Arkansas Lake Watch
There are few volunteer water-quality monitoring programs for lakes and reservoirs in Arkansas,
despite the need for more data on these systems. Aside from a volunteer monitoring program
on Beaver Lake and a few non-profit organizations that work with the Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission on Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes, opportunities for volunteers to participate in lake
monitoring are slim. We have a great opportunity as Arkansas Master Naturalists to help provide
information regarding the environmental health and status of our lakes and reservoirs through a f
ormal AMN state-wide volunteer water-quality monitoring program, we’re calling,
Arkansas Lake Watch. This program will consist of two activities: 1) routine water-quality monitoring
using a Secchi Disk and the Lake Observer app, and 2) identifying and reporting possible harmful
algal blooms to the Division of Environmental Quality using their online Algae Bloom Complaint
Reporting Form. By having trained eyes and more data on our lakes, we can help to keep our water
healthy and safe.