MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program

Long-term monitoring is essential to understand, protect, and restore Michigan's thousands of inland lakes. For 50 years, volunteers in the MiCorps’ Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) have been collecting reliable, meaningful, and scientifically valid data on lakes statewide. The primary purpose of this cooperative program is to provide volunteers with a framework to monitor indicators of water quality and habitat in their lake and document changes in lake conditions over time.

The CLMP provides sampling methods, training workshops, technical support, quality control, and laboratory assistance for volunteers to collect

reliable, high quality data. lakes.

Why Monitor?

Monitoring a lake’s water quality and habitat is part of what’s needed to keep it clean for the enjoyment of you and yours for generations to come. By monitoring, you’ll know if your lake continues to be ready for fun and recreation, or if it’s starting to degrade over time. And if there is a water quality problem, only monitoring will give you the advance warning needed to take early action to protect your lake.

What is the data used for?

Each year MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program Volunteers collect valuable water quality and habitat data on hundreds of inland lakes statewide. This data is used by volunteers, local communities, researchers, and state agencies like the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Department of Natural Resources to better protect and manage Michigan’s waters and the fish and wildlife that rely on them.

All data are publicly accessible in the MiCorps Data Exchange.