First LAKES GO DIGITAL buoy deployment at Lake Mastis

On 28 April, the Interreg Latvia – Lithuania project LAKES GO DIGITAL will mark an important milestone with the first deployment of a smart buoy in Lake Mastis (Telšiai, Lithuania). This event represents the beginning of a broader initiative to introduce innovative, real-time water quality monitoring across six lakes in Latvia and Lithuania.

The project aims to improve the management of urban lakes by developing and piloting smart buoy technology – autonomous, sensor-based systems that continuously measure key environmental parameters. These include water level, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, water clarity (Secchi depth), chlorophyll-a, cyanobacteria and other bacteria.

Urban lakes play a crucial role in biodiversity, recreation and public well-being, yet they are often not included in regular monitoring programmes. The LAKES GO DIGITAL project addresses this gap by providing accessible, real-time data, enabling municipalities and environmental experts to respond more quickly and make informed decisions about lake management.

The Lake Mastis event will combine scientific work with public engagement. Alongside technical activities such as water sampling and buoy installation, the afternoon programme will open the project to the wider community.

Public event (14:00 – 16:30)
Residents, visitors and all interested participants are warmly invited to attend. The event will offer a unique opportunity to:
– see the smart buoy system up close,
– learn how water quality is monitored,
– observe aquatic organisms under microscopes,
– explore how lakes provide essential ecosystem services.

School students will also take part in educational activities, gaining hands-on experience with scientific methods and environmental topics.

The project will continue by deploying smart buoys in a total of six lakes – two in Lithuania and four in Latvia – creating a shared knowledge base and strengthening cross-border cooperation in lake management.

By combining innovation, science and public involvement, LAKES GO DIGITAL aims to support healthier lakes, better-informed communities and more sustainable environmental decision-making.