Meet a Monitor: Catherine Pierce & Erica Lyon
Catherine Pierce and Erica Lyon conduct Virginia Save Our Streams (VA SOS), Salt Watch, and Nitrate Watch monitoring in the Henrico County, VA area and are members of the Riverine chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists. Through their dedication and passion, they have contributed significantly to water quality monitoring efforts in the region.
Erica has been a driving force in the effort to protect water quality in Henrico and beyond since 2021. She has been instrumental in tracking down and stopping pollution at Jordan Branch by working with the James River Association’s River Watch Program to track E. coli levels and then certifying as a VA SOS monitor. Thanks to her observations and diligent follow-through, macroinvertebrate monitoring has expanded across Henrico County and contamination sources have been identified, leading to progress toward cleaner, healthier waterways.
Catherine became a certified VA SOS monitor in 2023 and has been all in ever since – volunteering her time, leading events, and stepping up wherever she’s needed. In June 2025, Catherine became a certified VA SOS trainer and is working on recruiting more monitors to join in the effort to protect our environment. She has also been participating in Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s public meetings on developing a clean-up plan for a local watershed.
When a local macroinvertebrate monitoring program lost its support in 2024, Catherine and Erica didn’t let it fade away. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and took charge to keep it going. Now, they are coordinating VA SOS, Salt Watch, and Nitrate Watch monitoring events in Henrico County and are working with other organizations to expand these efforts into neighboring counties and the City of Richmond. Thanks to their leadership, macroinvertebrate monitoring is not only continuing—but growing.
Catherine and Erica are passionate about protecting our waterways and helping others understand why it matters. Whether collecting data in the field or talking with folks about pollution and its impact on our streams, they bring positivity, energy, and a strong commitment to meaningful environmental work. Catherine and Erica, thank you for everything you do.
Photos courtesy of Stacey Sovick
Want to become a Save Our Streams monitor, investigate the health of your local waterways, and advocate for their protection? Get started online today.
Know a cool story about yourself or another monitor you’d like to share? Email sos@iwla.org to recommend someone for “Meet a Monitor.”
Your kit will include a bottle containing 25 nitrate test strips which you can use to test your water source(s) throughout the year. You’ll also receive postcards explaining how to use your nitrate test strips and how to share your Nitrate Watch results on the Clean Water Hub.
Your kit will include four test strips so you can test your waterway throughout the season. You’ll also receive a chart to help you interpret your results and a postcard with instructions for completing a Salt Watch test and reporting your findings.