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Reaching Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) goals for water quality requires the cooperative efforts of citizens, landowners, local government, and state government. The purpose of this project is to raise the level of awareness through hands-on experiences in surface water monitoring among high school class students, their teachers, and willing landowners. An informed and educated public will make better choices about resource management and protecting water quality. They become a resource for conveying this information to family members, neighbors, and friends. Fact sheets have been prepared on monitoring color, odor, pH, and temperature; turbidity; nitrate and nitrite; ammonia; phosphorous; bacteria (total coliform, E.coli); and triazine pesticides. Participants have gained knowledge that will help them better understand the impact the actions of people can have on water quality. We believe in time this will translate into their greater involvement in helping to protect water quality. The cooperation and help of all sectors of society are needed to meet TMDL goals in the years ahead. For 3 years we have worked with science and agriculture teachers at 5 rural high schools in east central Kansas and with some landowners to teach the importance and procedures of volunteer monitoring of water quality. FFA chapters and Science Clubs have been involved to utilize the test kits and do local water testing projects that they choose and plan. Results of this on-going project of working with teachers, students, and landowners are presented and discussed. Written materials have been developed that are now available on the K-State Research and Extension web site (www.oznet.ksu.edu/kswater).