Recently we had the opportunity to talk with monitoring volunteers via an Observer Conference Call. Group conversations of this nature allow us to share project updates, as well as receive feedback and answer any questions about condition monitoring reports. The call began by providing general project updates, followed by open discussion between condition monitoring volunteers and CISA team members. If you were not able to make the call, we have a brief recap of our discussion on February 12, 2015.
Let’s start by noting that, between September 1, 2013 and January 31, 2015, condition monitoring observers have submitted 837 condition reports. Great job, keep up the good work! Also, CISA team members have started interviewing drought decision makers to receive feedback on their perception of condition monitoring reports. In our discussion, decision makers indicated that reports are especially useful in conjunction with daily precipitation measurements. This highlights the importance of consistent reporting of precipitation, which includes recording the days with no rainfall event or other precipitation. Drought decision makers also spoke on their interpretation of some of the conditions shared in observer reports. They mentioned that plants often show early signs of impact, such as wilting is noted in plants due to a dry spell. “Early indicators” of this nature are very helpful in reports. Lower water levels are also seen as indication of longer rainfall deficiencies. This type of condition reporting is distinct from “early indicators” but provides an equally valuable form of condition observation.
After reporting project updates, we had time for an open discussion. We learned about how different participants in CoCoRaHs use observer data on a regular basis. Carl Cole, also a volunteer with the Charleston Waterkeeper’s water quality monitoring program, looks at precipitation data near sampling sites to consider the influence of rainfall on the levels of bacteria in water. Darin Figursky is the Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service Weather Forecasting Office in Raleigh, NC, and uses CoCoRaHs data in conjunction with other data to create rainfall maps and other materials. http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/dailymaps/precipitation.php
We also discussed report content in condition monitoring. The call notes from the observer call summarizes it nicely:
“Reports about your backyard, vegetable garden, bird activity are very useful. Additional information about things such as localized flooding during a severe thunderstorm, the vegetables for sale at the local farmers market, prices of local seafood which might change with the seasons or amounts available to fishermen, recreational or tourism activities in your area, or other ways we are affected by the weather are also great things to include. Be creative! There is no such thing as ‘bad information’ in your reports.”
To echo the call notes, it is important to highlight that reporting on the conditions surrounding your house are great, but reporting on the conditions of the community at large is also very helpful. And lastly, any form of observer report is always helpful.
This is just a short summary of the observer conference call. If you would like to learn more about the call, there is a lot of good information in the call notes. The call notes can be found at this link, http://www.cisa.sc.edu/CoCoRaHS.html, under the “Learn More" section.
Energy 
Plants and Wildlife 
Water Supply and Quality 
Agriculture
Fire
Business and Industry
Tourism and Recreation 
