A
Citizen's Guide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams
Table of Contents
This manual was published some years ago and some of the information may now be out of date.
A PDF file of this manual is available. Click here to print your own copy.
Also see EPA's volunteer lake monitoring information
CHAPTER ONE - Who Cares About Monitoring
Different Monitoring Strategies
Who Monitors What in Puget Sound?
The Advantages of Citizen's Monitoring
The Value of Your Efforts
The Physical Character of Lakes
Lake Water Quality Parameters
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
pH
Secchi Disk Depth
Nutrient Concentrations
Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity
Chlorophyll a
Fecal Coliform Bacteria Concentrations
A Typical Lake Monitoring Program
Example of Lake Monitoring Strategies
How to Report and Analyze Lake Water Quality Data
The Physical Character of Streams
Stream Water Quality Parameters
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
pH
Nutrients
Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity
Fecal Coliform Bacteria
Pollutant Concentrations Versus Pollutant Loading
Developing a Stream Monitoring Program
How to Report and Analyze Stream Water Quality Data
CHAPTER FOUR - From the Field to the Lab
What Makes Good Data?
Ground Rules
Collecting the Sample
Measuring Temperature
Measuring Dissolved Oxygen
Measuring pH
Measuring Secchi Disk Depth
Measuring Nutrients
Measuring Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity
Measuring Chlorophyll a
Measuring Fecal Coliform Bacteria
Chapter Five - Getting a Handle on Hydrology
Measuring Stream Flow
Measuring Steam Flow with a Meter
Measuring Stream Flow with a Simple Float
Using a Staff Gage
Forming a Stage/Discharge Relationship
Calculating Pollutant Loads