Wild and Scenic Rivers
Frequently asked questions For Accepted Volunteers
I included unknown/unassessed rivers on my application. Why am I still on the waitlist?
We are thrilled that you are eager to collect data for this project. We have a high volume of volunteers and a limited amount of equipment. We will reach out to you when a spot becomes available! Keep in mind that the project runs through 2023.
How do I choose where to collect data?
I score the lottery permit of a lifetime on a Wild and Scenic River! Can I collect data for this project?
Congratulations! Let us know about your permit and trip plans. We will prioritize getting equipment to you if humanly possible.
Does Adventure Scientists provide research access to lottery rivers?
We have administrative permits for several lottery rivers and we are working on securing access to others. If you have a trip in mind, contact us and we can let you know.
When do I get gear?
Once the team leader finishes the online training and signs the volunteer waiver, we will ship your gear to that person. The team leader was designated during the application process. If you are a team member, you likely got a link to sign up for the project from your team leader. We'll send just one gear kit per team.
Grab Sample Volunteers Only:
Do I take field probe measurements and grab samples in the same location?
Yes!
How many times do I collect grab samples at the same location?
Collect grab samples three times, with at least a month between trips.
I collected grab samples over a weekend. When should I ship them to the lab?
If you collect grab samples Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you should put them in your fridge (do NOT freeze them) and ship them out the following Monday. We want to make sure samples arrive at the lab when there is someone there to receive them.
I received two coolers. Don't I need three?
We will send you a third cooler once you've collected grab samples with the first two. Let us know when you are ready for your third cooler!
We are thrilled that you are eager to collect data for this project. We have a high volume of volunteers and a limited amount of equipment. We will reach out to you when a spot becomes available! Keep in mind that the project runs through 2023.
How do I choose where to collect data?
- Look at the map on the volunteer homepage and rivers.gov to confirm that the location(s) you want to go to are designated as “Wild and Scenic,” and managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, or Bureau of Land Management.
- Collect data approximately every 13 miles on the river that you have confirmed with Adventure Scientists staff.
- If we sent you GPS coordinates for data collection, use those! Otherwise site selection is up to you based on the above criteria.
I score the lottery permit of a lifetime on a Wild and Scenic River! Can I collect data for this project?
Congratulations! Let us know about your permit and trip plans. We will prioritize getting equipment to you if humanly possible.
Does Adventure Scientists provide research access to lottery rivers?
We have administrative permits for several lottery rivers and we are working on securing access to others. If you have a trip in mind, contact us and we can let you know.
When do I get gear?
Once the team leader finishes the online training and signs the volunteer waiver, we will ship your gear to that person. The team leader was designated during the application process. If you are a team member, you likely got a link to sign up for the project from your team leader. We'll send just one gear kit per team.
Grab Sample Volunteers Only:
Do I take field probe measurements and grab samples in the same location?
Yes!
How many times do I collect grab samples at the same location?
Collect grab samples three times, with at least a month between trips.
I collected grab samples over a weekend. When should I ship them to the lab?
If you collect grab samples Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you should put them in your fridge (do NOT freeze them) and ship them out the following Monday. We want to make sure samples arrive at the lab when there is someone there to receive them.
I received two coolers. Don't I need three?
We will send you a third cooler once you've collected grab samples with the first two. Let us know when you are ready for your third cooler!
If you have additional questions, reach out to us at rivers@adventurescientists.org!
