The RiverWatch Program was established by the Colorado Division of Wildlife as a means of training volunteers - including students - to collect water quality samples on Colorado waterways.  The volunteers help provide ongoing data to help in water quality regulation and management, stretching capabilities far beyond what can be done with agency staff alone.

In 2005, CTU formally joined with the RiverWatch Program.  Three chapters - Cutthroat (Littleton), Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs), and Collegiate Peaks (Salida/Buena Vista) formally joined the program.  Other chapters, including the St. Vrain Anglers (Longmont) and West Denver (Golden) also conduct volunteer water quality monitoring.  In 2007, CTU has started a new "roving" team of water quality monitors who will collect data on additional streams around the state.

Water quality team leaders go through a rigorous training program with the Division of Wildlife.  These leaders, in turn, train new volunteers on proper collection and handling of samples, and conducting on-site tests such as those for pH and dissolved oxygen.  Other tests - for example, on nutrients and metals - are conducted by the DOW using samples submitted by volunteers.  Once a year, macroinvertebrate samples are also collected.

Most waters in Colorado have never been sampled for water quality.  By volunteering, you can help CTU begin to fill in those gaps - helping identify those streams that deserve the highest level of protection for water quality, and those that need significant restoration efforts to address existing water quality problems.  The data generated through these efforts is used directly by CDOW and CTU in working with the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission on regulations and programs for water quality - so your participation will make a difference!