Volunteers needed for lake monitoring program

The Northwest Montana Lakes Network is looking for lake property owners and/or homeowners, recreationists, or just people who are interested in lakes to become volunteer citizen scientists.  

There are currently 41 lakes in the program, and many need a volunteer to collect water quality data, monitor for aquatic invasive species, and promote watershed stewardship in Northwest Montana. Beaver Lake, Dollar Lake, Upper and  Lower Stillwater Lake, Foys Lake, Bootjack Lake and Dickey Lake are just a few of the lakes in the program that need volunteers.

Volunteers will receive training and equipment to assist them in data collection and aquatic invasive species identification. However, volunteers will need their own boat (motorized or non-motorized) to reach the mid-lake sample site. Volunteers are the primary source of lake data and play a key stewardship role in their lake community.  

Training for the monitoring program is April 25, from 5-7 p.m. at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 headquarters, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell.  

The training is open to new and current volunteers and will include basic water quality sampling protocols as well as an aquatic invasive plant and animal identification session led by FWP experts. RSVP for the training by April 19 to durae@whitefishlake.org.  

For more information, contact the Whitefish Lake Institute at 406-862-4327 or visit www.nmln.info.