Augmentation of a long-term monitoring program for Lake George, NY by citizen volunteers

Drinking water standards and recreational demands on lakes and ponded waters place a high priority on the management of water quality. As stakeholders, volunteer citizen monitors can provide considerable assistance to state agencies and research organizations charged with monitoring freshwater resources by accumulating valuable data for water quality evaluation and lake assessment. The Lay Monitoring Program on Lake George (NY) was initiated in 1980 concomitant with the establishment of a long-term chemical monitoring program. By 2002, 23 years of Secchi transparency and surface temperature data had been collected. Results have revealed potential relationships between variations in Secchi transparency and trophic indicators (chlorophyll a and total phosphorus) and have assisted in evaluating the potential influences of both increased recreational use and precipitation regime. Lay monitor participation provides a valuable and cost effective enhancement for ongoing take chemical and biotic effect studies. The integration of lay monitor Secchi data improves the breadth and consistency of long-term datasets, thereby increasing the program effectiveness in detecting incremental changes in water quality.