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Watershed Management Bureau
Volunteer Lake Assessment Program
INTRODUCTION
 Have you ever wondered how a state with over 800 public lakes and ponds and 8 aquatic biologists can evaluate the quality of so much water? Well, it is pretty much an impossible task without the help of many dedicated volunteers located throughout the state of New Hampshire who volunteer their time to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES).
This network of volunteers is a result of the New Hampshire Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP), which was initiated in 1985. This program serves a dual purpose by establishing a regular volunteer-driven lake sampling program to assist DES in evaluating lake quality throughout the state, and by empowering volunteer monitors and lake residents with information about the health of their waterbody. This cooperative effort allows biologists and lake associations to make educated decisions regarding the future of New Hampshire's lakes and ponds.
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