Studies

The Citizen Scientist Network is a summer program hosted by Lake Superior State University's Biology Department that allows volunteers from the local community to monitor environmental quality in the St. Mary's River and its local tributaries.

Funded by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the project is run in conjunction with the Bi-National Public Advisory Council (BPAC) for the St. Mary's River Area of Concern, a US-Canadian citizen's advisory group responsible for advising government agencies on both sides of the river on the need for environmental clean-up.

The volunteer citizen scientists participate in scientific data collection from the water systems of the St. Mary's River and it's tributaries. Under the supervision of Project Director Dr. Gregory Zimmerman, Associate Professor of Biology at LSSU, staff members of LSSU train volunteers, coordinate data collection areas, and collate the collected data.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome (children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult) and encouraged to get involved. Volunteers do not need any experience or special knowledge, just an interest in environmental quality and the willingness to spend a few hours every few weeks collecting water quality data with the provided equipment.

View data results of Citizen Scientists (opens in new window):

Stream Chemistry      Stream Physical Characteristics     

 Stream Vegetation      Benthic Invertebrates