Environmental Monitoring of Crater Lake

Duration:

41 seconds

This short video is an excerpt from the visitors center film "Crater Lake Into the Deep".

 

Long-term Limnological Monitoring Program (LTLMP)

The current LTLMP began as a ten-year study (1983-1993) to determine if Crater Lake water clarity was decreasing and to monitor and document the characteristics of Crater Lake.

The goals of the current LTLMP are:

• develop a reliable database for lake, springs, and seep environmental data
• develop an understanding of
• • physical
  • chemical
  • and, biological processes of the lake, springs, and seeps.
• continue a long-term monitoring program
• investigate the possibility of long-term changes in the lake
• and, if changes found, and human-caused (for instance pollution), recommend mitigation techniques.
  

 

Environmental research is conducted on Crater Lake using the research boat Neuston (pictured), park biologists, university researchers, and other government scientists.

NPS

Lake

Crater Lake National Park has had an environmental monitoring program running continuously since 1983.

The monitoring program is conducted by Crater Lake biologists and other university and government scientists.

The monitoring includes:

• water chemistry
• newts
• crayfish
• moss
• fish
• zooplankton
• algae
• physical processes like water currents and weather
  

 

The research boat Ouzel is used when monitoring springs and seeps inside the caldera because this boat can safely approach the shallow edges of Crater Lake.

NPS

Springs and Seeps

Biologists also do environmental monitoring of groundwater springs and seeps inside the caldera. These springs and seeps contribute small amounts of water to Crater Lake.

Springs monitoring has been conducted since 1992.

The monitoring includes:

• water chemistry
• physical characteristics of the springs like flow and temperature