MiCorps Lakes Data Description

Sampling Location

1. Site Name Description: This name will be used only as a reference for the volunteer monitoring group to identify the sampling location for future updates.

2. Lake Name: The lake name is based on the official lake name found on USGS topographic maps. These names can also be found at www.topozone.com.

3. County: This indicates the county from which the sample was collected.

4. Township Name: This indicates the township from which the sample was collected.

5. Section: This indicates the section of the township from which the sample was collected.

6. Watershed/Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC): This indicates the watershed or USGS 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) from which the sample was collected. A system for identifying and numbering watersheds has been developed in the U.S. by the USGS. Through this system all U.S. watersheds have a proper name and a corresponding number called a Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). To locate your watershed visit EPA's Surf Your Watershed.

7. Sampling Site Name or Number: This is a number chosen by the volunteer monitoring group. Number will be consistent with data reported in previous years or a new name or number will be created to be used in all subsequent years.

8. Surface Area of Lake: This refers to the surface area in acres of the lake from which the sample was taken. Refer to DNR bathymetry maps for surface area of lakes in Michigan.

9. Geographic Coordinates: Latitude and longitude are collected to determine exactly where on a lake a sample was taken. Latitude measures the position north and south and longitude measures the position east and west. Latitude and longitude can be collected using a Global Positioning System (GPS) or can be estimated at www.topozone.com. Common formats are below.

   1. Decimal Degrees: An example of this format is Latitude = 42.6817549; Longitude = -85.898463.

   2. Decimal Minutes: An example of this format is Latitude = 42° 40.905294'; Longitude = -85° 53.907786'.

   3. Degree, Minutes, Seconds: An example of this format is Latitude = 42° 40' 54''; Longitude = -85° 53' 55''.

10. Datum: Geodetic datums define the size and shape of the earth and the origin and orientation of the coordinate systems used to map the earth. This information is directly associated with the latitude and longitude number and can be found on the GPS unit or on www.topozone.com associated with the latitude and longitude.

11. Geographic Coordinate Collection Method: This indicates how the volunteer collected the latitude and longitude data.

Secchi Disk Transparency

1. Date Sampled: This indicates the date the sample was collected from the lake.

2. Time Sampled: This indicates the time the sample was collected from the lake.

3. Secchi Depth: Secchi disk values are a measure of transparency and a very general indicator of algae levels. To collect secchi depth values, follow procedures in the volunteer monitoring data collection manual. Data should be recorded to the nearest half foot.

4. Volunteer Monitor Names: This records the names of the volunteers who participated in data collection the day of the sampling event.

5. Weather Conditions: This describes the condition of the weather the day of the sampling event.

6. Unusual Conditions: This indicates any unusual or unexpected conditions the day of the sampling event or the day or two prior to the sampling event. An example of this would be heavy rains, high levels of boat traffic, wave activity, etc.

7. Additional Comments: This question records additional site or sample date-specific information in the database.

Phosphorus

1. Spring Overturn/Summer Late: This indicates the season in which the sample was collected.

2. Date of Ice-Out: This applies to spring overturn only.

3. Date Sampled: This indicates the date the sample was collected from the lake.

4. Time Sampled: This indicates the time the sample was collected from the lake.

5. Volunteer Monitor Names: This records the names of the volunteers who participated in data collection the day of the sampling event.

6. Weather Conditions: This describes the condition of the weather the day of the sampling event.

7. Unusual Conditions: This indicates any unusual or unexpected conditions the day of the sampling event. An example of this would be heavy rains, high levels of boat traffic, wave activity, etc.

8. Date Sample Turn-In: This is the date the water sample was turned in for analysis.

9. Additional Comments: This question records additional site or sample date-specific information in the database.

Chlorophyll

1. Sampling Event #: This number is associated with the month the sampling occurred. Sampling event #1 is in May and progresses to sampling event #5 in September.

2. Date Sampled: This indicates the date the sample was collected from the lake.

3. Time Sampled: This indicates the time the sample was collected from the lake.

4. Secchi Depth: Secchi disk values are a measure of transparency and a very general indicator of algae levels. To collect secchi depth values, follow procedures in the volunteer monitoring data collection manual. Data should be recorded to the nearest half foot.

