Volunteer Water Monitors Needed To Track Water Quality In Owatonna Area

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has put out a call for volunteer water monitors in the Owatonna area via a press release this afternoon. The opportunity to volunteer is perfect for someone who loves to be outdoors and for those who wish to help to protect our natural resources.

According to the release that is seeking volunteers in the Owatonna area:

Through the Volunteer Water Monitoring Program, volunteers do a simple water clarity test in a body of water twice a month during the summer. Lake monitors boat or paddle to a designated spot in the lake to check the clarity, while stream monitors record data from the streambank or a bridge over it. We provide all the equipment and training, so no experience is needed.

The MPCA uses the data to help determine whether lakes and streams are meeting water quality standards designed to protect aquatic life and recreational activities like fishing and swimming. In some cases, the information gathered by volunteers is the only monitoring done on a particular lake or stream.

Currently, according to the MPCA website, there are "more than 1,400 Minnesotans who track the health of their favorite lake or stream" throughout the state.

Those interested in participating and volunteering can find more information about the program by heading here or email watervolunteers.mpca@state.mn.us.