Citizen scientists monitor water quantity and quality in Kenya

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Key messages

  • Low-cost, reliable methods for monitoring water levels and water quality are needed to assist water-resource managers in their decision-making.
  • 'Citizen scientists' willing to take part in simple monitoring activities can expand the data sets in understudied regions.
  • We worked with citizens in a remote Kenyan catchment who contributed valuable water level and water-quality data. Long-term motivation of participants, active recruiting of new volunteers, and an effective reward system will be key to sustainable citizen-resourced water-monitoring programmes.
  • Data provided by ‘citizen scientists’ can be scientifically robust and cost-effective in supporting the monitoring needed to inform the development of water management strategies.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/007013
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