Lake Testing Summary
Lake testing has been done every year since 2007 by Northeast Aquatic Research (NEAR). The testing alternated between the Upper and Lower Lakes and usually occurred in late July or August. In 2018, the Environmental Stewardship Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Mount Riga Inc, to approve a proposal to implement a citizens sampling program. This proposal was recommended by NEAR to obtain more data to help explain some of the changes in the lake chemistry they observed in the Upper Lake since 2014. In the early spring of 2018 NEAR conducted a training of citizen scientists on lake testing equipment that had been purchased by Mount Riga Inc. There is a set of lake testing equipment for both lakes.
The purpose of this training was to allow more extensive testing of both lakes to ascertain if there was reason to be concerned regarding the lake health and if so to prescribe a course of action. In 2018 testing was conducted from June- October on both Upper and Lower lakes at a designated location (North Riga Sampling Location: 42.02146, -73.48106; South Riga Sampling Location: 42.01029, -73.4875) at roughly the 15th of each month. The testing data was submitted to NEAR for analysis and preparation of an annual report. In 2019, the Upper Lake sampling program will be expanded from April until November and will include two sample location. Several things are being tested: Dissolved Oxygen, Visibility, Total phosphorus and Total Nitrogen. Additionally NEAR completed an aquatic plant survey, which was last completed by NEAR in 2007. NEAR did not see evidence of invasive plant species, but saw a general increase of plant populations in both lakes.
If you are interested in being involved in Lake Testing please be in touch with Maggie Moore ([email protected]) or Helen Heineman Antoshak ([email protected]).
Volunteer Monitoring Resources
MRI Volunteer Monitoring Guide
Lake Testing Training Video (password: Riga2018)