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We’ ve changed our name but not our goals.  Now simply called the Secchi Dip-In, the three week event in June and July continues to demonstrate that volunteers can collect quality data, thanks to the participation of programs and individuals such as you. 

The Dip-In is a network of volunteer programs and volunteers, each supplying the data for state and local programs and, together with all the other Dip-In participants, gathering and providing continent-wide (and world-wide) information.  Because of your long term participation, we now have 1,876 waterbodies with 5 or more years of data .  Of those waterbodies, 202 were exhibiting significant levels of change.  Is changes in 11% of North America’s waters significant?  It might depend on whether it is “your” lake or stream that is changing.  The Dip-In allows you to keep track of your own body of water, but also see how neighboring bodies in other programs are faring as well. 

We accept data from a wide range of turbidity instruments such as turbidity tubes and turbidimeters, and solicit other variables such as temperature and oxygen.  We also encourage the involvement of programs that sample rivers and streams, estuaries, and marine environments. 

All of the data, including Dip-In 2007, is available on our website.  You can retrieve it by state, by county, or by waterbody.  If you find errors, please let us know; you know these sites better than we do. If you want all of the information for your program or state, we can provide it as an Excel file or Access database.   

We are again asking for your help to remind volunteers in your program of the Dip-In.   Please use your e-mail list to notify the volunteers of the Dip-In.  There is a press release you can modify at our website (http://dipin.kent.edu/Press_release.htm).  A copy of a 2008 Dip-In questionnaire is also available (http://dipin.kent.edu/Questionnaire.htm). 

For more details, Contact

Bob Carlson
2008 Secchi Dip-In
Biological Sciences, Kent State Univ, Kent, OH  44242

Phone 330.672.3992    FAX 330.672.3713     E-mail Dipin@Kent.Edu