Join the Lake Protectors

Since 2002, hundreds of volunteers have learned how to identify, survey, and record data about aquatic invasive plants and animals impacting Adirondack lakes. It is a fun and easy way to protect Adriondack lakes! Every summer, APIPP hosts a number of trainings and orientations (in-person and online) to prepare folks to get out on the water. Follow our social media, get on our listserv, or explore our events calendar to know when the next Lake Protector training is taking place. So join us and adopt part of a waterbody, one lake, or several to monitor for aquatic invasive species!

Interested in joining Lake Protectors? Here is an overview of what you will do.

• Attend a training to learn how to identify and report aquatic invasive species (three hours).
• Sign up online to monitor a lake.
• Monitor the lake at least once between July and September. Most volunteers spend 1-3 hours to monitor.
• Report your findings back to APIPP via paper forms, online, or an app.

Below are all the past trainings, identification guides, survey protocols, and adoption map tools you need to get involved. 

Questions? Reach out to APIPP's Aquatic Invasive Species Staff today! 

GENERAL VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

• Adirondack Lake Adoption Map (Updated for 2024)
• Lake Protectors Volunteer Manual (Updated in 2022)
• Lake Protectors Survey Protocols (Updated in 2022)
• Invasive Species ID Cards (Updated in 2021)
• 2024 Workshop Slides - Species Identification and survey methods

2024 TRAINING VIDEOS 

DATA RECORDING AND REPORTING TOOLS

IF USING PAPER DATASHEETS

• 2024 Aquatic Survey Datasheet (to print and fill out for every individual lake survey)
  • ​Example Aquatic Survey Datasheet
• 2024 AIS Observation Datasheet (to print and fill out during surveys ONLY when aquatic invasive species are observed)
  • Example AIS Observation Datasheet

IF USING ONLINE DATASHEETS

• 2024 Online Aquatic Survey Link (or for entering your paper data online when back from the field)

IF DOWNLOADING AND USING DIGITAL TOOLS IN THE FIELD

• Sign up for iMapInvasives Online (find your Person ID # and sign up for Project name "APIPP Volunteer Lake Survey Project")
• Download the iMapInvasives Mobile App for Android, iPhone or GPS enabled tablet
• Download Survey 123 Field App for Android, iPhone or GPS enabled tablet
• Download Simple Aquatic Survey (Use the device enabled with Survey 123 Field App)
• Tipsheets for signing up for iMapInvasives
• Tipsheets for downloading and navigating Simple Aquatic Survey