Effective water resource management and protection require quality data that can inform decision makers of these ecosystems’ status. Such efforts often call for diverse partners to work together towards mutually agreed-upon goals and objectives. This presentation will highlight two collaborative citizen science efforts to address data gaps within freshwater and marine environments. First, a global microplastics initiative involved volunteers collecting over 3,400 water samples to assess the extent and severity of this emerging pollutant. Second, a U.S.-based inter-agency inventory on over 11,000 miles of the Wild and Scenic Rivers system will enable improved multi-level partnerships, policy, and management. We will share results and lessons from the first project that guided our Wild and Scenic Rivers’ partnership. Session participants will be offered an opportunity to consider the value that volunteer-collected data can play in filling knowledge gaps and supporting decision-making.
