D.O./Temp. Water Quality Monitor Forms & Procedures
Dissolved Oxygen/Temperature water quality monitors receive training to become certified and follow strict protocols, ensuring the quality and high value of the data they collect. Below are instructions and field sheets used by Dissolved Oxygen monitors.
Each spring as a volunteer you receive a packet with new field sheets, mailing instructions and personalized information, including your Secchi Simulator login.
Instructions for DO Monitors
Dissolved Oxygen Meter Guidelines
The following table is to be used by volunteer lake monitors who measure temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in their lakes. This information is supplemental to material presented during DO training and certification workshops, as well as instructions for the calibration and operation of individual dissolved oxygen meters.
Maximum Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Saturation Table
Instructions for Total Phosphorus Sampling
Is your Secchi reading less than 2.5m? Call it in to LSM at 207-783-7733. Please include your name, lake, town, and date of the reading.
Field Sheets
Notice Do Not Print Field Sheets on Inkjet Printers. Field sheets must be completed in the boat at the time of your readings. There is a good chance your forms will get wet and inkjet printing runs when wet. Please use a laser printer or contact the LSM office and we will gladly mail you extra data forms.
Dissolved Oxygen Form Instructions
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Attention DO & Temp Lake Monitors: Is your DO meter in need of a check-up?
Don’t miss out on MeterFest 2022!
Please send your Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meter in for its free annual checkup.
Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) and Maine DEP (DEP) will check the condition and operation of your dissolved oxygen meter at no charge at this year’s annual MeterFest, and will conduct routine maintenance to the extent possible. We will also test the equipment in the lab and evaluate the performance of the meter.
Because of challenges raised from COVID-19 and the implementation of social distancing, MeterFest 2022 will be similar to the ‘20 and ‘21 approach. In order to reduce transmission of the virus, all meters must be shipped to the Department of Environmental Protection office in Augusta, preferably such that they arrive the week of April 4th.
This downloadable document provides instructions and has shipping labels for you to use when sending your DO Meter to DEP. Please note that DEP prefers that you use UPS or FedEx, if possible. The return shipping label must be filled out and include with your meter so it can be sent back to you. You will also be asked to send in the first few profiles you collect again.
MeterFest Checklist COVID-19 v20220318Download the document here.
Please don’t miss out on this great opportunity for a free check-up of your DO meter!
Additional Resources
Water Quality and Invasive Plant Patrol Workshops
Annual re-certification is now required on the Secchi Simulator. Your login should be included in your spring packet or contact the LSM office 783-7733.
Graphing Secchi Disk Transparency Instructions (pdf)
Quality Assurance Project Plan (pdf 150k). The QAPP (“Quality Assurance Project Plan”) is a guide for proper procedures for lake water quality monitoring by volunteers in the LSM. This plan has been reviewed and approved by the U.S. EPA, and describes the LSM structure and how we assure that quality data are gathered. It can serve as an example of how a formal Quality Assurance Plan should be constructed.
