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Using CLMN Data

 

Annual Water Quality Lake Reports

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The Annual Data Reports pages are currently unavailable. They used a software platform that is no longer supported. A new data summarization tool is being developed by Wisconsin DNR staff and will be available for use soon. Please contact your local Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Coordinator for help viewing the results of your recent monitoring data.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use this short guide to interpret the data that is included in your lake's annual reports. 

Understanding Lake Data Guide (pdf)

 

 

 

This guide was written to help people understand information about lake water quality and to interpret lake data. Each lake possesses a unique “personality,” or set of physical and chemical characteristics which may change over time. Lakes exhibit chemical changes on a daily basis while other changes, such as plant and algae growth, occur seasonally. A glossary of technical terms is included to help the reader understand the language used in the study of lakes (limnology).

 

​How is My Data Used?

  

Citizen Lake Monitoring Network data is used by lake managers, researchers, planners, biologists, lake residents, and other members of the public. These data are used to show trends in water quality and biological communities, calibrate the LandSat8 satellite, and gain a better understanding of lake ecology. Many research projects have compared water quality data with other variables including aquatic invasive species abundance, land management activities, and more, to help understand how these factors influence each other. 

 

Projects Using CLMN Data (exit UWEX Lakes)

 

North American Secchi Dip-In (exit UWEX Lakes) 

The North American Secchi Dip-in is a continent-wide water clarity tracking program, coordinated by Kent State University in Ohio. Volunteers collect water transparency data from late June to mid-July each year, which is used to determine trends in water clarity across the United States and Canada.


Educators' Corner

  
Citizen scientists have been collecting water clarity and chemistry data on many Wisconsin lakes since 1986. Lakes Biologists from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have been collecting data from these lakes even longer. These data are compiled into annual reports for each lake that are available to the public HERE.

We hope this “Educators' Corner” will be a resource for teachers who want to use real data from area lakes to teach students about limnology and life science in grades 5-12. We hope to expand this in the coming year, but for now have a great loon activity.

Loon Activity
Why Do Loons Occupy Certain Wisconsin Lakes? Overview, Objectives, Standard Connections, Materials and Procedure (PDF)
Loon Activity worksheet (download Excel document)

If you have an idea for an activity, please send suggestions or ideas to Paul.Skawinski@uwsp.edu.




​What do volunteers monitor?
 

 

These coordinators are your primary contact for equipment, reports and additional training opportunities.
 
CLMN & AIS Statewide Contacts
These contacts cover statewide issues in their area of expertise.
 
Wisconsin DNR Lake Coordinators​
These coordinators work on lake planning and protection grants, as well as AIS grants.

These staff are great local contacts for AIS issues.
 

 
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For more information, contact

Paul Skawinski, Statewide Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Educator 

(715) 346-4853 Paul.Skawinski@uwsp.edu

 

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