Albertans can provide an extra set of eyes on the health of lakes in the province.
The annual National Lake Blitz program is in its fifth year, and through this program, Albertans of all backgrounds are invited to participate in the nationwide effort to monitor lake health.
From May to September, the volunteers part of the program will collect diverse information about the lakes in Alberta.
Part of the program will focus on the wildlife on or in the lake and along the shorelines, including both native and invasive species.
This information will track the biodiversity in and around lakes in Canada, which will help to support lake conservation efforts.
The other part of this program will collect information about the lake itself.
Volunteers will monitor and document water temperature, air temperature, water clarity, and water colour, and the data will be collected bi-weekly at the volunteer's chosen lake.
Through the National Lake Blitz program, they will improve water literacy and help empower local action across the country.
All volunteers need to participate is either a camera or a smartphone.
The data from the National Lake Blitz is incorporated into the Watershed Report from Water Rangers and AquaAction, and the report indicates there is a major gap in freshwater monitoring across Canada.
According to the report, 76 per cent of the sub-watersheds in Canada lack sufficient data to properly assess their health, but by expanding the citizen science programs, such as Lake Blitz, they will fill the gap.
As part of this year's campaign, the volunteers are able to use the iNaturalist app to record wildlife and invasive species they found at lakes.
"We’re building on the success of last year when 278 participants from nine provinces and two territories recorded over 24,800 observations," explained the Lake Blitz Program Lead, Kaite Martin, in a media release. "This year’s updates make it easier than ever to get involved, and participants can monitor lakes at their own pace -- whether weekly, monthly, or whenever they visit."
To learn more about this program, click here.