Water clarity monitoring is a process in which the volunteer lowers an 8” diameter, black & white disc (“Secchi disc”) into the deepest part of the lake to determine how far down they can see the disc as it is lowered. Water clarity monitoring is done every 10-14 days throughout the open-water season. Water clarity is a quick way to estimate lake health, and it plays an important role in determining the types of plants and animals that a water body can support.
Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Training Manual (Secchi Disc Procedures) (3MB PDF)
SWIMS Database User Guide (CLMN full version)
SWIMS Database User Guide - How To Enter CLMN Data (CLMN abbreviated version)
Secchi Only monitoring form (3200-100)
Use this form if you only monitor for water clarity on your lake.
Secchi and Chemistry monitoring form (3200-099)
Use this form to submit temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles along with Secchi depth.
For a list of ALL monitoring forms, click here (exit UWEX Lakes)
Secchi Dip-in (exit UWEX Lakes)
Volunteers have been submitting information during the annual Secchi Dip-in since 1994! Please join them in this international effort to track changes in water clarity.
Remote Sensing - using a satellite to track water clarity trends (exit UWEX Lakes)
Since 1999, Citizen Lake Monitoring Network volunteers have been assisting in a collaborative research effort with the University of Wisconsin Environmental Remote Sensing Center by taking water clarity readings on dates when the satellites were overhead. The volunteers' participation has allowed the University to successfully calibrate computer programs, which enable satellite imagery to be used to predict water clarity and other water quality parameters on lakes. The researchers at the Remote Sensing Center are continuing their research. The ultimate goal is to put the satellite data into everyday use by making the water clarity data derived from the satellite imagery available to the public.
Which satellite path includes my lake?
2024 Satellite schedule
Click here to see who has received Citizen Lake Monitoring Network awards. (exit UWEX Lakes)
Interviews from 20-year CLMN Volunteers (PDF)
Use this short guide to interpret the data that is included in your lake's annual reports.
For more information, contact
Paul Skawinski, Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Educator
(715) 346-4853 Paul.Skawinski@uwsp.edu
Or go to
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lakes pages (exit Extension Lakes)
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