Lilly Lakes & Streams volunteers Claire Mathias and Austin Bowell preparing to get samples.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The third annual Snapshot Monitoring Day saw 235 citizen scientists join forces last week to collect, test and analyze water samples from all across the locality. This single day snapshot of water quality in the local watershed took place as part of International Water Monitoring day Sept. 18 and was sponsored by The Watershed Foundation and Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation.

Local participation in the event has grown year by year. The volunteers monitored a total of 98 sites and gathered valuable data that will be used to combat water quality degradation.

Jared Emminger and Ry Rinaldi getting samples at Heeter Ditch.

“Snapshot Monitoring Day is a really special opportunity to engage with the public in a very meaningful way. Along with the important data collection that happens, we really value the community involvement that takes place,” said TWF executive director and founder of Snapshot Monitoring Day, Lyn Crighton. “Once people literally get their feet wet, they become much more invested in protecting our beautiful lakes and streams.”

Monitoring volunteers met Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18, at one of three staging sites across the Upper Tippecanoe River watershed area; Center Park Pavilion in Warsaw, North Webster Community Center, and Old Loon Farm near Columbia City. From there they headed into the field to collect samples from three to six assigned locations. They then returned to their staging sites to test and analyze the samples.

Along with many community volunteers, students from Washington and Madison elementary schools, Goshen College and Grace College also took part in the event.

“The Watershed Foundation is so grateful to the volunteers who made Snapshot Day 2019 such a success,” said Crighton, “With your support, TWF will continue to take action for healthy lakes in our community.”