SAPAA has conducted over 90 site inspections. Simplified and full inspection forms are available. iNaturalist will be utilized for biophysical data collection, and training sessions will be offered to enhance member engagement and support.

1. Getting Ready for 2025
2. iNaturalist for Biophysical Characteristics.
3. Sign up for Training!

On a rolling 3-year basis, SAPAA has conducted more than 90 site inspections and has visited more than a quarter of all of the WAERNAHR sites. This is a remarkable achievement given that it was done exclusively with volunteers.

Getting Ready for 2025

The 2025 field season will hopefully see many more inspection reports submitted and new sites visited. No matter where you live in the province, you can help by simply visiting a site and recording your observations.

The inspection process is largely unchanged from 2024 with 3 exceptions:

1. Starting with the Simple. A simplified form is available that asks fewer questions and does not require a log in ID. Individuals cannot save their progress but will not receive an email copy of their submission (but can print a copy after hitting submit).
2. Full Form. A full form requires a GMail account. Logging in allows you to save your progress and you will be emailed a copy of the results. Although a designated Steward can use the simple form, it is preferred if they use the Full Form. The full form also includes integration with iNaturalist.
3. Invasive Species, Inspection Number, and Changes. Users of the full form will notice a space to specifically document invasive plants and critters. If you have your own inspection numbering system, you can cross reference a SAPAA submission. Finally, if you have visited a site a number of times, you can document what has changed in a designated field.

iNaturalist for Biophysical Characteristics.

SAPAA is using iNaturalist.ca to collect biophysical characteristics. An iNaturalist login is required and it is important to geo-tag observations. If they fall within boundary of a WAERNAHR natural area, they will be included.

SAPAA is linking each of its web pages to the respective iNaturalist place. For example, as of writing this post, Red Rock Coulee has 704 distinct observations made by 64 observers. This site, and the other 250+ natural areas will be combined into an iNaturalist-Project. This will allow SAPAA to measure trends in the areas such as invasive species of plants.

Sign up for Training!

To help SAPAA Members and Friends, a series of short virtual information sessions will be held. If there is interest, additional sessions can be scheduled. A link to the session and information package will be sent out the day before the event.

Please log in early to test your equipment as there will not be an opportunity to troubleshoot once the session begins.