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Water Sampling Committee
Barbara Saul, Chair
 Water sampling is a vitally important committee and its' members have been
sampling the water of Oak Creek since 1999. Collections are made year 'round
at six specific sites that have been selected as frequently used by swimmers,
picnickers and hikers. Members of this committee work in tandem gathering a
water sample and maintaining it at a low temperature until it is delivered
to the State Laboratory at Slide Rock State Park. In conjunction a list of
facts are gathered which include air temperature, water temperature, appearance
of the water and its' flow, the number of people in the area and the amount
of trash and debris on the bank.
 The sample provides an accurate assessment of the E.coli
bacterial count at the specific sites and a means to compare with other sites and time periods.
The data acquired is reported to the Forest Service and Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality. This data is used in management decisions regarding the
desirability of swimming or bathing in Oak Creek. It also aids in evaluation
the cause of water contamination and the safety of the entire watershed.
Email us for more information on water sampling opportunities.
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