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The Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program - Tony Thorpe, Coordinator 
The Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program (LMVP) enlists citizens to monitor water quality in Missouri's Lakes. Volunteers monitor the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as Algal chlorophyll, suspended sediments and water clarity. Nutrient inputs, often from nonpoint sources, lead to excessive algae growth in lakes. Excessive algae in lakes is unsightly, can lead to taste and odor problems in drinking water reservoirs and can reduce dissolved oxygen levels, thereby endangering aquatic life. Another result of excess algae is decreased water clarity. Sediments that wash into lakes can also reduce water clarity. Other effects of high sediment loads to lakes include the destruction of substrate habitat, filling in the lake and a higher cost of treatment to make the water potable. The levels of nutrients and sediments in Missouri lakes vary depending upon the region in the state and, more importantly, the land use within the respective watershed. On larger lakes, the levels of nutrients and sediments can vary depending on the location within the lake. On all lakes, the levels of nutrients and sediments can vary not only within a given year but also across several years. LMVP volunteer collected data allows us to track those changes. MoDNR uses LMVP data for their report to the EPA on Missouri water quality. |
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Elk River | James River | Sac River | Spring River | North Fork Salt River |
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Missouri Watershed Information Network (MoWIN) |
Page last updated August 26, 2008 |
