volunteers are needed not only to test water and perform lab tests, but to volunteer their navigational expertise and motor boats.