The Michigan Clean Water Corps is looking for volunteer lake monitors, and it’s planning some training sessions for those volunteers next month.

MiCorps Director Jo Latimore tells us the group has been working to monitor the health of inland lakes across Michigan since 1974. Volunteers collect samples that are tested at Michigan State University.

“We offer a number of different options that volunteers can choose from that meet their interests and the amount of time they have to participate, and that can range anywhere from collecting water samples to look at the chemistry of the water to looking to see how the clarity of the water might be changing over time, Latimore said.

Latimore says volunteers can choose which lake they want to monitor, and people often pick lakes they live on or near. Information collected by MiCorps goes into a database so state agencies can keep an eye on the health of water bodies throughout Michigan.

“That database is used regularly by the DNR and EGLE and other agencies to watch for lakes that might be having trouble.”

Latimore says MiCorps monitored 325 lakes last year with about 500 volunteers. To serve, you should have access to a boat so you can collect water samples at various depths. MiCorps provides all the needed materials.

In-person training sessions will be held in Muskegon on April 25 and April 26. There will also be a training session over Zoom on April 30 so anyone in the state can take part. You can register right here.