St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is recruiting volunteers to help track water
quality changes in lakes and streams across the state. Minnesota’s volunteer
water monitoring programs are among the largest citizen science programs in the
nation, but in order to reach all the lakes and streams across Minnesota, more
volunteers are needed.
More than 1,300 Minnesotans volunteer to
track the health of their favorite lake or stream through the Citizen Lake and
Citizen Stream Monitoring Programs. As part of the program, volunteers are
asked to perform a short and simple test at their designated lake or stream
once per week throughout the summer. Equipment and training are provided by the
MPCA.
Volunteer data helps water resource
managers to see trends in water quality and make watershed management decisions
throughout the state. For some lakes and streams, volunteer-collected data is
the only data available, making citizen involvement critical to ensuring to the
long-term health of Minnesota’s waters.
Citizen Water Monitoring volunteers
benefit from the program by learning more about their favorite lake or stream,
connecting with their community, and helping to maintain and protect one of our
state’s most precious natural resources.
To become a volunteer or learn more
about the program, visit the MPCA’s website at www.pca.state.mn.us/cmp,
or call 651-296-6300 (Twin Cities) or 800-657-3864 (Greater Minnesota).
