7. Maintenance Checklist

Last updated on 2022-12-02

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

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.

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.

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”

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.

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