Guidelines for Properly Citing Florida LAKEWATCH Data, Publications, and Resources
Florida LAKEWATCH is one of the largest volunteer-based water quality monitoring programs in the United States. Our data and educational resources are made possible by the dedication of citizen scientists across Florida.
To ensure proper credit is given to both Florida LAKEWATCH and the volunteers who collect and contribute data, and to maintain consistency across publications, presentations, and data products, we ask that all users of our data, reports, graphics, or written content follow the guidelines below when citing Florida LAKEWATCH.
We and our volunteers love to see how LAKEWATCH data and resources are being used. Whether your work contributes to academic research, education, informs water management decisions, or supports local conservation initiatives, we greatly appreciate seeing how LAKEWATCH resources are making an impact. Your work helps demonstrate the value of long-term, volunteer-driven water monitoring across Florida.
Please share your finished work with us at fl-lakewatch@ufl.edu. It means a lot to our team and to the volunteers who make this program possible.
When to Cite LAKEWATCH
You should cite Florida LAKEWATCH when:
- Using water quality data or biological data collected through the program
- Referencing methods, summaries, or interpretations from LAKEWATCH publications
- Quoting or adapting content from LAKEWATCH reports, newsletters, or educational materials
- Including maps, graphs, or figures originally produced by LAKEWATCH
- Discussing LAKEWATCH’s role in statewide water quality monitoring or citizen science
How to Cite LAKEWATCH
- Citing Data
When using LAKEWATCH data in your research or publication, please include the following citation format:
Florida LAKEWATCH. (Year). Water Quality Database, accessed on [insert date] . https://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu. School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Example:
Florida LAKEWATCH. (2025). Water Quality Database, accessed on June 23rd. https://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu. School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Citing LAKEWATCH Reports or Publications
Please use the full citation for any report or newsletter you reference. Example format:
Hoyer, M. V., Canfield, D. E., & Florida LAKEWATCH. (2012). Volunteer lake monitoring: History and future directions. Florida LAKEWATCH, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
If citing a specific newsletter article, include the title, author (if known), and publication issue.
- Citing Web Content or Tools
For tools, summaries, or other materials hosted on our website:
Florida LAKEWATCH. (Year). [Title of page or tool]. Retrieved from https://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu
Example:
Florida LAKEWATCH. (2025). Data Dashboard. Retrieved from https://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu
Citation Tips
- Always cite the original source of data or content.
- Include the full URL when referencing online content or data portals.
- If you’re unsure how to cite a specific LAKEWATCH product, feel free to contact us at lakewatch@ufl.edu.
Acknowledgments
If you’d like to include Florida LAKEWATCH in your acknowledgments section, we recommend the following language:
“We gratefully acknowledge Florida LAKEWATCH, a citizen volunteer lake monitoring program coordinated through the University of Florida, for providing long-term water quality data used in this study.”
Questions?
If you have questions about how to properly cite LAKEWATCH in your work, please contact us at lakewatch@ufl.edu. We’re happy to assist!