CSI training session

A powerpoint based training session on CSI followed by a practical session by the river. Who is this for? This training is for people from communities across the wider River Fal catchment - not just St Stephen. Communities currently identified around WRT Citizen Science monitoring locations include: Kea; Devoran; Carnon Downs; Feock; Tresillian; Probus; Falmouth; Penryn; Goonamarris; Foxhole; Carpalla; Nanpean; Grampound with Creed; St Dennis; Whitemoor; Ladock; Grampound Road; Trevevra; Lamanva; Trenoweth; Mabe Burnthouse; Threemilestone; Newbridge; Ruan Lanihorne; St Michael Penkivel; Tregony; Killiow; Freewater; Kenwyn; Highertown; Portloe; St Stephen; Church Town; Ponsanooth; New Mills; Brighton; Philleigh; Trewithian; St Just in Roseland; Coombe; and Trelion. The aim is to build a network of trained volunteers who can, where possible, support ongoing monitoring within or close to their own communities. If you live in or around one of these areas and are interested in the health of your local river, stream or tributary, we’d love you to come along! What does this entail? Join Westcountry Rivers Trust for a practical introduction to our Citizen Science Investigations (CSI) programme and learn how you can help monitor the health of your local river. Since CSI began in 2016, more than 1,700 volunteers have completed over 32,000 surveys, creating one of the UK’s largest community-led freshwater monitoring datasets. During the event, you will learn how to: • Observe and record river conditions safely • Measure temperature, turbidity, phosphate and total dissolved solids • Submit your findings to the CSI database • Understand how your results contribute to wider river monitoring CSI is a reconnaissance-level monitoring programme. Its strength comes from volunteers collecting regular, consistent information across a wide area. The data helps reveal changes over time, highlight potential pollution pressures and identify locations where more detailed investigation may be needed. Although CSI results cannot provide regulatory evidence or identify pollution sources on their own, they act as a valuable early-warning system and complement more detailed professional monitoring. No previous experience is needed—just an interest in your local river and a willingness to get involved.