Lake Champlain Basin Volunteer Monitoring

Any lake or pond on the New York side of the Lake Champlain basin that is not routinely monitored is eligible for enrollment. Lakes filled in green on the web map below are currently not being monitored and are eligible for ALAP. If a lake or pond you are interested in monitoring does not appear on the map please email info@adklakes.org or fill out the enrollment form below.

Water samples are analyzed by AWI staff for pH, alkalinity, conductivity, color, nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, transparency, chloride, sodium, and calcium. These are important measures of water quality that help us understand the health of a lake.

ALAP data has been used to help us understand lake recovery from acid rain, road salt runoff, and septic system pollution. You can read reports and listen to AWI presentations on the reports page of this website.

Nothing! New ALAP lakes enrolled in the Lake Champlain Basin Volunteer Monitoring program will have the first year of ALAP fees waived. You will also be provided with the necessary field equipment however, you will need to provide your own boat with an anchor, and a personal floatation device.

After the first year, volunteers will be required to pay the regular annual ALAP fees if you wish for your lake to remain enrolled.

Each volunteer will visit their lake to collect a water sample during a designated 10-day period each month from May through September. Most volunteers spend between 30 minutes and 1` hour on the water during each sampling trip. In addition, you will be asked to do a basic top-water aquatic invasive species survey of your lake if one hasn’t been done recently. The total time spent on the water for sampling trips plus the invasive species survey is estimated to be 8 to 12 hours over the course of the entire summer. Finally, you will be required to participate in a 1-2 hour training, which will either be at the Paul Smith’s College campus or on your lake.

That is ok, we ask that you coordinate with our staff to make alternative plans for sample collection or move the sampling date.

We will provide you with all of the necessary sampling equipment. You need to provide a boat, life jacket, and anchor.

If you continue the enrollment of your lake in the program you may keep the sampling equipment provided. Otherwise, we’ll kindly ask it to be returned so that it may be used by other volunteers.

ALAP reports are typically issued in January or February of the following year. Every sample has to be processed by the AWI lab and then goes through a rigorous quality assurance and control procedure. Once the data are finalized AWI staff generate a report for each lake.

Yes! Though you will need to make sure there is public access or you have landowner permission. The web map below has layers showing public land, trails, and parking lots to help you plan. AWI and Protect staff have extensive knowledge and experience sampling Adirondack waterbodies. We are happy to discuss the feasibility and challenges of sampling a particular waterbody.

Send an email to info@adklakes.org or use the enrollment form below and we’ll help pair you up with a lake or with another volunteer.

You can email questions to info@adklakes.org or use the enrollment form below.