Florida LAKEWATCH volunteers needed!

Florida LAKEWATCH was created by the state legislature in 1991 to enhance scientific knowledge about state lakes. According to University of Florida IFAS Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent Shannon Carnevale, LAKEWATCH has sampled approximately 100 lakes over its 20-year history but few of them have continuous, long-term data.

“Because of this, we are hoping to add new LAKEWATCH volunteers to some of the program’s historical lakes,” Carnevale said. If you live on one of the “most wanted” lakes, have a functional boat and are willing to donate around two hours of time per month, experts need your help taking water samples. Sampling kits are provided. New volunteers get two hours of hands on training.

The “most wanted” lakes are: Ashton, Bonnett, Blue North, Cummings, Cypress, Dexter, Dinner, Eloise, Fannie, Gem, Halloway, Henry, Ida, Mabel, Mountain, Parker, Ring, River, Rochelle, Starr, Van and Wailes. Email Shannon Carnevale for more information.