Lake Water Quality Monitors
Measuring water clarity
with a Secchi disk
and aqua scope
The VLMP works to monitor a broad range of environmental indicators that affect the health of Maine Lakes. We have over 500 trained volunteers who collect quality scientific data. Their monitoring data and observations provide an extremely valuable resource for lake protection and a vital first hand account of the evolving conditions of Maine's Lakes and Ponds.
Training and Certification
The VLMP trains and certifies volunteers to collect scientific water quality data of the
highest quality. Each volunteer participates in an initial training
workshop and is recertified on a regular basis. Most volunteer lake
monitors collect transparency (water clarity) data with a Secchi Disk and
a viewing scope.
Volunteers collect data every two weeks from May to October. At the end of each season, the data are forwarded to volunteer Regional and Data entry coordinators, who enter the information collected into a database. The data are compiled into the VLMP Annual Report and the Maine DEP individual lake reports, which are published in the spring.
Volunteers are also trained and certified to collect other types of water quality information, including temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles and the concentrations of Phosphorous and Chlorophyll a. Volunteers can also be trained to monitor other important physical, chemical and biological characteristics of lakes.
Criteria for Becoming a Volunteer Water Quality Monitor:
Volunteer water quality monitors are accepted into the program with the following provisions, many of which are required for Quality Assurance and Quality Control purposes:
The number of volunteers who monitor water quality on an individual lake is generally limited by the size of the body of water. If a lake is already being monitored, a new volunteer may be trained as an “alternate”, or in some cases, to partner with the existing volunteer. On large, multiple basin lakes, it is often beneficial to have several volunteers involved. Please contact the VLMP office if you have questions about whether or not there is a need for additional volunteers on your lake of interest.
Volunteers must attend a ˝ day orientation, training and certification workshop before collecting and submitting data. Workshops are offered in the spring. Check the date, time and location of upcoming training workshops on our website.
All volunteer lake monitors begin the process of monitoring their lake by collecting Secchi disk transparency (water clarity) data. The VLMP provides volunteers with a Secchi disk with calibrated tape and a viewing scope. Volunteers are expected to maintain the equipment and to return it to the VLMP if they leave the program. Training is also provided for collecting total phosphorus surface grab samples. However, at this time funding is not available to support laboratory analysis for phosphorus samples. Therefore, phosphorus sampling is optional.
Volunteers should plan on taking Secchi disk transparency readings approximately twice monthly (every two weeks) from May through September.
Volunteers must attend a re-certification workshop at least once every three years.
Volunteers who wish to receive advanced training to monitor other indicators of lake water quality must submit at least one year of Secchi transparency data first. Advanced monitoring generally requires annual re-certification.
Volunteer monitors must have access to a boat (and in most cases, a motor) because Secchi disk readings are generally taken at the deepest point in the lake basin. A strong anchor and rope are also required.
More information on water quality monitoring:
Listing of all lakes with water quality monitors.
Summary of water quality indicators
Historical distribution of water quality data
PEARL Website Maine's source for environmental data including VLMP water quality data
Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
vlmp@mainevlmp.org
24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, ME 04210
(207)-783-7733
www.MaineVolunteerLakeMonitors.org
© 2006 Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program | website comments to: vlmp@mainevlmp.org