A wide variety of parameters are sampled in conjunction with diagnostic studies, with the actual tests performed specific to the project. Other parameters from both the sediment and the water column are measured as needed. There is also a paleolimnological component to the project which aims to determine the extent to which atmospherically deposited Hg has entered lakes in the study set. Click here for more details on this project. Volunteer Monitoring Citizen groups are becoming increasingly involved in monitoring, education, protection and restoration projects in Vermont.
Watershed associations are presently active on many rivers and lakes in the state.
The Vermont Lay Monitoring Program equips and trains local lake users to measure the nutrient enrichment of lakes by collecting water quality data following a rigorously documented and quality assured methodology. This citizen monitoring program is mainly based on trophic parameters and monitors approximately 40 lakes and 25 Lake Champlain stations per year. All Lake Champlain stations and many inland lakes in the program are sampled for chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus, and Secchi disk transparency. The remaining inland lakes in the program, from which limited data are needed, are sampled only for Secchi disk transparency. All sampling occurs on a weekly basis during the summer.