Linking lakes across Europe.

The over-arching objective of the NETLAKE COST Action is to establish a network of European scientists, technologists, managers and stakeholders focused on development and application of sensor technology for the protection of European lakes and reservoirs. The Action (2012-2016) funds networking meetings, workshops, training schools and scientific missions. Many members are also in GLEON and there are strong links between the two organisations. Working Group deliverables include a metadatabase of instrumented sites (WG1), case studies on management-relevant topics (WG4), best practice protocols on deployment and buoy data analysis (WG1 and WG2), and a citizen science programme to involve local communities in the protection of water resources (WG3). The Action also has strong links to the Cyanocost Action and this year both actions are undertaking a European Multi-Lake Survey on cyanobacterial blooms. The key deliverable, however, has been the establishment of the European network. There are 25 countries participating, and now c. 40 sites in the NETLAKE metadatabase. The Action is helping to promote high frequency monitoring on lakes, and is bridging communication gaps between new and established researchers, scientists and managers, and between scientists and local communities.