Outputs
This research has resulted in the following anticipated scholarly journal publications and end-user reports:
- Report to Government and Partners.
- Information Pamphlet, distributed at the event "Clean Water Tradeshow" in Bridgewater, NS.
- Castleden, H. (June 2016). "Connecting Community-Based Water Monitoring With Environmental Management and Stewardship in Canada." Plain Language Primer.
The research team hosted a series of webinars and presentations to mobilize research efforts and work to stakeholders, community stewardship groups and government participants.
- The research team hosted a series of webinars and presentations to mobilize research efforts and work to stakeholders, community stewardship groups and government participants.
- HQP presentations on research to the Sackville Rivers Association (project partner) to the watershed group members.
This research has been disseminated through several conference presentations:
- Blair, J (May 2013) "Bridging the Gap: Exploring the potential for community-based watershed monitoring to enhance ecosystem health and watershed governance in Canada." Annual General Meeting of the Water Economics Policy and Governance Network. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
- Blair, J., Buckland-Nicks, A. (2013) "Exploring graduate student research in community-based approaches to water monitoring and management." Canadian Association of Geographers Conference. St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Buckland-Nicks, A. (2014) "Linking community-based water monitoring with government decision-making." Water Initiatives for the Future Conference. Kingston, Ontario.
- Blair, J. (2014) "Understanding 'Connections' in Nova Scotia Community Based Water Monitoring Programs." Water Initiative for the Future (WatIF) Conference. Kingston, Ontario.
- Garda, C (2014) "Assessing aquatic ecosystem health: Can community-based water monitoring contribute to benefits within the ecosystems it monitors?" Water Initiatives for the Future (WatIF) Conference. Kingston, Ontario.
Poster presentations include:
- Blair, J. (2013) "Understanding Community Connections in Nova Scotia Participatory Water Monitoring Programs." Canadian Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Buckland-Nicks, A (2013). "Keys to success: Looking at the factors that impact the integration of community-based watershed monitoring in decision-making." Canadian Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Buckland-Nicks, A. (2013) "Bridging the Gap: Linking community-based watershed monitoring data with decision-makers in the Nova Scotia Water Strategy." Sustainability and Environmental Research Symposium. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Garda, C. "Assessing aquatic ecosystem health: Does community-based water monitoring contribute to benefits within the ecosystems it monitors?" Sustainability and Environmental Research Symposium. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
HQP’s have prepared and anticipate the release of the following scholarly journal publications:
- Amy Buckland-Nicks with co-author. "A Call for Collaboration: Lessons Learned from an Exploration of Key Factors for Linking Citizen Science Data with Governmental Decision-Making in Canada." Citizen Science: Theory and Practice.
- Amy Buckland-Nicks with co-author. "Intensive, Balanced, and Basic: Aligning Three Community-based Monitoring Program Designs with Goals for Enhanced Water Management." International Journal of Science Communication, Special Issue on Citizen Science.
- Chris Garda. "It went from a big exposed sand bank to a well vegetated bank: An examination of whether community-based water monitoring leads to benefits within the natural ecosystems being monitored."
- Chris Garda. "Site photos can track your success: Assessing the application of photo elicitation for assessing environmental restoration projects: Planning, process, and implementation."
Outcomes
Outcomes include:
- Strengthened relationships with end-users. Approximately 15 CBWM organizations in Nova Scotia and 30 CBWM organizations from across Canada have been involved with the research aspects of this project. Organization involvement ranges from participating in the research studies of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) to more direct involvement in the development of the studies, such as providing assistance and guidance to the investigators and HQPs.
- Strengthened relationships with partners. HQP presented their research to the project partner Sackville Rivers Association in July 2014, strengthening relationships with individuals in the group.
- Increased knowledge. Engagement of the research participants throughout the project development has contributed to their increased knowledge of community-based monitoring.
- Increased knowledge. Reports for government and open-access articles available for the public will help to increase knowledge of factors affecting CBWM integration and benefits for ecosystems.
- Strengthened relationships with end-users. Attending the Atlantic Watershed Management Conference hosted by CURA H2O will provide the opportunity for the HQP to build relationships with regional watershed groups and share research results both informally and formally through a presentation or poster.
