Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Jennifer Groebner, 651-296-7706 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 St. Paul, Minn. - Going to his family's cabin has made Mounds View resident John Kroeger appreciate the value of clean and clear water. That's why he has volunteered as a citizen lake monitor for the last 11 years for three lakes in Crow Wing County. Kroeger's father and grandparents have visited Star Lake, just west of Crosslake, since the mid-1930s and built the lake cabin in the late 1940s. The lake is a big part of his life - his parents spent their honeymoon at Star Lake and other friends have purchased cabins there as well. He grew interested in becoming a lake monitor when lake association members started talking about restricting different types of boats and motors on the lake, claiming they were harmful to the water quality. Kroeger, an engineering manager at Boston Scientific, was interested to learn if the allegations were true and agreed to be the lake's monitor. Volunteering through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Citizen Lake-Monitoring Program (CLMP), Kroeger monitors Star Lake and two other lakes in the same chain four to five times throughout the summer while at the cabin. He monitors two sites on Star Lake - one near the lake's inlet, and one near its outlet. Kroeger also monitors one lake upstream and one downstream from Star Lake. Throughout his monitoring over the years, Kroeger has learned that one of the lakes is improving its quality and the other two lakes are stable. "I report back to the lake association every year with my data and it has helped make others understand water quality trends," Kroeger said. "In general, people are pretty good about taking care of their property and they want to maintain the water quality." Other volunteers like Kroeger are needed to monitor water quality Minnesota's 12,000 lakes during the summer months. Monitoring data gathered by volunteers provides valuable information about the current health of Minnesota's waters. Johanna Schussler, CLMP program coordinator, says that the MPCA is always looking for more volunteers and that there are many lakes throughout the state that don't currently have a CLMP volunteer. "We really appreciate volunteers like John Kroeger who stick with monitoring over the years. Getting that consistent data helps the MPCA determine if water quality in lakes is changing over time," Schussler said. "Our Web site has maps by county that identify where additional volunteers are needed." Monitoring is a simple and relatively quick process. Volunteers visit a designated spot on one or more lakes weekly, where they drop anchor, make notes of the water's physical condition and recreational suitability, and measure the clarity of the water with a Secchi disk. A Secchi disk is an 8-inch white metal disk that is lowered into the water until it can no longer be seen. The depth, measured by markings on the rope, is a useful indicator of the lake's relative water quality. Kroeger enjoys getting a chance to get out on the lake and visit other lakes both upstream and downstream, as well as to take in the wildlife. "I like doing a service for not only the lakeshore property owners, but also for the state of Minnesota, so we have data to understand what's happening in our lakes," he said. Kroeger's dad, who is 89, still likes to go out on the boat and appreciates the fact that his son is doing the sampling. "My family understands how valuable the lake is, both environmentally and recreationally. I hope that my kids will continue the monitoring tradition," he said. "We have a vested interest to maintain the lake and the property. It's a part of our family." For information on becoming a CLMP volunteer, call the MPCA at 651-296-6300, toll-free at 1-800-657-3864, or check the Web at hhref="/water/clmp.html.