Scuttlebutt Magazine - May 2008 - (Page 17) www.scuttlebutt.com May 2008 • Page 17 MPCA lake volunteer monitor makes cabin trips meaningful –––––––––––––––––––– Going to his family’s the clarity of the water cabin has made Mounds Volunteers are needed with a Secchi disk. View resident John A Secchi disk is an Kroeger appreciate the to monitor water eight-inch white metal value of clean and clear disk that is lowered into water. That’s why he has quality in Minnesota’s the water until it can no volunteered as a citizen longer be seen. The lake monitor for the last 12,000 lakes during the depth, measured by 11 years for three lakes markings on the rope, is in Crow Wing County. a useful indicator of the summer months. Kroeger’s father and lake’s relative water grandparents have visitquality. Monitoring data ed Star Lake, just west of Kroeger enjoys getCrosslake, since the midgathered by volunteers ting a chance to get out 1930s and built the lake on the lake and visit cabin in the late 1940s. provides valuable other lakes both The lake is a big part of upstream and downhis life - his parents information about the stream, as well as to take spent their honeymoon in the wildlife. “I like at Star Lake and other current health of doing a service for not friends have purchased only the lakeshore propcabins there as well. He Minnesota’s waters. erty owners, but also for grew interested in becoming a lake monitor when lake association members started talking about restricting different types of boats and motors on the lake, claiming they were harmful to the water quality. Kroeger, an engineering manager at Boston Scientific, was interested to learn if the allegations were true and agreed to be the lake’s monitor. Volunteering through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Citizen LakeMonitoring Program (CLMP), Kroeger monitors Star Lake and two other lakes in the same chain four to five times throughout the summer while at the cabin. He monitors two sites on Star Lake - one near the lake’s inlet, and one near its outlet. Kroeger also monitors one lake upstream and one downstream from Star Lake. Throughout his monitoring over the years, Kroeger has learned that one of the lakes is improving its quality and the other two lakes are stable. “I report back to the lake association every year with my data and it has helped make others understand water quality trends,” Kroeger said. “In general, people are pretty good about taking care of their property and they want to –––––––––––––––––––– Slips available for the 2008 Season! Mile Marker 839.7 Modern High Quality Docks Two pump out facilities Locked security gates Join us at St. Paul’s premier marina Gas dock w/92 octane fuel on beautiful Harriet Island. Member clubhouse Winter storage available 651-292-8964 Local Picnic/playground area www.stpaulyachtclub.org Transient dockage available Sometimes you have to picture the worst … to appreciate the best. We hope this never happens to you, but if it does, you’ll be glad you’re insured with us. – Johanna Schussler, CLMP program coordinator, maintain the water quality.” Other volunteers like Kroeger are needed to monitor water quality in Minnesota’s 12,000 lakes during the summer months. Monitoring data gathered by volunteers provides valuable information about the current health of Minnesota’s waters. Johanna Schussler, CLMP program coordinator, says that the MPCA is always looking for more volunteers and that there are many lakes throughout the state that don’t currently have a CLMP volunteer. “We really appreciate volunteers like John Kroeger who stick with monitoring over the years. Getting that consistent data helps the MPCA determine if water quality in lakes is changing over time,” Schussler said. “Our Web site has maps by county that identify where additional volunteers are needed.” Monitoring is a simple and relatively quick process. Volunteers visit a designated spot on one or more lakes weekly, where they drop anchor, make notes of the water’s physical condition and recreational suitability, and measure the state of Minnesota, so we have data to understand what’s happening in our lakes,” he said. Kroeger’s dad, who is 89, still likes to go out on the boat and appreciates the fact that his son is doing the sampling. “My family understands how valuable the lake is, both environmentally and recreationally. I hope that my kids will continue the monitoring tradition,” he said. “We have a vested interest to maintain the lake and the property. It’s a part of our family.” For information on becoming a CLMP volunteer, call the MPCA at 651-296-6300, toll-free at 1-800-657-3864, or check the Web at www.pca.state.mn.us/ water/clmp.html. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking additional volunteers throughout the state to help to monitor Minnesota’s 12,000 lakes. If you live nearby a lake or have a summer cabin, consider getting involved in the Citizen Lake-Monitoring Program. Lake monitoring is easy and fun. The MPCA provides you with the equipment and training. Check out the agency’s Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us for more information at or call toll-free at 800-6573864. 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