Lake Winnipeg Community Based Monitoring Network

The Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network (LWCBMN) is a growing network that engages citizen volunteers to collect water samples across Manitoba using scientifically vetted protocols. Samples are then analyzed in a lab to measure phosphorus concentration and calculate the amount of phosphorus begin exported off our landscapes.

While Lake Winnipeg receives its water from a vast watershed, not all areas of the watershed contribute equal amounts of phosphorus. By sampling frequently at many sites, LWCBMN is able to pinpoint phosphorus hotspots – areas that contribute a disproportionate amount of phosphorus to Lake Winnipeg.

Snow melts, floods and heavy rainfall events are responsible for most of the phosphorus that is flushed from the land into our waterways. Special care is taken by network staff and volunteers to ensure phosphorus runoff is captured during these high-water events. And, because these volunteers live, work or commute near their sampling sites, LWCBMN can quickly mobilize citizen scientists to collect samples when it matters most.

湖泊温尼伯社区监测网络（LWCBMN）是一个不断壮大的网络，该网络招募市民志愿者，根据经过科学验证的协议，在马尼托巴省收集水样。随后，这些样本在实验室中进行分析，以测量磷浓度并计算从我们的景观中输出的磷量。由于湖泊温尼伯的水源来自广阔的流域，并非流域的所有区域都对磷的输入贡献相等。通过在多个地点频繁采样，LWCBMN能够精确地定位磷热点——即向湖泊温尼伯贡献不成比例的磷量的区域。雪融、洪水和强降雨事件是导致磷从陆地冲刷进入水道的主要原因。网络工作人员和志愿者特别小心，以确保在这些高水位事件期间捕捉到磷的径流。此外，鉴于这些志愿者居住、工作或通勤地点靠近采样点，LWCBMN能够在关键时刻迅速动员市民科学家收集样本。