Advanced Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP+)

A volunteer uses the integrated sampler to collect water for phosphorus and chlorophyll samples.

A volunteer uses a Secchi disk to test water transparency.

Minnesota’s Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP) has been providing volunteers with Secchi disks to measure the clarity (transparency) of Minnesota’s lakes since 1973. The Advanced Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP+) was developed in 2000 and expands the basic CLMP to include additional monitoring parameters for lakes where no advanced monitoring program exists. The additional parameters measured by volunteers participating in the CLMP+ include temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles, alkalinity, chloride, chlorophyll, color, nitrogen, phosphorus, and solids.

What is the purpose of CLMP+?

The CLMP+ is designed to increase volunteers’ understanding and awareness of their lakes and to assist the MPCA in assessing the chemical, physical and biological integrity of lakes to determine if designated uses are being met.

The CLMP+ is not a diagnostic study - it will not reveal sources and concentrations of phosphorus loading coming from the watershed. The CLMP+ also does not measure toxic chemicals, metals (e.g. mercury) or bacteria.

What do CLMP+ volunteers do?

Participants in the CLMP+ will be trained by MPCA staff in proper monitoring and sample collection techniques. Volunteers are required to provide a boat, and will perform monitoring activities from May through September, complete necessary paperwork, and ship samples for laboratory analysis.

The MPCA will provide all necessary monitoring equipment and will pay shipping and laboratory analysis fees. The MPCA will enter all data collected into STORET (the statewide water quality database) and compile a report summarizing the data. A detailed description of all activities is available in the Work Plan.

Eligible lakes

Lakes eligible for participation in the CLMP+ are those that lack sufficient data to determine whether the lake meets water quality standards for aquatic recreational use by the MPCA. (Note: To be assessed, a lake must have at least eight phosphorus, chlorophyll, and Secchi measurements collected over at least two years). In addition, priority will be given to lakes that:

• Are less than 500 acres in size (the MPCA will be monitoring lakes over 500 acres)
• Have a public access, public beach or public right of way
• Are in the same region as other participating lakes

Volunteer requirements

In order to be considered for participation in the CLMP+, at least two individuals on a lake must commit to participate in the program for one (1) or two (2) seasons as deemed necessary by the MPCA. Volunteers must also:

• Have participated in CLMP for at least two years (at least one of the two applicants)
• Have a boat or canoe to perform monitoring activities

Sign me up!

The MPCA has the resources to work with approximately 10 CLMP+ lakes in any given season. In the instance that demand exceeds these resources, lakes may be wait-listed for participation in future years.

To be considered as a volunteer for the 2012 monitoring season, please submit your application by January 31, 2012. (Applications submitted after January 31 may be considered for the 2012 monitoring season as resources allow. If not included in the 2012 monitoring season, these applications will be considered for future monitoring seasons.)

Volunteer application

If you are interested in participating in the CLMP+, please fill out one of the following applications:

• CLMP+ Application - MS Word version. Open and fill out the Word application form and e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• CLMP+ Application - PDF version. Print out and complete the PDF application form (use additional pages if necessary) and mail to:

Citizen Lake Monitoring Program
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road N
St. Paul, MN 55155-4194

Contact information

If you have questions about the program, you can reach Citizen Lake Monitoring Program staff at 651-296-6300 (Twin Cities) or 1-800-657-3864 (Greater Minnesota) or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .