Dataset: Early Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Volunteer Water Monitoring Programs in the United States and Canada

Did you participate in the Citizen-based aquatic field sampling in the time of COVID webinar on April 21, 2020? Options were Yes (1); No (2), but I watched the recording or reviewed available online materials; No (3)

"Do you expect to use or share any knowledge or practices you learned from the webinar in the next 6-12 months? Yes (1) ; No (2) ; Unsure (3) ; NA (4) "

Please describe how you plan to or have provided your online training. Was/Will your training (be) offered live? Yes (1); No (2): Does not apply (3); Unknown/TBD (4)

Please describe how you plan to or have provided your online training. Did you/will you use recorded videos? Yes (1); No (2): Does not apply (3); Unknown/TBD (4)

Did you need to create new training videos or did they already exist? Check all that apply. Existed for my program (1) ; Need(ed) to create (2) ;Used/will use videos from another organization (3) ; Other (please describe) (4)

Did you need to create new training videos or did they already exist? Check all that apply. Other (please describe) text

Please feel free to share other actions not previously mentioned that you are planning to implement, or that you have implemented to protect volunteers and/or staff during the pandemic.

Do you anticipate any of the following losses as a result of COVID-19-induced programmatic changes? Please check all that apply. Reduction in number of data observations (1); Economic loss to your volunteer monitoring program (2); Loss in number of volunteers (3); Loss of staff or staff time (4)

Do you anticipate any of the following losses as a result of COVID-19-induced programmatic changes? Other type of loss or negative outcome (please describe) text

"What is the extent of expected economic loss to your volunteer monitoring or citizen science program? (If you have a broader organization than just volunteer water monitoring and can report on just the volunteer monitoring program component, that’s what we’re aiming to collect here and in the next

"In 2019, in what range was your annual volunteer monitoring program income? <$10,000 (1); $10,001-$25,000 (2); $25,001 - $50,000 (3); $50,001 – $100,000 (4); $100,001 - $150,000 (5);>$150,000 (6) "

Please list any known or anticipated benefits for your volunteer water monitoring or citizen science program as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In what state/province (as applicable) and country is your volunteer water monitoring or citizen science program based?

What information needs do you have related to COVID-19 that could be addressed in future webinars?

Please share any other comments you have below.

In one or two sentences, please briefly describe what information you learned from the webinar and how you plan to use or share that information within the next 6-12 months.

"Please identify your role within the field of volunteer water monitoring/citizen science. Check the answer that best fits your role. Program Coordinator/Director (1) ; Program support staff (2) ; Program administrator (3) ; Volunteer monitor (4); Not associated with a specific volunteer monitor

Please describe your role

What type of environments are monitored in your volunteer water monitoring or citizen science program? Check all that apply. Marine (1) ; Estuarine (2) ; Lake or pond (3) ; River or stream (4) ; Beach (5); Wetland (6) ; Groundwater (7) ; Other type of environment, phenomenon, animal, etc. (i.

What type of environments are monitored in your volunteer water monitoring or citizen science program? Other type of environment, phenomenon, animal, etc. (i.e., something not related to water) (please describe) - Text

What type of environments are monitored in your volunteer water monitoring or citizen science program? Other (please describe) (9)

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Cancel field sampling for 2020: Have implemented (1); Likely to

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Modify how samples make their way to the lab; Have implemented

Modify lab setup to support physical distancing

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Develop and communicate a plan for if a volunteer cannot monito

Modify communications approaches with volunteers

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Other (please describe); Have implemented (1); Likely to implem

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Other (please describe) text

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Postpone the start of field sampling: Have implemented (1); Lik

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Update program guidance to include COVID-related program modifi

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Conduct training online ; Have implemented (1); Likely to imple

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Rely only upon seasoned volunteers (i.e., no new volunteers thi

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Change field team or timing logistics (e.g., solo or household

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Provide PPE or cleaning/disinfecting supplies to volunteers ; H

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Modify data entry procedures; Have implemented (1); Likely to

To assess changes volunteer water monitoring or citizen science programs have implemented or intend to implement as a result of COVID-19, for each of the following, please identify how likely your program is to do each of the following: Modify field sampling methods (e.g., add or remove certain type