The Port Royal Sound Foundation worked with USC Beaufort and SC Department of Environmental Services to develop a water quality monitoring protocol and program that builds on the Adopt-a-Stream program, but allows us to collect data considered more credible for decision-making by the state. We are building a team of volunteers and partners to take field measurements and collect samples for the laboratory at strategic locations around the watershed on a bi-weekly (and weekly) basis.
Level 2 Water Quality Monitoring Materials
Supporting materials for the Level 2 Water Quality Monitoring program are accessible below. If you have questions or would like to discuss materials, email Courtney Kimmel.
2026 MONITORING SCHEDULE
Alternating Mondays & Tuesdays Before 1pm
- Jan 12 & 13
- Jan 26 & 27
- Feb 9 & 10
- Feb 23 & 24
- March 9 & 10
- March 23 & 24
- April 6 & 7
- April 20 & 21
- May 4 & 5
- May 18 & 19
- June 1 & 2
- June 15 & 16
- June 29 & 30
- July 13 & 14
- July 27 & 28
- Aug 10 & 11
- Aug 24 & 25
- Sept 7 & 8
- Sept 21 & 22
- Oct 5 & 6
- Oct 19 & 20
- Nov 2 & 3
- Nov 16 & 17
- Nov 30 & Dec 1
- Dec 14 & 15
Training for Level 2 Water Quality Monitoring
As part of the Level 2 Water Quality Monitoring program, PRSF and USCB offer trainings for volunteers that build on the foundation created by the Adopt-A-Stream Salt Water monitoring training. At this level, we are training volunteers more on how to calibrate and use the YSI handheld meters to collect field measurements, and to collect samples that will be delivered to the laboratory for further analysis.
If you are part of a community that is already doing Level 2 monitoring, you can join them but cannot calibrate equipment or enter data until you have been trained. If your organization or community is interested in contributing to this effort, email Science Program Manager Chris Kehrer.
Calibrating the YSI Meter
Follow along with Chris as he goes through the process of calibrating his YSI Quatro Pro meter before heading out to monitor sites.