What is Volunteer Monitoring?
Scientists typically take samples to get an idea of what is happening in an ecosystem. Taking these measurements gives them an idea of how natural systems are changing over time and helps to identify problems as well as create solutions. Collecting this data can be labour-intensive and expensive, so many programs utilize volunteer monitors to help their efforts.
Volunteer Monitoring involves the participation of the public in the data collection process. The gathered information can then be used to help groups, agencies and even governments effectively manage resources, influence policy decisions, set conservation priorities, and reduce environmental impacts.
When many people participate in data collection, you don't need to commit a lot of time to doing this work! Additionally, programs offered through Blue Lakes and organizations like The Land Between (our founding charity) provide all the training you need, so you don’t have to be an expert to get started!
Volunteer Monitoring Programs Offered Through the Blue Lakes Program
Merry Macrophytes
Merry Macrophytes is an interactive and engaging way to learn about the aquatic plants, or macrophytes, in your lake!
Macrophytes are easily sampled and monitored, making them ideal species to collect water health information from.
Through this program, you’ll learn about species that indicate good water quality as well as tips and tricks for species identification!
Marvellous Minnows
Minnows are an ecologically important species, as they are an important food source for a number of other wildlife and act as a base for the food web.
There are different types of minnows with various tolerances of water health, which makes them excellent indicators for water quality.
In Marvellous Minnows, you’ll learn about the minnows that live in your lake and the types that indicate how healthy your lake is.
Please note, you must have a valid Ontario Fishing License to handle minnows in Ontario.
Bugs in the Mud
Lakes and rivers are home to countless species of aquatic bugs known as benthic macroinvertebrates.
Like minnows and macrophytes, these bugs have various tolerances to water quality, meaning that we can make important conclusions about the health of your lake based on which bugs are present!
Bugs in the Mud is an activity to help you learn how to collect, identify, and interpret the benthic macroinvertebrates in your very own lake!
The Land Between offers a number of other volunteer monitoring programs including turtle, bird, and snake conservation, invasive species monitoring and removal, and many more!
You can learn more about these opportunities on The Land Between’s community science/volunteering page!