The EarthEcho Water Challenge is an international program that runs annually from March 22 (the United Nations World Water Day) through December and equips anyone to protect the water resources we depend on every day. The EarthEcho Water Challenge helps build public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local waterbodies.

It all starts by understanding the state of water quality in your community:

1. Locate – Find out in which watershed that you live (see list below).
2. Learn – Contact your watershed management organization to learn what it is doing to monitor and protect water quality.
3. Test – You can contribute to local water quality information with a simple test kit.
4. Share – Enter your data online into the international database and share your story and photos on social media using #AnokaCountyWaterResources. By doing so, you join a network of citizens from more than 120 countries, and become part of the solution for clean water and healthy waterways worldwide.
5. Protect – Armed with your test results, you can use the information and resources available on this site to take action and protect the vital water resources in your community.

Protecting the quality of water in our local watersheds is a critical part of ensuring the overall health of the environment and our communities. Participating in the EarthEcho Water Challenge is a great way to be part of the solution to water issues worldwide.

Minnesota Lake & Stream Monitoring Program. To become a volunteer or learn more about the program, view the Citizen Science Program (MPCA YouTube; 3:46) or Volunteers Make Citizen Science Work (EPA YouTube; 2:12), visit the MPCA’s Citizen Water Monitoring web page, or call 651-296-6300.

Anoka County Watersheds. Watershed organizations and the Anoka Conservation District monitor water quality and implement protection measures that maintains water quality. Education and outreach programs (that includes water monitoring and grants for water monitoring) are available to residents, businesses, schools and property owners:

• Coon Creek Watershed District (763-755-0975) Get Involved
• Rice Creek Watershed District (763-398-3070) Water Quality & Get Involved
• Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (612-746-4970) Learn
• Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization
• Upper Rum River Watershed Management Organization
• Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization
• Vadnais Lake Area Watershed Management Organization (651-204-6070)
• Anoka Conservation District (763-434-2030) Monitoring