Newsletter of the Citizen Lake and Citizen Stream Monitoring Programs

In this edition: Welcome to Transparency Times! New Staff in the Citizen Monitoring Programs 2011 CLMP and CSMP Transparency Report Update 125 New Volunteers Since January 2012! The Secchi Dip-In Citizen Lake Monitoring Program News Citizen Stream Monitoring Program News

Welcome to Transparency Times!

New staff in the Citizen Monitoring Programs Courtney Ahlers-Nelson (right photo) joined the Citizen Monitoring Program staff in January and has recently assumed the role of the Citizen Lake Monitoring Coordinator.  As many of you know, Johanna Schussler, the previous CLMP Coordinator, took a job at the Department of Natural Resources in March.  Additionally, as of June 1st, Amy Garcia (left photo) will be assisting both the Citizen Lake and Citizen Stream Monitoring Programs.  Previously, Amy had been working in the Municipal Stormwater Program at the MPCA.  Both Amy and Courtney are eager to a part of the Citizen Monitoring Programs.

125 new volunteers since January 2012! The work that you do for your lakes, rivers and streams is invaluable to the environment and to the MPCA! We are working harder than ever to recruit additional volunteers on behalf of Minnesota’s waters. Over the past six months, we have enrolled over 125 new volunteers.  Help us keep the momentum going! If you know of someone that might be interested in being a lake or stream monitoring volunteer, encourage them to enroll today! Citizen Lake Monitors can enroll at the CLMP Volunteer Sign-Up webpage. For more information, email the CLMP at clmp.pca@state.mn.us. Citizen Stream Monitors can enroll at the CSMP Volunteer Sign-Up webpage. For more information, email the CSMP at csmp.pca@state.mn.us.

2011 CLMP and CSMP transparency report update

Electronic Datasheet now available for CLMP and CSMP

• Citizen Lake Monitors can download the Citizen Lake Monitoring Program Electronic Datasheet from our website.  Please contact us at clmp.pca@state.mn.us if you have any trouble or questions.

• Citizen Stream Monitors can download the Citizen Stream Monitoring Program Electronic Datasheet from our website.  Please contact us at csmp.pca@state.mn.us if you have any trouble or questions.

The Secchi Dip-In The 18th Annual Secchi Dip-In will be held this year from June 23rd – July 15th. The Secchi Dip-In is an international program that encourages individuals in volunteer lake and stream monitoring programs to take a transparency measurement on one day during the weeks surrounding Canada Day and July Fourth. This doesn’t have to be a special reading—you can report any readings that you regularly take for the CLMP or CSMP during that time period to the Dip-In. The Secchi Dip-In provides a comprehensive glimpse of transparency at volunteer-monitored sites across North America and the rest of the world. Scientists and volunteers can get a sense of how transparency varies according to water type, regional geology and land use. More importantly, these annual Dip-In snapshots can be put together to form a changing picture of transparency over time. If you are interested in learning more about the Secchi Dip-In, or if you would like to submit readings from your lake or stream, please visit the Secchi Dip-In website at www.secchidipin.org.

Citizen Lake Monitoring Program News

CLMP sampling reminders Check out our Citizen Lake Monitoring Program Training Videos for a monitoring refresher!  Also, additional monitoring and program information can be found in the Citizen Lake Monitoring Program Instructional Manual. As you know, weekly readings help create a robust dataset, particularly for statistical analysis. If you’re unable to collect weekly readings, please try to collect at least two readings per month. Here are a few reminders to ensure that you collect the most accurate water quality data:

1. If you’re able, try to take your readings between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on bright, calm days.
2. To reduce the impact of glare, take your reading on the shaded side of your boat and without wearing sunglasses.
3. The “PC” and “RS” columns on your datasheet are for recording “Physical Condition” and “Recreational Suitability.” The PC and RS scales are located on the back of your datasheets. These should be recorded before taking your Secchi disk reading.
   
4.  Your Secchi disk rope is marked in feet. Red lines indicate ½ foot intervals, black lines indicate 1 foot intervals, and double black lines indicate 5 foot intervals. Round your reading to the nearest ½ foot.

Important site information for CLMP volunteers

Citizen Stream Monitoring Program News

Secchi tube transition complete! In March the MPCA sent approximately 500 Secchi tubes to CSMP volunteers, replacing the old, 60 and 100 cm transparency tubes used since the program began in 1998. This switch to the Secchi tube will greatly improve the quality and usability of stream transparency data. We had two primary goals for disposal of the old tubes: to ensure that they are no longer used to measure stream transparency, and to reuse or recycle as much of the materials as possible in an effort to reduce waste. We had an amazing response to our call for returning old tubes, with about 400 of the 60-cm tubes and approximately 200 of the longer tubes received. Thank you! The plastic tubes, mini Secchi disks, and rubber corks will all be recycled, and the screws will be re-used. Next steps include finalizing the comparison of transparency tube and Secchi tube data to determine if a conversion factor is needed, and developing a system for using Secchi tube data to assess compliance with sediment related water quality standards for rivers. For more information on the Secchi tube and reasons for making the switch, visit the Secchi tube webpage. We hope you’ve had a chance to get out and use your new Secchi tube to measure transparency on your river or stream!

WANTED: Photos of Secchi tube monitoring in action! We need your help building a photo library of our citizen scientists in action! Please send us photographs of you using the new Secchi tube by either emailing electronic images as attachments to the CSMP mailbox at csmp.pca@state.mn.us, or mail hard copy photographs to the Citizen Stream Monitoring Program at MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd N, Saint Paul, MN 55155. Please note: All images submitted will be used in various CSMP materials to promote and increase understanding and awareness of the program.

CSMP sampling reminders Check out our Citizen Stream Monitoring Programs Training Videos for a monitoring refresher!  As you monitor your stream’s transparency this summer, here are a few reminders to ensure that you collect the most accurate data: Please take transparency readings with a Secchi tube, only. We are unable to accept data collected with the old transparency tube from this point forward. The scales for “Appearance” and “Recreational Suitability” range from 1-5. Please choose and record only one number every time that you sample (“2-3” or “3+” will not be used).  Note that the “Appearance” scale distinguishes  “1A (Clear)” from “1B (Tea-colored).”  For guidance with determining your “Stream Stage Estimate,” please refer to pages 14-15 of the most recent Citizen Stream Monitoring Program Instruction Manual where you will find graphics and descriptions of the five categories - Low (L), Normal (N), or High (H), No flow (Z) or Dry (D). Remember to check either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the ‘Rain Event?’ column on your datasheet every time that you measure transparency. Weekly readings help ensure a robust dataset, particularly for statistical analyses. If you’re unable to collect weekly readings, please try to collect at least two readings per month. Thank you for your continued monitoring. Have a safe and fun summer on the water!