VLMP

Program History and Timeline

• What is VLMP?
• Program Objectives
• Program History and Timeline
• Tiered Approach
• Monitoring Methods
• Who should Volunteer?
• I want to Join the VLMP!
• Training
• How long do the trainings take?
• What does my data mean?
• Newsletters
• Lake Notes
• Training Manual
• Training DVD
• Online Lakes Database (Enter and Retrieve data, charts, graphs and reports here.)
• The Great North American Secchi Dip-In
• World Water Monitoring Day
• Contact Us
• Illinois Boating Safety Laws
• Illinois Online Boating Safety and Certification

VLMP Timeline

1981 - VLMP begins with 141 volunteers monitoring Secchi disk transparency at 87 lakes.

1982 - Planning Commission in Northeastern Illinois assists with VLMP coordination

• Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, now known as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) was contracted to oversee coordination of the program in a six-county region: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties.

1984 - Planning Commissions in Southern and Southwestern Illinois assist with VLMP coordination

• Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission (GERPDC) was contracted to coordinate the VLMP in the Southern tip of Illinois: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson Counties



• Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission (SIMRPC) was contracted to coordinate the VLMP in the Southwestern region of the state: Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington Counties.

1985 - VLMP Expands to include a water quality component at 50 lakes. Water quality parameters added were: Total and Volatile Suspended Solids, Total Phosphorus, Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen and Ammonia Nitrogen.

1992 - VLMP Expands to monitor the aquatic exotic Zebra Mussel and a pilot program for monitoring Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Temperature (Temp) profiles. The DO/Temp meters proved to be difficult to maintain, so this program was dropped the following season.

1995 - Conservation 2000 passes! Funding is made available through this bill to expand the water quality program from 50 to 100 lakes and also added chlorophyll analysis.

2006 - VLMP incorporates the "Tiered Approach" The Illinois EPA also takes over VLMP coordination for the SIMRPC region.

2007 - CMAP adds Kendall County to its VLMP coordination region.

Today - The VLMP presently maintains a total of over 300 volunteers at around 150 lakes annually. Over the years, that adds up to more than 2,000 volunteers that have monitored over 400 Illinois lakes!