VA SOS Equipment List
These items are considered necessary equipment for current VA SOS monitors.
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION | WHERE TO BUY | COST (approximate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table | Portable: roll-up or folding style; 32” L x 32” W x 28” H | Camping and outdoor stores | $40.00 |
| White table cover | Plastic or water resistant for easy clean-up | General merchandise store | $10.00 |
| Rocky Bottom Net | 3×3 foot Kick-seine with 1/32 inch mesh | Field and forestry equipment supplier; Forestry Suppliers has Student Grade Kick Net and Professional Grade Kick Net. Nylon nets can be found at BioQuip. Download DIY Instructions. | $40.00 - $120.00 |
| Net poles (2) | Wood dowels; 1 1/4” x 48” | Hardware store | $4.00 each |
| Muddy Bottom Net | 500 to 650 micron D-net | Field and forestry equipment supplier; the LaMotte D Net can be found at Forestry Suppliers | $100.00 |
| Muddy Bottom Bucket | Wash or sieve bucket | Field and forestry equipment supplier; Wildco; Download DIY Instructions | $130.00 |
| Kit carrying bag | Plastic bin or canvas bag | General merchandise store | $15.00 |
| Clipboard | General merchandise store | $2.00 | |
| Pencils (2) | General merchandise store | $2.00 | |
| Aquatic thermometer | Celsius preferred | Field and forestry equipment supplier | $15.00 |
| Ice cube trays (2) | White, opaque | General merchandise store | $5.00 |
| Petri dish | Clear | Field or lab suppliers; Forestry Suppliers or Amazon | $6 |
| Spray bottle | 12-16 fl. oz. size | General merchandise store | $5.00 |
| Entomology Tweezers | Flexible metal or plastic | Medical equipment or field and forestry supplier; Forestry Suppliers | $6.00 |
| Hand magnifier | 3x and 6x plastic magnifier with a 1-inch diameter lens. | Field or medical supplier, Amazon. | $1.00 each |
| Dichotomous Key | Guide to Aquatic Insects and Crustaceans | By Izaak Walton League of America. Available on Amazon or by request at vasos@iwla.org. | $11.00 |
| Laminated Field Guide Trifold | A Volunteer Monitor's Field Guide to Aquatic Macroinvertebrates | By Izaak Walton League of America. Available at Acorn Naturalists or by request at vasos@iwla.org. | $5 |
| Boot-footed or Rubber-soled Waders. No Felt Bottoms. | Knee, hip, or chest waders as appropriate. Avoid felt bottoms. | Sporting goods store | Price Varies |
| Sanitizing supplies | Hand sanitizer, wipes | Pharmacy | $15.00 |
| Equipment Cleaner | Biodegradable soap to use between sites (if no time to dry between sampling) | Amazon or lab supplier | Price Varies |
| First Aid Kit | Bandaids, disinfectant | Pharmacy or Grocery Store | $15.00 |
Optional Gear
| Reference book | Voshell: A Guide to Freshwater Invertebrates of North America | Available at McDonald and Woodward and Amazon | $40.00 |
| Field Microscope | Brock magiscope – several models available | Brock Optical | $230+ |
| Neoprene gloves | Hand, elbow, or shoulder length | General merchandise store | $10 – 40.00 |
Virginia SOS Equipment Reimbursement
Please Note: Equipment reimbursement is currently only available for Virginia monitors.
VA SOS has limited funding to reimburse certified monitors for equipment costs. To get reimbursed for items, monitors must first submit a request to vasos@iwla.org with the requested items and estimated cost. Only once the VA SOS Coordinator has approved the list and expenses should you purchase your items. Funding is dispersed on a first come first serve basis. Please note, waders/boots are not reimbursable in 2023 due to limited funds. Contact the VA SOS Coordinator to find out more: vasos@iwla.org.