7. Maintenance Checklist

Last updated on 2022-12-02

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7.1 Learn About Your Station and Watershed

• Site/station info: SiteID, Stroud logger number (SL#), location (map, lat/long), logger box lock code (generally 888)
• Purpose of station(s): see project plan, speak to your coordinator
• Watershed characteristics – consider using these sources:
  • Model My Watershed (FAQ, guides, and documentation available on the WikiWatershed Help page, webinar available on YouTube)
  • Local knowledge
  • Nearby USGS stations:
    • USGS National Water Information System: Web Interface
    • USGS National Water Information System: Mapper
  • Google Maps/Google Earth
  • Weather Underground for weather patterns

7.2 Daily: Check Data at Monitor My Watershed

• Go to Monitor My Watershed.org
• Learn the patterns for your particular station.
• Look for sensor fouling particularly with the turbidity sensor, identify abnormal patterns and visit station for maintenance accordingly.
• Track battery level and potential cellular data transmission issues; battery level should be > 3.7 V for optimal function.

7.3 Weekly (or According to Your Specific Situation): Visit the Monitoring Station

• Clean the sensors and the area under and around the sensors.
• Clear the area around logger and solar panel.
• Fill out the Field Visit Data Form.
• Always record what was done on site visit – if no check boxes on Field Visit Data  Form address the issue, describe what was done in comments sections.
• Always record staff-gauge height.
• Check accuracy of station sensors using handheld sensors (if available).
• Enter data from Field Visit Data Form and/or in field notebook.

7.4 Every Six Weeks: Download Data From MicroSD Card

• If data are not online, download data as needed for monitoring purposes, at least every six weeks.
• If data are online, download data from microSD card when cellular connections fail and data stop transmitting to website, fill in gaps with microSD card data.
• Suggested title format:  “Sitename/ID_mm-dd-yy”

7.5 Every Six to Eight Weeks: Back up Online Data

• Save in Excel to a secure hard drive or server.
• Suggested title format:  “Site name/ID_mm-dd-yy”

7.6 Continuously: Develop the Station Management Process

• Refine the maintenance process as understanding of site and station is developed.
• Continue to refine the project plan and how station and data are used.