Volunteer Surface Water Monitoring

Minnesota. For most people, our state's name invokes images of clear, blue waters. In fact, the name itself means “sky tinted waters.” Minnesota does, in fact, have an abundance of water resources – more surface waters than any other of the 48 contiguous states.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and its partner organizations currently conduct a variety of surface water monitoring activities on these valuable resources. Monitoring our lakes and streams allows the MPCA to assess the health of Minnesota’s waters to better protect and restore them.

While these natural resources are many, MPCA staff are few and the MPCA simply does not have the resources to monitor the state’s 92,000 miles of rivers, 12,000-plus lakes, and 10.6 million acres of wetlands alone. That’s where volunteer monitoring comes in – the MPCA supports volunteer monitoring programs aimed at increasing the amount of water quality data gathered, providing greater frequency and geographic monitoring coverage, and fostering a sense of stewardship for these precious water resources throughout Minnesota.

The MPCA currently coordinates two volunteer monitoring programs – The Citizen Lake Monitoring Program and the Citizen Stream Monitoring Program. The MPCA also provides technical support to The Wetland Health Evaluation Project.

• Lakes that need volunteer monitors
• Streams that need volunteer monitors

Citizen Lake Monitoring Program

People who live on lakes or frequently visit lakes help monitor water clarity and quality through the MPCA's Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP), the nation's longest running volunteer lake monitoring program. Being a volunteer lake monitor requires minimal volunteer time, yet it provides essential information for Minnesota’s lakes.

Advanced Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP+)

Volunteers who have participated in the CLMP for at least two years may be eligible to participate in the Advanced Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP+). The CLMP+ enables participants to collect additional water quality parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a.  

Citizen Stream Monitoring Program

Since 1998 CSMP volunteers have been monitoring the clarity and water level of their neighborhood streams or rivers, while tracking daily rainfall amounts at their homes. These two simple measures, like taking your blood pressure, serve as general indicators of river health.

Wetland Health Evaluation Program

City-sponsored citizen teams in Dakota and Hennepin counties have been monitoring the health of wetlands in their communities since 1996. Some cities involved with WHEP are making use of plant and invertebrate data collected by volunteers in city planning and water resource decision making.