MiCORPS Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program Lake Surveys, water chemistry, 1974-2012

The Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) has been an important component of Michigan's inland lakes monitoring program for over 39 years, which makes it the second oldest volunteer monitoring program for lakes in the country. The primary purpose of this cooperative program is to help citizen volunteers monitor indicators of water quality in their lake and document changes in lake quality over time. The goals of the CLMP are: Provide baseline information and document trends in water quality for individual lakes, Educate lake residents, users and interested citizens in the collection of water quality data, lake ecology and lake management practices, provide a cost-effective process for the DEQ to increase baseline data for lakes state-wide. Since 1992, the Michigan Lake and Stream Associations (MLSA) has administered the CLMP jointly with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under a Memorandum of Understanding. The ML&SA will continue to administer this program under the Michigan Clean Water Corps