Become a LAKEWATCH Volunteer
Florida LAKEWATCH is a citizen volunteer lake monitoring program that facilitates "hands-on" citizen participation in the management of Florida lakes, rivers, and coastal sites through monthly monitoring activities. Requirements for volunteers:
- Have access to a lake or water body that you wish to sample and a boat (power, kayak, canoe, etc.) to collect the water samples.
- Commit to sampling one day every month at three open water locations on the lake (1-2 hours) for at least one year.
- Attend a training session on how to collect water samples (1-2 hours). We will come to you to complete the training at the lake.
- Once trained, collect water samples that will be analyzed for total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll, water clarity, color, and conductivity.
- Freeze all samples and periodically deliver them to a collection center in your area. The collection center will have a freezer for your samples and new supplies.
- All volunteers must adhere to the LAKEWATCH volunteer policy in accordance with University of Florida rules and regulations. This includes passing a background check. For more information, please refer to the volunteer policy.
You can view the LAKEWATCH Training Manual and video to see what will be expected of you as a volunteer.
- In return for participating, volunteers receive:
- A free newsletter subscription via email
- Free sampling supplies and the use of provided sampling equipment
- Free training in lake monitoring procedures
- Annual report
- Access to experts in lake management who can help with questions
- Invitations to free Florida LAKEWATCH volunteer appreciation meetings
If this sounds like something you would like to do please fill out the form below.
Any information you supply will be used by Florida LAKEWATCH to contact you and will not be given to anyone else without your permission. Someone from Florida LAKEWATCH will contact you soon to answer any questions you may have and to schedule a training session at your convenience.
If you don't monitor your lake, who will?