Sept. / Oct.  2010 - Page 5

Lakewatch...

Helping Rodman Reservoir and Helping Florida

By Kae Andry

Last month Bob and I went to the Putnam County Agriculture Building in Palatka for the annual dinner honoring LAKEWATCH volunteers. It is so much fun to walk into the building and see the wonderful displays set up by the Lakewatch scientists from the University of Florida. There are all sorts of plants, bugs, shells and other things found in and around our waterways. These displays help to answer the "Wonder what that is?" question all volunteers ask him or herself as they are out on the water collecting samples.

The Lakewatch scientists are also there to answer questions and interpret the data collected over the past year. Of course, one of the attractions of this event is the catered meal by Sonny's Barbeque! After dinner the volunteers from various waterbodies in and around Putnam county were recognized. Rodman Reservoir Lakewatch volunteer, Bob Andry received his 10 year pin. Bob's articles in each issue of the Rodman Review continue to let you know about Lakewatch findings.

Ten years ago Bob, Dan Patton and Donn Snow jumped at the chance to be part of Lakewatch. After training by the Lakewatch scientists, they began taking water samples from Rodman Reservoir. Charles Lawson and Danny Sosa have now joined the Lakewatch team.

After receiving training Lakewatch volunteers go out on a lake, river or coastal waterway and take water samples. These samples are prepared, frozen and dropped off at a collection center. The collection center for Rodman is at Silver Springs. The samples are collected by Lakewatch staff and sent to University of Florida's Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences water chemistry laboratory for analysis.

When Lakewatch receives the samples, they have the task of analyzing it for nutrient, chlorophyll and water clarity. This data is then available to government and other agencies. Lakewatch has a massive task to collect, analyze and prepare the data information from over 600 lakes, rivers and coastal sites in more than 40 counties.

In addition, Lakewatch works with undergraduates and graduate students who are preparing to become scientists in various water resource agencies. Lakewatch also sponsors a national award wining program Fishing for Success - a program for youth education.

The recent cutbacks in legislative funding have had significant effects on the Lakewatch program. Lakewatch staff have been cut, including a sorely missed chemist. The undergraduate and graduate programs have also suffered cutbacks. The volunteers have been asked to take water samples for nutrients and chlorophyll only every other month instead of every month.

For many years Lakewatch has worked in the forefront of one of Florida's most critical areas - water. Water quality and accessibility have become a crucial problem for Florida. Water managers and others need to have the necessary data to make good decisions. The Lakewatch program is the largest provider of water quality data to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The cost savings to the state of Florida from the thousands of hours put in by volunteers is huge!!

Lakewatch is a terrific program. Anytime you have a chance to speak with a Florida legislator, encourage them to support this program. Not many programs provide such benefits for so little cost!

Thank you, Lakewatch volunteers!!