L.A.M.P.S
We are excited to announce the L.A.M.P.S program on both the south and north shores of Lake Pontchartrain!
Welcome to the Lakefront Learning Laboratory at the Lighthouse!
Our south shore L.A.M.P.S lab is located at Pontchartrain Conservancy's very own New Canal Lighthouse. Take a step into our Lakefront Learning Laboratory in the New Canal Lighthouse Museum and Education Center and you'll find all you need to become a microplastic and algae scientist! Learn more below on how to complete the process and watch our training videos to start testing your own water samples.
New Canal Lighthouse
8001 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70124
504-282-2134
New Canal Lighthouse Hours of Operation:
10:00am - 4pm Tuesday - Saturday
Open to the general public. Docent-led tours available.
Hello to our home on the north shore: Mandeville Department of Public Works!
We are proud to announce that our north shore L.A.M.P.S Lab has been made possible through our partnership with Mandeville Public Works located in Mandeville, Louisiana! Just a stones throw away from the causeway. Continue on this page to learn about the process, watch training videos of how to analyze your samples, and a video outlining the small differences between labs!
Mandeville Department of Public Works
1100 Mandeville High BLVD
Mandeville, Louisiana 70471
985-624-3169
Mandeville Department of Public Works Hours of Operation:
8:30am to 4:30pm Monday - Friday
If you have any questions about accessing the lab, please contact the department at the number above, or you can contact Pontchartrain Conservancy.
Training Modules
This webpage contains informational videos on sample collection and analysis for studying Water Quality in the Pontchartrain Basin. Bring in your water samples and lets shine a light on pollution to discover what's going on at your favorite places. Participants in this program are encouraged to sample at locations that are important to them, and bring attention to it!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are providing our training videos for our Community Scientists. You can also use these videos to refresh or touch up on laboratory procedures as needed.
It is a requirement to enroll in our program to participate. Please ensure you have completed a waiver and enrollment form prior to collecting any water for analysis. Once the forms are completed please email them to: waterquality@scienceforcoast.org and then you are free to begin the LAMPS Program. If you are unsure of completing these forms, or have any questions, please send an email to: waterquality@scienceforourcoast.org.
Table of Contents
- Filtering a Sample
- Microplastic Identification
- Salinity
- Fluorometer
Workshop Videos
Water Quality Director, Dr. Brady Skaggs, will walk you through our microplastic workshop! Watch the video below for guidance and training on how to use the L.A.M.P.S Lab! Procedures and concepts remain the same across both labs, north and south.
Join our AmeriCorps member and Water Quality Technology Coordinator, Shannon Tillison, as she outlines the slight differences between our south and north shore labs. If you are participating at our north shore lab, watching both training videos is highly recommended!
Sample Collection
Equipment
- 2 x Field Sample (1000 mL Bottle)
- Protective Gloves
- Sample Collector (Crab Grabber Tongs, etc)
- Ice Chest
Sample Collection can be conducted anywhere you feel is important for the study of microplastics, salinity and algae. But we do ask you to never sample in a location that you feel is unsafe. If you have questions or concerns about sampling in potentially unsafe locations, please send an email to waterquality@scienceforourcoast.org for safe sampling tips.
The locations where our community engages with nature, specifically water, is what we are trying to learn about. To collect a sample in this environment you will need a way to reach the water, it is preferred that you where protective gloves for sampling (vinyl or latex) so as to not contaminate the sample and to keep yourself safe. Please be certain to discard these materials appropriately after use.
Crab Grabbers are very helpful for getting extra reach and maintaining a solid footing, but you can also construct or modify equipment to quickly and safely collect water from a distance. Our main priority is that our scientists remain safe. We would much rather lose a bottle than lose you! For tips and tricks on building your own sampling devices, write to waterquality@scienceforourcoast.org.
Sample Analysis
Filtering a Sample
Equipment
- Field Sample (1000 mL bottle)
- Beaker (1000 mL)
- Grid-Lined Filter Paper
- Buchner Funnel
- Magnetically Sealed Amber Cup
The Buchner Filter is an amber colored container with a hand pump, as well as a small amber cup attached. This will be used for filtering the water out of your sample.
Using a wide mouthed 1000 mL beaker, pour a portion (<200 mL) of one of your samples into the beaker, and make a note of that volume. Each time the amber cup is filled the volume should be noted.
Place Grid-Lined Filter Paper atop the Buchner Filter followed by the cup, it will magnetically seal to the flask.
Use the pump to draw water from the cup and through the filter.
Remove filter paper, place on petri dish and analyze under the microscope.
Microplastic Identification
Equipment
- Microscope
- Petri Dish
- Grid-Lined Filter Paper (filtered)
- Plastic Forceps
Once Filtering has been completed, use plastic forceps to transfer the Grid-Lined Filter Paper from the Buchner Filter to a Petri Dish (you will likely have more than one).
Through the microscope you will be looking for the most prominent forms of MicroPlastics:
- Strands - Colorful and hair like fibers often from Rope
- Films - Thin plate or sheet like remains of Grocery bags
- Fragments - small irregularly shaped, often from cups or ice chests
- Microbeads - spheroid particles found in make-ups and cleaners
Using the Grid to keep track, count the number found of each type of Microplastic. Record the value on the lab sheet to add to the database at the end of analysis.
Meter Analysis
Salinity
Equipment
- Hanna Instruments 9813-5 Salinity Meter
- Distilled Water
- Storage Solution
- 1000 mL Field Sample
- 1000 mL Beaker
Using your second Field Sample, pour the contents into the 1000 mL Beaker. Because multiple tests will be preformed we ask that you do not perform analysis within the field bottle.
For measuring Salinity set the HI 9813-5 meter to detect the appropriate value.
- Immerse the tip of the probe into the sample to be tested.
- Tap the probe lightly on the bottom of the beaker to remove any air bubbles which may be trapped inside the tip.
- Select the appropriate measurement range (EC).
- Wait for a couple of minutes for the temperature sensor to reach thermal equilibrium.
- The display then shows the measurement (mS) automatically compensated for temperature.
Fluorometer
Equipment
- FluoroQuik Thermal Fluorometer
- Cuvette
- Soft Cloth
- Pipette
- 1000 mL Field Sample
- 1000 mL Beaker
Using a pipette, you will fill a clean cuvette with a portion of fresh distilled water. Place this cuvette into the FlouroQuik Fluorometer and select 'Blank' to clear the meter.
Upon blanking the meter place one cuvette containing water from your field sample into the cuvette and press 'Measure'. Record these results on your lab sheet.
