Citizen science for Saskatchewan lakes: a pilot project

Abstract

Bos JS, Nanayakkara L, Hurlbert M, Finlay K. Citizen science for Saskatchewan lakes: a pilot project. Lake Reserv Manage. 35:77–89.We report on an initiative to establish a pilot citizen science program to monitor recreational lake water quality in Saskatchewan, Canada. We trained citizen volunteers at lakes in two provincial parks to conduct monthly water quality sampling during the summer of 2017 and compared results based on volunteer collections with those collected by trained limnologists. We additionally conducted surveys and assembled focus groups to determine the concerns for, and knowledge of, water quality by local citizens to aid in the future expansion of this project. Trained volunteers effectively collected samples for lake trophic status, toxins, total dissolved solids, and transparency, and we drew conclusions about lake water quality from these samples similar to conclusions for those collected by trained limnologists. Despite this sampling consistency, we identified several avenues for improvement of both sample collection and volunteer education, particularly for Secchi disk transparency and pH readings. Citizens were enthusiastic about participating in water quality monitoring and lake management, and were particularly concerned about lake trophic status and invasive species. This pilot suggests that expansion to additional sites in future years is warranted, particularly when informed by the methodological modifications outlined here.