Measure the streamflow and water quality of the Sacramento River.

The USGS gauging station on the Sacramento River at Freeport, CA is part of a streamflow and water-quality monitoring network, but its next monitoring round hasn't been done, without a fresh round, the station's water-quality record has no current field data behind it.

Where

the Sacramento River at Freeport, CA · Open the map

Pay

$248 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

GPS-matched station + discharge reading + calibrated field parameters: Real, Proven, One-of-one

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-09-09

Posted by

0x034F…6c89

The creator wallet. Its signature is what approves proof and settles the wage.

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–90 minutes. Method of record: USGS National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (NFM) + USGS streamgaging discharge-measurement protocol; core in-situ field parameters (temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity) and discharge feeding the public streamflow/water-quality record.

Bring

• GPS-capable phone or survey-grade GPS
• camera
• current meter/ADCP or wading rod (discharge measurement)
• calibrated multi-parameter sonde
• turbidity tube or nephelometer
• sample bottles + cooler with ice (grab samples)
• field data sheet/tablet
• waders/PPE

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the registered gauging station or monitoring cross-section; confirm GPS matches the station ID.
2. 2. Photograph the station/cross-section and current stream conditions (stage, visible flow, bank condition).
3. 3. Measure discharge via the wading/velocity-area method, or read the staff gauge/pressure transducer where installed, per USGS NFM protocol.
4. 4. Calibrate and deploy the multi-parameter sonde/meter; record temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved oxygen at the designated mid-channel point.
5. 5. Measure turbidity via nephelometer or turbidity tube per the field manual's method.
6. 6. Collect a grab sample where the monitoring plan specifies lab analysis (nutrients/bacteria); label and store on ice for chain-of-custody.
7. 7. Note any visible pollution source, discharge pipe, or unusual condition upstream of the station.
8. 8. Enter station ID, GPS, discharge/stage, all field parameters, photos, and any flagged observation into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Field parameter reading outside the instrument's plausible range, or the sonde fails its calibration check -> discard the reading, recalibrate/replace, and re-measure; never submit an uncalibrated reading.
• Visible pollution source or unusual condition (fish kill, oil sheen, foam, unusual color/odor) -> flag immediately to the responsible agency/project proponent; do not wait for the next scheduled round.

What counts as done

• GPS matches the registered station ID within the posting radius
• Discharge or stage reading recorded per USGS NFM protocol
• All four core field parameters (temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen) recorded from a calibrated instrument
• Turbidity recorded, and any grab-sample chain-of-custody completed where specified

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.