DEAR SUN SPOTS: You have been an amazing help in finding volunteers who will do water quality monitoring for the Androscoggin River Watershed Council, so I am again getting the word out that we need a few more volunteers, as some have had to move on to other endeavors.

Monitoring is part of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Voluntary River Monitoring Program.  The process is quite simple. An instrument probe is dropped into the river and the hand-held instrument is read and the data recorded.

Parameters include dissolved oxygen, specific conductance and temperature.  We will explain the meaning of each of those parameters. Volunteers will have a couple of hours of training and sampling starts anytime between mid-May and mid-June, completing at the end of September, depending on the volunteer’s schedule.

Sampling is done twice a month before 8 a.m. for reasons that will be explained during the training. Volunteers may sample at one or more sites. It can be helpful to have two people on a sampling team just to handle the equipment and ensure safety around the water.

Sampling is done at designated locations on both the Androscoggin and the Nezinscot rivers. We are open to testing more rivers and streams if we have an adequate number of volunteers, or if anyone is interested in a particular river or stream. Sampling  is generally done from the shore although sampling from bridges, kayaks, or other boats can also be done.

Readers can learn more about the Watershed Council and its upcoming Watershed Conference on May 7 in Auburn at www.androscogginwatershed.org. We will be discussing a variety of watershed issues, including lakes, flows and water quality on the Androscoggin, and climate change impacts on outdoor recreation. Please contact Ferg at flea.arwc@gmail.com or call/text 240-3143 if interested in the conference or the water quality sampling program. — Ferg, no town

ANSWER: I’m so glad to help with this effort and here’s hoping you get another good batch of volunteers this year. It’s important work, and very satisfying. If you need another reason to spend some time in nature, near the water, look no further. You can have fun and be helpful all at once!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: This is a reminder that Rural Community Action Ministry’s Annual Auction 4 Action will take place April 27 at Boofy Quimby Memorial Center at 96 Howes Corner Road in Turner. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for the silent auction, with the live auction starting at 6:15 p.m.

Entertainment will be provided by Hurry Down Sunshine (Stan Davis and Brian Kavanah). A 50/50 raffle with surprise giveaways, and random door prize drawings will also be part of the fun.

There will also be a variety of games at every table, and a simple food concession with hot dogs, snacks and drinks. Invite your friends and be part of our RCAM community — neighbors helping neighbors! — Janice, Turner

ANSWER: Rural Community Action Ministry’s Annual Auction 4 Action is the organization’s major fundraiser. Money will help help low-income rural families in crisis and at risk of becoming homeless or food insecure.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We won’t use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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