Citizen Participation

Stream Health Evaluation Program (SHEP)


This program gives citizens professional training on how to evaluate a stream health based on physical assessments and bio-monitoring. Citizens evaluate physical characteristics of stream sites, collect and identify macro-invertebrates. Citizens get hands on opportunities to learn about stream ecosystems and assist Carver County in water quality monitoring.

Contact Madeline Seveland at mseveland@co.carver.mn.us for more information or to sign up.

City Monitors for CAMP


Overview


The City of Chanhassen has partnered with the Metropolitan Council to participate in its Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP). Volunteers collect surface water samples from Chanhassen Lakes. The samples are then sent to the Metropolitan Council to be analyzed for the following:
  • Total phosphorus (TP)
  • Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN)
  • Chlorophyll-a (CLA)
Volunteers also gather the following information:
  • Measure surface water transparency using a secchi disc
  • Record water temperature
  • Record perceptions such as weather conditions
Samples are taken bi-weekly from April through October (14 sampling dates) and are sampled at the lake's deepest open-water location.

Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP)


The City of Chanhassen would like to thank its current citizen monitors! These residents take samples from the following lakes:
  • Lake Lucy
  • Lake Minnewashta
  • Lake Riley
  • Lake St. Joe
  • Lake Susan
  • Lotus Lake
Citizen monitors are still needed for Christmas Lake and Lake Ann. If you would like to become a citizen monitor, please contact Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician at 952-227-1173 or by email.

Volunteer Lake Level Monitoring


Lake level monitoring program is led by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Knowing and understanding the history of water level fluctuations can help shore land owners cope with the natural fluctuations of a lake. DNR waters have installed permanent and temporary lake level gauges on many of Chanhassen lakes. Some lakes are in need of volunteers to submit readings to the DNR once a week. If you would like to volunteer please contact the area hydrologist Jennie Skancke at (651) 259-5790 or at Jennie.Skancke@state.mn.us or the Water Resources Coordinator Terry Jeffery for more information.