About this dataset
The Water Rangers YSI dataset was collected as part of the Lake Erie Baseline Assessment Framework (LEBAF), a standardized process designed to strengthen and align community-based water quality monitoring across the Lake Erie Basin. Developed through the Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network (LEVSN)—a collaboration convened by the Cleveland Water Alliance with partners including Ohio Sea Grant, The Commons, and Ohio EPA—LEBAF establishes shared protocols for data collection, management, and analysis. Participating programs, including Water Rangers, used YSI ProQuatro Multiparameter Meters to measure parameters such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, and conductivity following LEBAF’s Standard Operating Procedures. This framework supports data credibility and comparability, empowering volunteer science groups to contribute meaningfully to a regional understanding of Lake Erie watershed health.
Certification requirements
This dataset was collected by Water Rangers as part of the Lake Erie Baseline Assessment Framework (LEBAF), a regional initiative that certifies community-based monitoring programs using shared standards for high-quality data collection. To achieve LEBAF certification, participating groups complete training on YSI ProQuatro multiparameter meters and Water Reporter data management, follow standardized sampling and calibration procedures, and demonstrate consistent adherence to LEBAF’s Standard Operating Procedures. Certified programs participate in ongoing mentorship, data review, and collaborative workshops coordinated by the Cleveland Water Alliance and the Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network. This process ensures that all certified data meet regional quality assurance requirements and can be confidently integrated into broader assessments of Lake Erie watershed health.
