The CSMP is a new volunteer program designed to help the state get a better handle on the condition of Minnesota s streams and rivers.
Lakes get a lot of attention from our state environmental agencies, and justifiably so.
But not so much is known about the health of all those stream miles. That s where CSMP volunteers come in. Based on the success of a similar MPCA program which uses citizen volunteers to monitor lakes, the CSMP aims to establish a statewide network of volunteers who keep track of the clarity of rivers and creeks near their homes. About once a week during the summer, CSMP volunteers will visit an established spot on a nearby stream. There they ll estimate the flow stage and measure the sediment suspended in the water using a clear plastic tube called a transparency tube.