For more than 18 years, Susan and David McCamey have spent part of each month doing something most park guests never see: monitoring the health of streams throughout Great Parks.
Using a large net, they collect and identify macroinvertebrates: small aquatic creatures like insect larvae, crayfish and other stream-dwelling organisms. Because some species are more sensitive to pollution than others, their presence can help paint a picture of overall stream health.
After each survey, which takes around 2 hours, Susan and David report their findings to Great Parks’ Natural Resources biologists, helping the team track water quality over time and identify potential concerns before they become larger issues.
We joined Susan and David at Mitchell Memorial Forest and asked a few questions about their experience.
How did you get started?
David: Well, I was retired, and a volunteer coordinator suggested stream monitoring might be a good fit for me. She was right. What started as a volunteer opportunity turned into something I’ve been doing for nearly two decades.
Susan: We’ve both volunteered in a lot of different ways over the years, from prairie restoration and landscaping to tree planting projects. One of the forests near the entrance to Sharon Woods was planted with help from volunteers, and it’s rewarding to drive by and say, “We helped plant that.”
What does it feel like to be part of this work?
Susan: We’ve definitely been surprised by some of the things that find their way into waterways. One time, David found a toy alligator. It looked so real that our brains had to take a second to figure out what we were looking at!
David: One of my favorite surprises happened at Sharon Woods. We ran into a lot of hikers who were curious about what we were doing. We’d explain the monitoring process, and people would ask really thoughtful questions.
Susan: You know, I was surprised by how many people already understood why this work matters. They were out enjoying the park and genuinely interested in learning more about the streams around them.
David: It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes work that people find really cool once they hear about it.
Have you run into any surprises while monitoring streams?
David: It’s special. We’re privileged to be trained to do this work, and we get to see parts of the parks that most people never experience.
Susan: For me, it’s about stewardship. It’s one small thing I can do to help create healthier environments. Water quality affects so much of our daily lives, yet it’s not something most people think about very often. If we can help people make those connections, that’s meaningful.
Turning Data into Action
The work Susan and David do doesn’t end when they leave the stream.
We asked Watershed Specialist Amanda Nurre how Great Parks uses the information collected by volunteers.
Amanda: Macroinvertebrates are excellent indicators of water quality because some species are highly sensitive to pollution and require clean water to survive. When we find a diverse population, including species that are intolerant of pollution, that’s a good sign that the stream is healthy.
As we collect data over many years, we can track trends in stream health. Some of our streams have more than a decade of data collected. If we notice a consistent decline, we can investigate potential causes, identify pollution sources and work to address those impacts.
As Hamilton County’s largest public landowner, Great Parks protects one-third of the county’s open space, totaling more than 18,000 acres. Volunteers are essential to caring for and maintaining these lands.
Thanks to dedicated volunteers like Susan and David, we can monitor streams across the park district and make informed decisions that help protect water quality for wildlife, ecosystems and future generations.
Inspired by Susan and David’s story?
Whether you’re interested in volunteering or learning more about our conservation work, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Explore volunteer opportunities or learn more about how Great Parks protects and cares for Hamilton County’s natural resources.