Water quality monitors receive training to become certified and follow strict protocols, ensuring the quality and high value of the data they collect. Below are instructions and data forms used by water quality monitors.
Each spring as a volunteer you receive a packet with new Secchi data forms, mailing instructions and personalized information, including your Secchi Simulator login.
Instructions for Secchi Monitoring
Instructions for measuring Secchi Disk Transparency
Instructions for Total Phosphorus Sampling
Please Note: If your Secchi reading is less than 2.5m we would like to know. Call it in to VLMP at 207-783-7733 or vlmp@mainevlmp.org. Please include your name, lake and date of the reading.
Field Sheets
Notice Do Not Print Field Sheets on Inkjet Printers. Field sheets must be completed in the boat at the time of your readings. There is a good chance your forms will get wet and inkjet printing runs when wet. Please use a laser printer or contact the VLMP office and we will gladly mail you extra data forms.
And please make a copy of your field sheet for your records prior to mailing. We want to be sure your hard work does not get lost in the mail.
Secchi Monitor Field Sheet (updated for 2010) |
Secchi Form Instructionsand Sample Field Sheet |
Lake Pages
Looking for your QA Certification # or Lake MIDAS#?
How about your lake report or depth maps? Check out your individual Lake Page.
You’ll find information about your lake, including water quality data, maps, volunteer lists, past plant surveys and a link to local weather.
Additional Resources
Water Quality and Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop Schedule for 2011
Annual re-certification is now required on the Secchi Simulator. Your login should be included in your spring packet or contact the VLMP office 783-7733.
Presentation Slides from the New Monitor training workshop
Graphing Secchi Disk Transparency Instructions (pdf)
Quality Assurance Project Plan (pdf 150k). The QAPP (“Quality Assurance Project Plan”) is a guide for proper procedures for lake water quality monitoring by volunteers in the VLMP. This plan has been reviewed and approved by the U.S. EPA, and describes the VLMP structure and how we assure that quality data are gathered. It can serve as an example of how a formal Quality Assurance Plan should be constructed.
Stay current with Publications including The Water Column and the Maine Lakes Report online.
2011 Lake Monitoring Conference
Volunteers – Please consider making this appeal letter available to your lake association. A contribution from your association helps the VLMP to continue to provide you with training, technical support and equipment.
Volunteer Contribution Tracking Sheet
Please help us estimate the value of the contribution made by VLMP Water Quality Monitors and Invasive Plant Patrollers to the monitoring and protection of Maine waters. Use this sheet (front and back) to track any time and expenses related to your monitoring and lake stewardship activity in 2010.
Post your story or read about other volunteers at the Meet the Monitor pages.
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