The action, about which IOŚ-PIB informs, lasts from May to September. Each willing sailor receives a measuring set consisting of a second disc for water transparency, laminated measurement instructions, and a mini -dispenser dedicated to sustainable sailing. During the cruises, participants make measurements, send results to the Foundation, and these go to an interactive map available online. After the season, the data is transferred to scientists, including specialists from IOŚ-PIB, who analyze and interpret it.
The idea for Żaba was born in the “Sailing is EKO” Foundation and was consulted with the experts of the IOŚ-PIB Water Protection Department at the time (currently the Water Ecosystem Research Plant). The organizers emphasize that the strength of the project is the simplicity of the method and frequency of measurements. For comparison – as part of the official monitoring of the Framework Water Directive, there are only a few lakes a year, and the results obtained, although public, can be difficult to access and incomprehensible. The frog allows you to fill this gap by engaging both the local community and tourists.
IOŚ-PIB cooperation with the Foundation includes the preparation of articles about the state of Masurian lakes, developing content of boards and educational leaflets, and to cover further editions of the campaign. Experts analyze data in terms of, among others differences in water transparency between individual lakes or changes at different periods of the season.
“The first analyzes of 2024 indicate a large variety of transparency between the lakes and its variability during the season – which is confirmed by the previously known conclusions from scientific research. The greatest value of the project, however, is the educational aspect: it enables people unrelated to the hydrology independent measurements and understanding, what depends on the condition of the water“-comments Agnieszka Kolada, head of Dr. Hab. Quoted in the announcement, the head of the Water Ekosystem Research Center in Ioś-Pib.
This year's measurement season will end in September, and in autumn complete results will go to IOŚ-PIB analysis. In October, the “Sailing is EKO” Foundation is planning a conference during which they will be presented.
