HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Nearly every Friday for the last 11 years, a group of citizen science volunteers in Huntington Beach go with the FLOW and help collect ocean water data and phytoplankton at Bolsa Chica State Beach.

FLOW stands for "Follow and Learn about the Ocean and Wetlands." It's one of the programs run by the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, an environmental and educational nonprofit that does work in and around the Bolsa Chica wetlands.

FLOW helps identify phytoplankton in the ocean and helps keep track of whether a bloom could be happening.

Program Manager Annie Daw said it's important to keep track of phytoplankton as  the microscopic, plant-like critters provide about half of the oxygen we breathe.

“There are some phytoplankton that can be harmful in large blooms," Dew said. "Some of them produce certain toxins that when they bloom, the toxins will build up in the food chain.”

Volunteer Sam Lopez said you don't need a scientific background to take part in FLOW. He's a retired detective who started volunteering more than a year ago. He said the organization will teach volunteers all about the scientific stuff.

The program is open to the public. To participate in a future FLOW, you can find the calendar here