Calling out all West Kootenay citizen scientists!
This summer, Living Lakes Canada is inviting all interested and would-be biologists to dive into a new volunteer lake-monitoring program called the National Lake Blitz.
“Lakes are integral to communities, providing essential resources and serving as recreational and cultural hubs,” read a release from Living Lakes communications coordinator Emily Jerome. “We live along their shores, explore their fresh waters and admire the diverse wildlife. Yet, increasing climate and other impacts highlight the need to monitor and protect these vital ecosystems.”
Anyone interested in deepening their connection to their favourite lake can now register as a Lake Blitz volunteer.
As a lake monitor, you will measure air and water temperature, document shoreline habitat, wildlife, invasive species and environmental concerns at your lake or lakes of choice between May and September.
“I was starting to think about climate change and how I needed to take some personal action, and I didn’t really know what to do,” said Teresa Wright, a Lake Blitz volunteer who monitors Kootenay Lake. “Being a Lake Blitz volunteer made me feel happy to be part of a community that was also taking care of our lakes.”
Living Lakes Canada provides free online training sessions on how to collect data and data entry, and provides each volunteer with a free Lake Blitz Standard Kit that contains a thermometer, tape measure, field guide, and datasheets.
And for those really keen, Lake Blitz offers a Level 2 Kit, available for purchase, which teaches volunteers how to measure additional parameters including pH and water clarity.
All the lake data collected can be viewed on the Lake Blitz Observation Map or downloaded from the Living Lakes Canada Water Hub, an open access database for water and water-related data.
The Lake Blitz data is also available from DataStream.
Last year 223 active volunteers monitored 209 lakes, collecting 1,613 data points.
Volunteers will also be invited to join the Lake Blitz Speaker Series featuring experts from various water-focused fields including Ross Reid, a popular online science educator also known as Nerdy About Nature.
Registration closes April 26 or when the supply of standard Lake Blitz Kits runs out.
“Don’t miss out!” said Jerome. “Join Living Lakes Canada in getting outside this summer and help protect the lake you love.”
To register, visit LivingLakesCanada.ca and click the “Get Involved” banner or contact the Lake Blitz team at LakeBlitz@LivingLakesCanada.ca.