Volunteer Lake Monitoring

Volunteers play an integral role in protecting and improving the health of Snohomish County lakes. 

Since 1992, surface water management (SWM) has trained over 250 citizen volunteers to monitor lake water quality in 38 of the county's lakes. Currently 60 volunteers help SWM monitor 28 lakes.

For more information about volunteering, contact us at lakes@snoco.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

SWM staff will provide all necessary training - only a boat and lake access is required. SWM is seeking volunteers to monitor lake water quality in 2019 for the following lakes:
 
  • Chain
  • Wagner

Importance of Monitoring by Volunteers

Volunteers are essential to the success of SWM's lake monitoring program. Their time and efforts provide information that could not be obtained with county resources alone. The information collected by volunteers is used to:
  • Determine the current conditions of Snohomish County lakes
  • Educate lakeside landowners on how to improve lake health
  • Evaluate changes in lake health over time
  • Identify problems affecting a specific lake in the early stages
  • Provide support for maintaining and restoring lakes
Requirements
Being a volunteer lake monitor is a fun and rewarding experience. Volunteer activities include measuring water transparency and surface temperature and collecting water samples. Previous experience is not necessary; SWM will provide training and monitoring equipment.  

Volunteers must be able to commit to the following:

  • Have direct access to lake
  • Have access to a boat and anchor
  • Participate in a four-hour volunteer training (in April or May)
  • Conduct twice a month monitoring May - October (30 minutes)
  • Collect monthly water samples June - September (One hour)
Volunteers that have more time may also commit to measuring temperature and oxygen levels and/or taking lake level measurements.

NEW! Volunteer Training Videos

The following are links to training videos on Snohomish County's YouTube page.

Volunteer Resources

Monitoring Resources

  1. Lake Level Form (PDF)
  2. Sample Depths by Lake (PDF)
  3. Snohomish County Lakes Map (PDF)
  4. Volunteer Data Sheet (PDF)
  5. Volunteer Monitoring Manual (PDF)
  6. Volunteer Monitoring Procedures (PDF)
  7. 2019_Volunteer_Newsletter
  8. 2018 Volunteer Newsletter (PDF)
  9. 2017 Volunteer Newsletter (PDF)
  10. 2016 Volunteer Newsletter (PDF)

Data, Graphs & Tables

  1. 2016 All Lakes Secchi Graph (PDF)
  2. 2016 All Lakes Chla Graph (PDF)
  3. 2016 All Lakes Epi TP Graph (PDF)
  4. 2016 All Lakes Hypo TP Graph (PDF)
  5. 2016 All Lakes TPN Graph (PDF)
  6. 2016 All Lakes N:P Graph (PDF)
  7. 2016 Lakes with Trends Table (PDF)

Contact Us

  1. Marisa Burghdoff


    Water Quality Specialist
    Ph: 425-388-3204

    Jen Oden


    Water Quality Specialist
    Ph: 425-262-2601

    Katie Ruthenberg


    Water Quality Analyst
    Ph: 425-262-2907

    email us at lakes@snoco.org