2025 CSLAP Waiver Form – Original, signed waiver forms must be on file with NYSFOLA for all program participants whose name appears on the CSLAP Application, Sampling Record Form, Observation Form, or Chain of Custody Form. Only volunteers who have attended a formal training session can collect or process samples. New York State law prohibits parents/guardians from signing on behalf of minors and waiving their legal rights. For this reason, all CSLAP participants must be 18 years of age or older. In addition, all volunteers must attend a formal training session in accordance with the DEC Quality Assurance Management Plan for the program.
2024 CSLAP Sampling Protocol – Updated for 2024, this is the “go to” document for any questions about CSLAP and sampling, sample preservation, and shipping procedures.
2024 CSLAP Field Sample Collection Checklist – A step-by-step guide to collecting your CSLAP samples. (But not intended to be a substitute for reading the full Sampling Protocol!)
2025 CSLAP Perception Survey Form – Aesthetic & recreational use observations and Health & Safety observations.
2025 Sampling Record Form – Sounding Depth, Secchi Readings, weather and more.
Enter Your CSLAP Data online and/or report a Harmful Algal Bloom: on.ny.gov/cslap_dashboard
Need help? Watch the 05/17/2022 webinar for instructions on entering data:
CSLAP Training Refresher Videos – These videos will help you through the basics of collecting and processing your samples. Please note that the bottles themselves have changed over the years, but the collection process remains the same.
CSLAP Plant Sampling Protocol – This document has instructions for the optional full lake plant sampling process. There are also instructions for submitting plants for identification. (Hint: Take a picture first!)
AIS Shoreline Plant Sampling Protocol – This approach is for those who want to assess the presence or absence of aquatic invasive species (AIS), rather than trying to determine the population of plants in the lake. This survey is less complex and requires less time than the full CSLAP plant survey.
Test Your Secchi Savvy! – Not sure whether or not that Secchi has really disappeared? Use the Secchi Simulator tool from our friends the Lake Stewards of Maine.
More supplemental forms
NYSFOLA and NYSDEC have provided additional sampling protocols and forms to help better understand our NYS lakes, their uses and conditions.
Lake Level Survey is simply tracking the level of the lakes to see how it changes seasonally, after rainstorms, and over time. Click for the form and instructions.
Zebra Mussel Monitoring helps us understand the spread of the invasive zebra mussel. It’s just as important to know where they are not! This is easy to do! Click for instructions.