Lake Gaston, a 22,000-acre man-made reservoir with 350 miles of shoreline spanning Virginia and North Carolina, serves multiple purposes including recreation, power generation, and water supply. However, invasive species such as Hydrilla and Lyngbya threatened its ecological health, water quality, and recreational value. The Lake Gaston Association (LGA), a volunteer organization, initiated a comprehensive vegetation and shoreline survey to address these challenges.

The project leveraged 65 volunteers and partnered with experts from NC State University to annually map the lake’s shoreline vegetation. Volunteers used smartphones equipped with the Mobile Data Collection App to survey aquatic plants, assessing water clarity and cataloguing invasive species. The app’s intuitive interface allowed for straightforward data collection, even for volunteers with minimal technical experience.

Collected data was synchronized with a cloud-based system, enabling real-time visualization of survey progress and precise mapping of invasive species distribution. These maps informed targeted treatments, including the introduction of sterile grass carp to control Hydrilla. The project not only mitigated the spread of invasive species but also fostered community engagement and provided valuable insights for researchers and policymakers.