Welcome to the National Lake Blitz!
The National Lake Blitz is an annual self-led citizen science program that empowered volunteers across Canada to monitor lakes. By providing accessible tools and support, the program inspired communities to actively steward lakes and deepen their understanding of these freshwater ecosystems.
After five seasons of lake monitoring and community engagement across Canada, Living Lakes Canada will no longer be actively facilitating the National Lake Blitz. This means we won’t be coordinating volunteers or providing regular program communications moving forward.
You can continue submitting water quality and biodiversity observations using our existing iNaturalist project and Survey123 form.
Thank you to all past and present participants for your contributions to freshwater stewardship over the years!
From May to September, Lake Blitz volunteers collect diverse information about their local lakes. All the data that’s collected will continue to be uploaded to the Columbia Basin Water Hub and DataStream where it will support public access, research, and a deeper understanding of lake ecosystems. There are two tiers of program participation:
Tier 1 Lake Biodiversity Stewards
Lake Biodiversity Stewards document wildlife on or in the lake and along the shorelines, including both native and invasive species. Volunteers can submit observations on any lake they visit and can participate as frequently as they’re able to. All data is collected through the Lake Biodiversity Stewards iNaturalist project. This data helps track biodiversity in and around lakes across Canada and supports lake conservation efforts. Head to the Lake Biodiversity Stewards guide to learn more!
Tier 2 Lake Health Stewards
Lake Health Stewards are returning volunteers invited to monitor and document water temperature, air temperature, water clarity, and water colour, with the option to include wildlife observations. Data is collected bi-weekly at their chosen lake. Head to the Lake Health Stewards guide to learn more!
Questions? Please refer to our FAQ section for guidance. Note that the Lake Blitz email will no longer be regularly monitored. If you wish to take part in the program, it is now self-led using the resources provided, including our guides, YouTube tutorials, and other materials.
