AAS Manuals

Adopt-A-Stream's manuals dive deeper into the science behind different monitoring types and provide more information about the "how's" and "why's" of monitoring. They are great supplementary resources for volunteers, and anyone interested in learning more about Georgia's aquatic ecology. 

Getting to Know Your Watershed Front Page

Getting to Know Your Watershed Manual

The Getting to Know Your Watershed Manual  (PDF, 6.3 MB) describes Georgia's watershed ecology, land use and water quality, and provides information on conducting a watershed survey and map assessment. 

Visual Manual Front Page

Visual Stream Survey Manual

The Visual Stream Survey Manual  (PDF, 6.59 MB) provides background information on the visual components of river and stream health, including the importance of physical parameters such as flow and sediment size.

Macro Manual Front Page

Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Manual

The Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Manual  (PDF, 632.99 KB) provides information on and life history of macroinvertebrate organisms, highlighting their relation to water quality. 

Chemical Monitoring Manual Front Page

Chemical Monitoring Manual

The Chemical Monitoring Manual  (PDF, 1.83 MB) provides supplemental information on chemical parameters, state standards, and procedures for chemical water testing. 

 

Bacteria Monitoring Front Page

Bacterial Monitoring Manual

The Bacterial Monitoring Manual  (PDF, 938.83 KB) describes bacteria, E. coli, and why E.coli monitoring is important for water quality and human health.

Title page of the amphibian manual

The Amphibian Monitoring Manual  (PDF, 5.34 MB)  provides an introduction to amphibians, amphibian life history, as well as a guide to Georgia salamander and frog identification. 

 

 

 

 

 

Title slide of the wetland manual

The Wetland Monitoring Manual  (PDF, 430.38 KB)  describes the different types of wetland habitat, as well as instructions for conducting visual soil, vegetation and hydrological surveys. 

 

 

 

 

 

The title page of the Adopt-A-Wetland training manual.

The Coastal Adopt-A-Wetland Manual  (PDF, 8.81 MB)  provides background information for monitoring with Adopt-A-Stream's coastal program, Adopt-A-Wetland. Find more information on the Adopt-A-Wetland website. 

 

 

 

 

Manuals in Spanish

 

Title slide of the Spanish watershed manual

The Introducción a Cuencas Hidrológicas  (PDF, 1.83 MB) is the Getting to Know Your Watershed Manual, translated to Spanish. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title page of the Spanish visual manual

The Muestreo Visual de Arroyos  (PDF, 1.32 MB) is the Visual Stream Survey Manual, translated to Spanish. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title page of the Spanish biological and chemical manual

The Manual de Monitoreo Biológico y Químico en Arroyos  (PDF, 1.53 MB) is the Chemical and Biological Monitoring Manual, translated to Spanish.