LakeWatch Water Quality Data

The Alberta Lake Management Society accepts requests from citizen scientists across Alberta to have their lake monitored as part of the LakeWatch program. Volunteers often contact the Alberta Lake Management Society due to concerns around eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, watershed developments, biodiversity monitoring, and for the early detection of aquatic invasive species. If accepted into the program, a lake will be monitored 4-5 times throughout the open water season: once in June, once in July, twice in August, and once in September. ALMS hires and trains field technicians in proper sampling techniques and it is these field technicians who arrange the sampling trips with the citizen scientists. At the lake, the citizen scientist’s role is to transport the technicians around the lake on a boat and to assist with sampling. The field technicians provide all necessary sampling equipment, support the volunteers in training, and oversee sample preservation, handling, and shipment. This program is free of charge for individuals hoping to collect water quality data from their lake. This program is made possible with the support of various funders, including the Government of Alberta, and would not be possible without hundreds of hours of volunteer time by lake stewards.

阿尔伯塔湖管理协会（Alberta Lake Management Society）接受阿尔伯塔省内公民科学家的申请，将其湖泊纳入LakeWatch项目（LakeWatch Program）的监测范围。志愿者们通常因关注富营养化、有害藻华、流域开发、生物多样性监测，以及希望早期发现水生入侵物种而联系该协会。若湖泊成功入选该项目，将在敞水期内开展4至5次监测：6月、7月、9月各1次，8月2次。阿尔伯塔湖管理协会会聘请并培训野外技术人员掌握规范采样技术，由这些技术人员与公民科学家协调采样行程。在湖泊采样现场，公民科学家的职责是乘船陪同技术人员绕行湖泊，并协助开展采样工作。野外技术人员将提供所有必要的采样设备，为志愿者提供培训支持，并负责样品的保存、处理与运输。对于希望采集所在湖泊水质数据的个人而言，该项目完全免费。本项目得以实施离不开包括阿尔伯塔省政府（Government of Alberta）在内的众多资助方的支持，同时也离不开湖泊守护者们数百小时的志愿投入。