Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring History

Wisconsin's Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (formerly called "Self-Help Lake Monitoring" began in 1986 with 126 lakes monitored for water clarity by interested and active citizen volunteers. In the first 15 years, over 2400 volunteers have participated in the program, and have monitored over 1000 different lakes. Currently, the program has grown to include over 1100 active volunteers monitoring over 850 lakes. These citizens have learned a lot about their lakes and a substantial database has been established from their sampling efforts. Published data appears in numerous reports and is used by limnologists and water resource planners for a variety of purposes.

In 1990, volunteers were given the opportunity to get involved in more extensive lake sampling. Citizen Lake Monitoring now includes several sampling groups. Secchi volunteers collect basic water clarity information of their lakes. Chemistry volunteers collect water clarity data as well as temperature, chlorophyll, phosphorous, and dissolved oxygen data. This allows DNR managers to assess the state of nutrient enrichment in their lakes. Biological monitoring activities include zebra mussel monitoring, Eurasian water milfoil watch, purple loosestrife monitoring, and other aquatic plant monitoring.

At the end of each sampling season, volunteers receive reports that outline their lake's data from the past year, as well as every other year that lake has been sampled, either by them or a different volunteer. The reports include an Annual Report, which is a summary of the data and observations they recorded, a graph of their Secchi depths, as well as the previous year's depths, and finally a Trophic State Index graph that tells the volunteer where their data points fall in relation to the approximate Trophic State of lakes.