“Snapshot Day” measures health of Santa Cruz watersheds

On Saturday, the Santa Cruz mayor declared May 2 as “Snapshot Day.”

For the last 16 years, volunteers have come together in early May to take a “snapshot” of the health of watersheds that flow into the Monterey Bay.

Teams text the oxygen, temperature, bacteria and nutrients in 43 different sites.

Something they’ve noticed over the years — less water.

“The drought has us paying attention to how much water there is, and today is an example of how we can pay attention to how clean it is,” Coastal Watershed Council Executive Director Greg Pepping said.

Pepping said it’s crucial to keep our rivers and streams as healthy as possible, for the many animals that rely on it.

Collecting important data, and connecting people to nature helps that mission.

The samples will be sent to Monterey Bay Analytical Services in Monterey.

From there, the Coastal Watershed Council will write up a report on their findings. The data will help determine the best management practices for watersheds, especially in terms of the drought.