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Virtual Training for Cyanobacteria/Algae Water Quality Monitors

April 12, 2023 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Free
Water Quality sampling equipment

A virtual training will take place Wednesday, April 12th at 6:30 p.m. for cyanobacteria monitoring volunteers.  We invite all to join the Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (WCMC) in this informative presenation.  Volunteer to sample at Manchaug Pond with us or beyond at another lake or pond, or just attend to learn more about our efforts in water quality together as the Manchaug Pond Foundation.  All are welcome and no experience is necessary. Contact us to register!

While Manchaug Pond does NOT have a cyanobacteria problem, we enter our third year of monitoring at Manchaug Pond and with a Stevens Pond volunteer as part of the Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (WCMC). This is one component of the Foundation’s overall water quality program where we monitor for the presence/absence of harmful algae in order to learning more about the waters and the ecology of Manchaug Pond and to protect the health and safety of this water resource and all who enjoy.

Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative: The Collaborative is a group of citizen science volunteers who work to better understand the diversity of algae and cyanobacteria in the lakes and ponds of Worcester County under the guidance of the City of Worcester.  Visit their website for videos, reports and more!

Goals of the Collaborative:

  1. To learn about the diversity of cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton in our local lakes and ponds
  2. To better understand local lake ecology
  3. To determine if a bloom is occurring
  4. To determine if a bloom is imminent
  5. To share information about public health risks at our waterways

Volunteer Requirements:

  1. Attend virtual training session
  2. Sample either the first Monday or the third Saturday morning of the month or serve with an alternate volunteer or as the Monday driver (Between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.). April – October.
  3. Bring sample to the lab in Worcester just off Rte. 290 (Between 10:00 and 11:00 noon)
  4. On Saturdays, evaluate Manchaug Pond’s sample under the microscope (Takes about 30 minutes). Commonly found and identified are various species of algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, zooplankton, etc.

Contact us to volunteer – Currently two samplers/monitors are needed for the Manchaug Pond team with all welcome to observe or give it a try out.

Sampling Days 2023:

Monday and Saturday: April 29, May 15 & 27, June 12 & 24, July 10 & 22, August 7 & 19, September 5 (Tuesday) & 16, October 2, 14, & 30

Why do we care?

Algae and cyanobacteria can make the water look green and smell unappealing, reduce clarity, and some types of cyanobacteria produce toxins harmful to human health, pets and wildlife.

What contributes to cyanobacteria and harmful algae blooms (HABs)?:

  • High nutrients from fertilizers and animal manures that wash into our watershed streams, wetlands and the lake itself.
    • YOU! can make a difference
      • Reduce your fertilizer use on your lawn and landscape – try half the recommended amount.
      • Don’t apply fertilizers before it rains.
      • Plant a buffer between your lawn or animal pasture/paddock and the wetlands, steam, pond or lake.
      • Don’t overgraze your pasture to reduce/eliminate mud, runoff and erosion.
  • Still water
  • Warm temperatures

Consider volunteering with or supporting the Manchaug Pond Foundation.

We make the difference together!

Details

Date:
April 12, 2023
Time:
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Tags:
, ,
Website:
https://www.worcesterma.gov/sustainability-resilience/recreational-waters/cyanobacteria

Organizer

Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative
Phone
508-929-1300
Email
dpw@worcesterma.gov
View Organizer Website

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OUR AFFILIATIONS:

Manchaug Pond Foundation Affiliations

Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions

Manchaug Pond Foundation Organization

North American Lake Management Society

©MANCHAUG POND FOUNDATION, Inc. ~ P.O. Box 154, Manchaug ~ Massachusetts 01526-0154