Outreach and Education
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In addition to collecting and disseminating certified water quality data with the help of a large volunteer network, CSI seeks to inform and empower the community through public forums and educational programs for adults and children. CSI outreach activities are designed to foster environmental stewardship, encourage the public to take part in the scientific process, and address community concerns regarding water quality.
Public Forums
Ever wonder which water quality issues are affecting your backyard streams and which laws and policies protect your favorite swimming hole? CSI’s public forums seek to address community concerns regarding water in our region. Forums are free and open to the public and include presentations by experts with plenty of time for discussion.
Over the years, CSI’s public forums have covered a range of topics including:
- Navigating and understanding our water quality database
- Non-point source nutrient loading to the lakes
- The effects of climate change on our regional environment and water resources
- Salt and water quality in the southern Cayuga Lake watershed
- Cyanobacteria blooms on Cayuga Lake
The Journey of Water: CSI's Youth Education Series
Science experiments and data collection aren’t just for adults! Through our Journey of Water program, CSI aims to foster and support the next generation of scientists through tactile and mentally stimulating activities that allow children to “dip their toes” into the world of water.
Journey of Water activities include:
- Collecting and analyzing water and phytoplankton samples aboard the Discover Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom
- Collecting, identifying, and drawing aquatic organisms from local streams and creeks
- Learning about how water is processed in and around Ithaca through water treatment plant tours. How do we make sure our water is safe to drink? And what happens to water once we’ve finished using it?
- Learning about the critters that cause harmful algal blooms: What are they? Where did they come from? Why are they often considered a problem?
CSI's Water Quality Database
Key enhancements in 2025 include:
- Improved access and design
- Mobile-friendly functionality for seamless use across devices
- Updated interface and branding aligned with CSI’s main website
- Accessibility upgrades, including color-blind-friendly maps and improved graph readability
- Expanded data tools
- Downloadable graph outputs for easier data sharing and analysis
- Date-based filtering on the Streams and Lakes Map
- Alphabetized listings for monitoring regions, sampling locations, and analytes
- Reformatted stream and site names for clarity and consistency
- Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) data enhancements
- Expanded data exports now include both analyte results and microscopy findings
- Performance and security improvements
- Reduced automated bot traffic while improving access for human users
- Updated Terms of Use
- Includes acknowledgment requirements for any use of CSI data
These updates reflect CSI’s ongoing commitment to making high-quality environmental data more accessible, actionable, and impactful for the communities it serves.
