MPCA seeks water monitors locally, statewide

While Minnesota is often celebrated as the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes,’ the reality far exceeds this iconic title with over 12,000 lakes and an extensive network of more than 92,000 miles of streams. Monitoring these abundant water resources is a monumental task, one that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) volunteer water monitoring program supports by providing critically important water clarity data.

Volunteers are particularly sought after in the Westonka area due to its proximity to Lake Minnetonka and many nearby bodies of water including Dutch Lake, North and South Whaletail Lake, Lake Langdon, Painter Creek, and Six Mile Creek, among others.

“Since the MPCA is only able to make it out to each lake and stream every 10 years, volunteers play a key role in helping to prevent data gaps,” said program coordinator Waverly Reibel.

Upon completing an online training, volunteer water monitors are provided a Secchi disk or tube for measuring water clarity at designated sites along lakes or streams, as well as a map and GPS coordinates to ensure uniformity in data collection.

The program training not only provides volunteers with the technical know-how, but also emphasizes the critical role they play in ensuring accurate and consistent data collection.

The MPCA encourages volunteers to submit water clarity readings at least twice a month either through its website or by mailing in a data sheet, although they are free to report more frequently if they wish.

“Testing water clarity is like taking the blood pressure of a body of water,” said Reibel. “It’s a quick, easy test, but it can tell a lot about its overall health. For lakes, it can be an indicator of the amount of algae in the water or, in the case of streams, the amount of sediment.”

According to Reibel, a low clarity reading means not much light is penetrating below the surface and these conditions can affect plant, insect, and fish communities and impact recreational opportunities.

Lake volunteers must have access to watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, or motorboats, while stream volunteers can gather water samples from bridges or stream banks. Monitoring activities for streams run from April through September, and for lakes, from May to September. However, Reibel emphasizes that volunteers are welcome to join the program at any point during the year.

The volunteer water monitoring program, now in its 51st year, originated at the University of Minnesota before transitioning to the MPCA. Initially focused solely on lake monitoring, the program expanded to include stream monitoring in 1998 in response to the growing demand for comprehensive data.

In addition to collecting high-quality, usable data, other program goals include facilitating understanding of water quality issues, creating local water quality advocates, and getting people outside. Reibel notes that the volunteer water monitoring program works closely with lake associations (like the Harrisons Bay Association on Lake Minnetonka) and other conservation organizations who help to ensure continuity with volunteer participation.

After volunteers submit their data, the MPCA generates individual site reports, complete with visually appealing graphs. The MPCA uses the data to detect trends in water clarity over time and formally assess the health of lakes and streams by comparing them to state water quality standards. Lakes and streams that fail to meet water quality standards are categorized as impaired and require restoration to improve their overall health.

Moving forward, the MPCA also plans to incorporate temperature monitoring into the program, providing volunteers with program-issued thermometers, as climate change persists.

Even during the off-season, the MPCA remains engaged with volunteers.

“During the winter we hold webinars and we also organize an in-person social event for volunteers each fall, rotating the location throughout the state,” said Reibel.

Moreover, the MPCA hosts an Eco Experience exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair each summer that is filled with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and resources.

Those interested in learning more about the volunteer water monitoring program can explore the MPCA’s website at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/get-engaged/volunteer-water-monitoring or connect with the MPCA at the State Fair.