Community-Based Water Monitoring
(CBWM)
What is Community-Based Water Monitoring?
CBWM involves volunteers working in partnership with professional researchers, often with a focus on environmental monitoring.
Volunteer scientists collect samples & data that can be used to monitor environmental change and patterns on a local or large-scale level.
We are partnering with Water Rangers to provide the tools and training for citizen scientists to sample for water quality. This information can improve management decisions about the lakes that are sampled - in return the lakes can continue to be used for recreation.
Why Monitor Lakes?
Saskatchewan lakes face a range of water quality issues, including:
Algal blooms, cyanobacterial toxins, browning, temperature changes, turbidity, and invasive species.
All of these factors can degrade lake water quality, which can result in both environmental and economical consequences.
Get involved!
We're looking for more volunteers for summer 2022! If you are interested in sampling, please follow the link below to sign up! Preference will be taken for individuals who can sample the lakes below, but we are always looking for new sites to add to our list!
Invasive Species
Invasive species: any species that are not native to an ecosystem and are likely to cause harm upon introduction to a new ecosystem.
Preventing aquatic invasive species from entering new lakes and waterbodies in Canada is everyone's responsibility. Golden Rule for aquatic invasive species prevention: Clean + Drain + Dry
Our Volunteers are monitoring for invasive species this year using lab-built, submersed samplers.
Aquatic Invasive Species Resources:
Saskatchewan Invasive Species Monitoring data entry
Government of Saskatchewan - Ministry of Environment
Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council
DFO - Aquatic Invasive Species
DFO - What You Can Do to Reduce the Risks