Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Lake Monitoring Program (MPCA) Citizen Lake Monitoring Program Secchi

“The CLMP is a cooperative program combining the technical resources of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the volunteer efforts of citizens statewide who collect water-quality data on their lakes. The CLMP involves voluntary participation of citizens residing on or near lakes or those who are frequent lake users. CLMP participants are asked to take weekly transparency measurements on their lake during the summer using a Secchi disk. A minimum of eight to ten readings per season are required in order to adequately define each summer’s water quality. Data collected by CLMP volunteers are entered into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality database (called STORET) along with all other water quality data collected by the MPCA. These data are used to analyze water quality trends, characterize trophic status, and provide a basis for water quality goal setting."