How this surface water database is put together: The Streams and Lakes database makes it possible to view monitoring results across space and time in order to learn about water quality conditions and trends. It is structured in four distinct layers: Monitoring Region > Monitoring Set > Monitoring Location > Monitoring Event.

How volunteer monitoring events are the foundation of this database: All results are derived from volunteer monitoring events that are conducted in partnership with our volunteer groups. The Streams and Lakes database contains results from four types of surface water monitoring locations::

• A SYNOPTIC monitoring event consists of a volunteer partner group collecting samples from a fixed set of SYNOPTIC LOCATIONS within a few hours and driving them to CSI’s certified lab for analysis.
• An investigation into possible sources of pollution is conducted by collecting samples from INVESTIGATIVE LOCATIONS in the course of SYNOPTIC monitoring events.
• A RED FLAG monitoring event consists of a volunteer partner group collecting samples from a fixed set of REDFLAG LOCATIONS and analyzing them in the field including controls to meet data quality objectives.
• A BIOLOGICAL monitoring event consists of a volunteer partner group collecting samples of bottom-dwelling benthic macroinvertebrate organisms (BMI) from a single stream location and calculating water quality metrics according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation guidelines

To begin exploring chemical and microbiological water quality at different spatial levels, select a regional watershed from the list above.