Lake Blitz monitoring on Kootenay Lake, B.C. LLC Photo
Do you enjoy visiting lakes and observing nature? Whether it’s spotting migrating waterfowl, noticing blooming flowers along the shore, or identifying invasive species like Eurasian Milfoil, your observations can make a difference. Registration is now open for the 5th annual National Lake Blitz, a volunteer program where you can contribute to lake stewardship across Canada. The program is open to everyone, with no prior experience required!
Starting March 1st, the Lake Blitz is offering two tiers for volunteers to get involved. New volunteers will join the Tier 1 Lake Biodiversity Stewards program. This focuses on wildlife and invasive species observations, using the free iNaturalist app. Volunteers can track lake health at their own pace, whether it’s weekly, monthly, or whenever they feel inspired to contribute.
For returning volunteers, the Lake Blitz now offers a new Tier 2 Lake Health Stewards program. This level involves collecting more detailed data, including air and water temperature, as well as water clarity. Tier 1 volunteers can also advance to Tier 2 after gaining some experience.
“We are thrilled to continue growing this program,” said Kaite Martin, Lake Blitz Program Lead. “Last year, 278 volunteers from across Canada recorded over 24,000 observations, making a huge impact on understanding the health of our lakes.”
All data collected by volunteers is available to the public through the Lake Blitz Observation Map and can be downloaded from the Living Lakes Canada Water Hub. This open-access database helps track water-related data to support lake conservation efforts.
Registration for the 2025 National Lake Blitz is open year-round, so it’s never too late to join. To learn more about the program and sign up, visit LakeBlitz.LivingLakesCanada.ca or contact the team at LakeBlitz@LivingLakesCanada.ca.
(Written by: Emma Butler)