Do you want to help improve the quality of water in Buckeye Lake?

Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow is a new volunteer organization dedicated to improving water quality in the lake. One of the first steps is additional monitoring and testing to determine the sources of the impairments - lack of clarity, algae blooms and fish kills.

BLT volunteers will be supplementing Ohio EPA sampling and providing results to the state agency. The data will be used to complete an assessment of the lake which will lead to an action plan to improve water quality.

Water quality monitoring and sampling is an exact science. Volunteers must complete specific training to participate. The first session has been scheduled for Sunday, October 5 at the Millersport Lions clubhouse on Chautauqua Boulevard. Carl Moore, a member of the Ohio Lake Management Society from the Cincinnati area, is the instructor. He has been a water quality monitor for 17 years.

Sign-in begins at 9:30 a.m. with classroom work running from 10 a.m. to noon. A free lunch is provided from noon to 1 p.m. Field work on Buckeye Lake runs from 1 to 2 p.m. with everyone returning at 2 p.m. for a test on the morning classroom work. Everyone successfully completing the test is eligible to apply for a Level One Qualified Data Collection identification. That identification number means the volunteer's data will be accepted by Ohio EPA.

Advance registration by Friday, Oct. 3 is required since the instructor is bringing written material and equipment for each volunteer. For more information or to register, contact BLT watershed manager George O'Donnel at godonnel@ arshot.com or (740) 928-1274.