Kawartha Conservation Seeks Citizen Scientists to Aid in Lake Health Monitoring

KAWARTHA LAKES - Kawartha Conservation is excited to announce the expansion of our Community Science Program and is seeking dedicated volunteers to join us in collecting vital water quality data on Pigeon Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and Cameron Lake. We aim to recruit 3-4 new citizen scientists to help us during the crucial months of August and September.

The Community Science Program focuses on the monthly collection of nearshore water samples, which are essential for assessing and maintaining the health of our lakes. This year, the target lakes are Balsam Lake, Cameron Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and Pigeon Lake. Volunteers will collect water quality data at their homes and report this information along with their water samples.

“Supporting citizen science is impactful because it leverages the power of community involvement to gather extensive and diverse data across our watershed,” explained Assistant Watershed Resources Technician, Nathan Rajevski. “Volunteers bring unique insights and local knowledge, enhancing our ability to monitor and respond to environmental changes. Their participation helps us build a more resilient and sustainable future for our lakes, benefiting both current residents and future generations.”

Who:
We are reaching out to residents of Pigeon Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and Cameron Lake to volunteer for this program. Our goal is to recruit at least 3-4 new volunteers on these lakes to help us gather comprehensive data.

What:
Volunteers will contribute to the last two months of sampling (August and September) by attending a training session and conducting sampling on the specified days each month.

Where:
The program is volunteer-run, with participants collecting samples from their docks or other safe water access points at home.

When:
The sampling dates are:

Balsam/Cameron
August 26
September 23

Sturgeon/Pigeon
August 27
September 24

Expanding this program will allow us to build a broader network of volunteers collecting data, thereby enhancing our understanding of lake health. The success of our nearshore program has demonstrated the value of community involvement in environmental science.

“By volunteering, individuals can directly contribute to vital environmental research, providing us with data that is crucial for informed decision-making and effective lake management,” said Rajevski.

Interested individuals can reach out to the project lead, Nathan Rajevski, at nrajevski@kawarthaconservation.com to express their interest and receive further details.