Lake Watch calls for more water monitoring volunteers

Lake Watch of Lake Martin is a citizen-based clean water advocacy group and an Alabama Water Watch (AWW) member/affiliate. We have been collaborating with Lake Martin HOBO and LMRA over the years in efforts to protect and preserve Lake Martin, our Treasured Alabama Lake (TAL). Lake Watch water quality monitors are all AWW-trained and certified according to EPA approved protocols. Our monitors perform testing in Lake Martin and in the Tallapoosa River and selected streams in the Middle Tallapoosa Basin. Over the last two years, testing of streams conducted by Lake Watch in watersheds with significant poultry production in the Middle Tallapoosa River Basin indicate significant bacteria (E. coli) in the tributary streams above Lake Martin – which flow into the Tallapoosa River and then into the lake.

In early September, we monitored high E.coli in the uppermost reaches of the lake in the vicinity of where Hillabee Creek enters the lake. We are actively trying to identify the source(s) and the extent of this emerging threat to our lake. Expanded bacteria monitoring on the upper lake and the streams above the lake is needed. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Volunteers will go through an Alabama Water Watch Bacteriological Monitoring training (free of charge; ~ 3-4 hour training) and be certified as bacteriological monitors. We/Lake Watch will arrange the training which would be conducted either on the AU campus or here on the lake. After certification, new monitors would sample for bacteria, assisting in our current monitoring program, as you are able, typically no more than once a month. The test procedure is pretty simple, and our monitors consider it to be a rewarding endeavor!

Please consider joining us in this essential effort to protect our lake and to protect us against bacterial contamination.

Contact Lake Watch of Lake Martin at info@lakewatch.org so that we can get a list of volunteers and organize a bacteriological training session. Thank you for your consideration!

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