Detailed instructions for collecting your water sample and tide times to visit your sampling site
Nabbing Nitrogen is relatively easy. Once you are at your sampling site and are at the water’s edge (on a dock, rock, float, or other durable surface),
Please note: it is important that you collect your sample from a boat, or a dock, rock, float. This allows you to reach into the water without touching the bottom. DO NOT wade into the water to collect your sample. DO NOT allow your boat to touch the bottom. Any bottom sediments disturbed can contaminate your sample.
How to collect your Nabbing Nitrogen water sample
1. With the cap on, completely submerge your sampling jar. Then unscrew the cap while the jar is completely below the surface, and let the jar fill with water. Keep the jar submerged as you put the cap back on. This reduces contamination by debris on the water’s surface.
2. Remove your capped sample jar from the water. Take off the cap and pour off excess water until the water is approximately level with the top of the label on your sampling jar. Put the cap back on and make sure it is tightened securely.
3. Use your smartphone, if you have one, to take a photo of your sample bottle. Be sure to include your full site ID (written on the bottle) in your photo.
4. Submit the location of your sampling site.
Prefered method: Use the Water Reporter app on your smartphone. Start by opening it. ( If you need to install the Water Reporter app and set it up, follow these instructions.)
Tap the blue circle icon with the “pencil” symbol at the bottom of the screen. It will bring you to the “Start Post” page.
There are 5 steps to submitting your location and site ID in Water Reporter. See a visual of each step below.
- A. Recording your location correctly in the app is critical to the success of the Nab. The map will automatically zoom in to your location, as long as “location services” is turned on (the first time you use the app, it asks permission to collect your location data). You can move the “drag me” pin manually to adjust, if needed.
- B. Click the box titled “Add an observation or two”, located below the map. A new, mostly blank screen opens. Type “#nabbingnitrogen”.
- C. Click the camera icon. Choose “Photo Library” and click the image of your sample bottle. Then, select “Add” in the upper right-hand corner.
- D. Share your post with us to make sure it displays on our data map. Tap the small green circle next to “Friends of Casco Bay”. You will know you clicked the circle because it will fill in.
- E. Review and submit your post. Review all of the details to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Click the checkmark in the upper right-hand corner to complete and save your post. If you have good data service, you will immediately see the post. Note: All times recorded on the map are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Alternative method: Complete your data sheet by: marking an “X” on where you took your sample on the map of your sample site.
5. Return your sample jar (filled with your water sample) to your assigned Nabbing Kit Pick-Up/Drop-Off Location.
A visual guide to submitting your location and full site ID
Optional: times to visit your sampling site before the Nab
It is optional to visit your sampling site ahead of the Nab on 8/7 to familiarize yourself with your sampling site. If you choose to visit your site before the Nab, be sure to visit at one of the times below because the Nab will occur during similar tide conditions.
7/31 4:15 p.m.
8/1 11:45 a.m.
8/1 5:15 p.m.
8/2 12:30 p.m.
8/2 5:45 p.m.
8/3 6:15 a.m.
8/3 1:15 p.m.
8/3 6:45 p.m.
8/4 6:45 a.m.
8/4 1:45 p.m.
8/4 7:30 p.m.
8/5 7:30 a.m.
8/5 2:30 p.m.
8/6 8:30 a.m.
8/6 3:15 p.m.
