Macrophyte Survey Program (MSP)
What is a macrophyte?
A macrophyte is an aquatic plant large enough to be seen with the naked eye, otherwise known as sea, lake, or pond weeds. They can grow in, near, or on top of water.
The Macrophyte Survey Program collects & reports the aquatic plants living in Seneca lake. It is performed every two weeks during summer and early fall, by volunteer citizen scientists. The collection can be performed off of a dock or from a kayak or boat. A rake head attached to a rope is tossed into 10-25 feet water depth, allowed to sink to the lake bottom, then pulled up to reveal the different types of aquatic weeds. The different types of weeds are sorted, identified, & photographed. The data is then reported through a cell phone app called ArcGIS – Survey 123.
Finger Lake Institute and the Partners for Regional Invasive Species Management (FLI-PRISM) compile data from the Macrophyte Survey Program. This allows monitoring of both known native and invasive macrophytes, while keeping a close watch for any newly acquired aquatic invasive species.
How is Pure Waters involved?
We help connect volunteers to FLI’s training program. Although the above procedure for reporting of macrophytes may sound complicated, it is not! This is a great way to better understand Seneca Lake and what’s growing at the bottom of the lake off your dock!
Curious how near-shore sampling works?
It’s simpler than you think. Watch below to see the rake-toss method volunteers use right from docks, pontoons, or kayaks.
