A bouy equipped with some serious tech was deployed by the Pigeon Lake Watershed Association (PLWA) at the beginning of June in order to monitor the water quality of the lake.
The device, which is a floating platform with scientific instruments attached, measures air temperature, humidity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and much more.
The buoy is launched every spring, collecting data every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day over, over the open water season. The live data can be viewed on PLWA's website.
"This collection of data helps with monitoring lake water quality contributing to local awareness and community understanding of lake health," states a press release.
The monitoring buoy has a weather station that measures air temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, and wind direction.
Its sensors also measure water temperature, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity (clarity), total algae (both chlorophyll and blue green algae sensors).
A thermistor string measures temperature and dissolved oxygen at various levels below the lake’s surface, going almost all the way to the bottom.
"The data generated by the monitoring buoy is useful to our healthy lake monitoring and research partners such as the University of Alberta, Alberta Biomonitoring institute, Alberta Lake Management Society, and Pigeon Lake municipalities," said PLWA.
"We use the data from the buoy to help understand lake ecosystems and algal bloom dynamics over time. Additionally, it can help us to understand fish habitat and factors that contribute to fish kills in the summer.
"From there, we can go on to recommend and implement management strategies."
The use of the buoy is a cooperative initiative of several community-based groups.
The Summer Village of Crystal Springs is the current owner of the buoy, and provided the initial funding to purchase the device.
PLWA is responsible for information sharing, volunteer support, and providing some annual funding and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) is responsible for deployment and ongoing technical management.
PLWA asks lake users to not approach the monitoring buoy so that its scientific instruments - located both above and below the water - aren't disturbed.
Clearly identified AEPA staff and PLWA volunteers will perform regular inspections of the monitoring buoy.
For questions, concerns, or to report tampering or other problems regarding the monitoring buoy contact PLWA at info@plwa.ca or 587-487-2044.
