Citizen scientists will be arriving between 9 and 10 a.m. Friday at the Pershing Township Volunteer Fire Department in Freetown to pick up bottles, waders and coolers.

They will then go out to collect water samples from streams that flow into South Fork Salt Creek and on into Lake Monroe.

Friends of Lake Monroe and the IU Limnology Lab will analyze the results along with samples from other parts of the Lake Monroe watershed, which includes portions of Jackson, Brown and Monroe counties.

“We had a great time collecting samples last fall and are very curious to see how the spring samples compare,” watershed coordinator Maggie Sullivan said. “In September, many of the streams were dry, but we expect plenty of water this time of year.”

Volunteers will work in teams of two to collect water samples from streams like Tipton Creek, Kiper Creek, Runt Run and South Fork Salt Creek. Samples will be analyzed for E. coli, sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Friends of Lake Monroe, a nonprofit based in Bloomington, is developing a watershed management plan for the lake that will be released at the end of 2021. Watershed management plans identify water quality problems, propose solutions and create a strategy for putting those plans into action.

“We are almost done with data collection and look forward to working on strategies for improvement,” Sullivan said.

Information: Call 812-558-0217 or visit friendsoflakemonroe.org