Connecticut Lake Watch (Volunteer Lake Monitoring)
Connecticut Lake Watch
Community-Based Lake and Pond Water Quality Monitoring
The Connecticut Lake Watch network is a statewide volunteer (i.e., community science) water quality monitoring program coordinated by DEEP as part of the larger Connecticut Volunteer Water Monitoring Program. Connecticut Lake Watch participants are trained to monitor lake/pond water clarity using a Secchi disk and thermometer. Monitoring ideally occurs weekly from early spring until fall. In addition, volunteers are trained to identify and report algal blooms that could lead to unsafe recreation conditions.
The data collected can be used to guide local lake management efforts, inform CT DEEP water quality assessments, and evaluate trends in lake and water quality statewide over time. Lake Watch sites and associated data can be explored on the Volunteer Monitoring Mapping Application.
Program Materials
Field Materials
- Connecticut Lake Watch Field Datasheet
- Field Guide: Secchi Disk Depth, Total Water Depth, Air and Water Temperature
Paddlecraft Safety Information:
Training Resources:
- Secchi Disk Simulator (Courtesy of Lake Stewards of Maine)
- How to Measure Water Clarity - Secchi Disk and Measuring Tape (Courtesy of NY CSLAP)
Data Submission and Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use the Connecticut Lake Watch protocols to monitor?
Any individual can be certified to use the Connecticut Lake Watch protocol to monitor water clarity on Connecticut lakes and ponds. However, individuals who live on or regularly recreate on a particular lake are ideal Lake Watch volunteers.
CT DEEP is also interested in partnering with interested lake associations in Connecticut that have an existing water quality monitoring program or associations that would like to establish a new monitoring program.
When do volunteers monitor?
Trained Connecticut Lake Watch volunteers are asked to monitor their designated lake site(s) weekly between April and October. However, the goal is to capture data before the lake stratifies which can occur as early as March in some years. Monitoring ideally will occur during mid-day.
Do volunteers need to have previous experience monitoring lakes?
Prior monitoring experience is not necessary. New volunteers complete a CT DEEP-led training to learn basic lake monitoring protocols and data submission guidelines. During this initial basic training, new volunteers are taught how to take a Secchi disk depth reading. In addition, volunteers are taught how to record surface water temperature and other ambient conditions (air temperature, cloud cover, surface water conditions).
Experienced monitors, particularly those who have a history of collaborating with CT DEEP, are eligible to complete an accelerated training that focuses primarily on data entry.
What equipment is needed to participate?
The DEEP Volunteer Water Monitoring Program has several Secchi disk kits available for annual loan. There is a limited supply, so volunteers are encouraged to purchase their own equipment. Volunteers will need a Secchi disk attached to a calibrated metered line and a certified thermometer. Well-maintained equipment can be used to monitor a site for many years after purchase. For more information and guidance on purchasing your own equipment, please contact DEEP.CTLakeWatch@ct.gov.
In addition, since measurements are typically taken at the deepest part of the lake or pond, a boat with a life preserver and anchor is needed. Power boats are not required; a kayak or canoe can be used on most waterbodies.
How can my group join the CT Lake Watch Program?
New participants are required to complete a DEEP-led training. Please email the DEEP CT Lake Watch Coordinator to be added to the notification list for future trainings.
My lake group already has collected several years of lake data, is DEEP interested in this information?
Yes! CT DEEP is interested in any available historic lake and pond water quality data. Please email DEEP.CTLakeWatch@ct.gov to discuss how to send this data.
Data Availability
Data collected by Lake Watch volunteers are uploaded to the Volunteer Monitoring Mapping Application. To allow for development of lake health report cards and regional trend analysis, water quality data will be shared with the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Related DEEP Pages
- Ambient Lake and Pond Water Quality Monitoring
- Aquatic Invasive Species Information
- Connecticut Boater's Guide
- Connecticut Contours and Lake Bathymetry GIS Data
- Freshwater Mussels of Connecticut
Other Resources
- CT Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) Aquatic Invasive Plant Program
- USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database and Map
- Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (includes bloomWatch and cyanoScope projects)
- Water Level Monitoring with Lake Observations by Citizen Scientists and Satellites (LOCSS)
- Connecticut Federation of Lakes
- New England Chapter North American Lake Management Society (NEC-NALMS)
- EPA Lake Comparison Tool
For More Information Contact:
DEEP CT Lake Watch Coordinator
DEEP.CTLakeWatch@ct.gov
Content last updated April 1, 2026