The Northwest Montana Lakes Network (NMLN) is a citizen science program that grew out of two lake monitoring programs previously underway at the Flathead Basin Commission (FBC) and the Whitefish Lake Institute (WLI). The Flathead Basin Commission, in cooperation with the University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station, coordinated a Volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program (VLMP) from 1992-2010. The VLMP trained, equipped, and supported local volunteers who collected data and reported on over three dozen lakes in the Flathead Basin. In 2007 the Whitefish to Eureka Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program was established which was initiated by WLI in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP). The program was established to provide residents an opportunity to collect baseline data to help determine the trophic status of lakes and implement early Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) detection and prevention in Northwest Montana. In 2010, these two programs combined to form the current NMLN program and the partnership between WLI, MTFWP, and over 50 citizen scientists!
The goal of the NMLN is to provide training and equipment to volunteers to collect long-term trend information for program lakes. The program specifically aims to address the question of whether nutrients are on the rise due to anthropogenic activity around the lakes. Volunteers also serve as reporters for any major or sudden changes that are observed in or around their lake including the presence and absence of Aquatic Invasive Species.