5. Composite Sample Depth: The composite sample depth refers to the depth at which the sample was collected and should be twice the Secchi transparency depth. If the deepest point in your lake is less than 2 x Secchi depth, the sample will be collected to a depth three feet above the bottom of the lake. This value ranges between 0 - 140 feet.

6. Volunteer Monitor Names: This records the names of the volunteers who participated in data collection the day of the sampling event.

7. Weather Conditions: This describes the condition of the weather the day of the sampling event.

8. Unusual Conditions: This indicates any unusual or unexpected conditions the day of the sampling event. An example of this would be heavy rains, high levels of boat traffic, wave activity, etc.

9. Additional Comments: This question records additional site or sample date-specific information in the database. Also use this field to record the amount of filtered material if it exceeds limits.

Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature

1. Date Sampled: This indicates the date the sample was collected from the lake.

2. Time Sampled: This indicates the time the sample was collected from the lake.

3. Volunteer Monitor Names: This records the names of the volunteers who participated in data collection the day of the sampling event.

4. Weather Conditions: This describes the condition of the weather the day of the sampling event.

5. Unusual Conditions: This indicates any unusual or unexpected conditions the day of the sampling event. An example of this would be heavy rains, high levels of boat traffic, wave activity, etc.

6. Sampling Station Depth: In this field the actual depth of the sampling location is recorded. This is the distance from the surface to the bottom sediments. This value can range between 5 - 300 feet.

7. DO/Temperature Meter: This indicates the type of meter used to record dissolved oxygen or temperature.

8. CLMP Meter ID #: This indicates the MiCorps assigned ID found on DO/Temperature meter used by the CLMP program. Select 'Not CLMP Meter' if the sample was not collected as part of the CLMP program.

9. Calibration Dissolve Oxygen: Recorded in % air saturation, this is the dissolved oxygen reading taken from the DO/Temperature Meter while following the calibration instructions in the procedures manual. This value can range between 94 - 100 %.

10. Calibration Temperature: Recorded in °C, this is the temperature reading taken from the DO/Temperature Meter while following the calibration instructions in the procedures manual. This value can range between 10 - 40 °C.

11. Lake Altitude Value: Recorded in feet x 100, this is the lake altitude value stored taken from the DO/Temperature Meter while following the calibration instructions in the procedures manual. This value can range between 5 - 15.

12. DO/temperature profile measurements

    1. Depth: This indicates the depth stored in feet at which the dissolved oxygen reading was taken. This value can range between 0 - 295 feet.

    2. Temperature: This indicates the temperature in °C at the point where the dissolved oxygen reading was taken. This value can range between 3 - 30 °C and is rounded to the nearest tenth.

    3. Dissolved Oxygen: This indicates the dissolved oxygen level in mg/l (milligrams per liter) at the previously recorded depth. This value can range between 0 - 20 mg/l and is rounded to the nearest tenth.

13. Additional Comments: This question records additional site or sample date-specific information in the database.

Aquatic Plants

1. Date Sampled: This indicates the date the sample was collected from the lake.

2. Volunteer Monitor Names: This records the names of the volunteers who participated in data collection the day of the sampling event.

3. Targeted Areas: Section of lake from where data was collected.

4. Number of Transects: This indicates the number of transects taken for a particular lake to assess the aquatic plant population.

5. Number of Sampling Sites: This indicates the number of sampling sites located on the transects.

6. Aquatic Plant Distribution Data:

   1. Plant Number and Name: This indicates the plants found in the lake and their associated ID numbers.

   2. Distribution: This indicates the number of sites where a particular plant species was observed.

   3. Average Density: The average density is a calculation of the sum of the density numbers divided by the number of sampling sites used. The density ratings are 1 for “found”; 2 for “sparse”; 3 for “moderate”; 4 for “heavy” and 5 for “dense”. Please see procedures for calculating average density for a site.

7. Other Plants: This indicates plants not found in the transects and not recorded on the datasheets but known to be in the lake.

8. Additional Comments: This question records additional site or sample date-specific information in the database.