Four Years of Comparative Limnology Four Years of Comparative Limnology Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles & Otisco Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles & Otisco

LakesLakes2005 2005 -- 20082008

John D HalfmanJohn D HalfmanEnvironmental Studies ProgramEnvironmental Studies Program

Department of GeoscienceDepartment of GeoscienceFinger Lakes InstituteFinger Lakes Institute

44thth Annual Finger Lakes Research ConferenceAnnual Finger Lakes Research Conference

A side noteA side note……

Research Focus:Research Focus:Watershed Watershed Lake InteractionsLake InteractionsImpact of Land Use & Bedrock GeologyImpact of Land Use & Bedrock Geology

Limestone vs. Shales & SandstonesSedimentary Rocks

Forested vs. AgriculturalLandscapes

Bedrock Land Use

Sampling SchemeSampling Scheme•• Sampling ScheduleSampling Schedule–– Since 2005Since 2005–– Monthly: May through OctMonthly: May through Oct–– At Least Two DeepAt Least Two Deep--Water SitesWater Sites

•• ParametersParameters–– CTD Cast (SeaBird SBECTD Cast (SeaBird SBE--25)25)

•• CondCond, Temp, Depth, , Temp, Depth, TurbTurb, , ChlroChlro, DO, pH, DO, pH

–– Secchi Disc DepthSecchi Disc Depth–– Surface & Bottom Water AnalysesSurface & Bottom Water Analyses

•• Total PhosphatesTotal Phosphates–– 2006 & 20072006 & 2007

•• Dissolved PhosphatesDissolved Phosphates•• Nitrates & SilicaNitrates & Silica•• ChlorophyllChlorophyll--aa•• Total Suspended SolidsTotal Suspended Solids•• Total Coliform & Total Coliform & E. coliE. coli BacteriaBacteria

–– 2005 only2005 only•• Major Ions (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, SOMajor Ions (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO44))

Seneca LakeSince 19944 Sites & Streams

Owasco Lake11 Lake Sites & Streams2006 & 2007

Cayuga Lake9 Lake Sites2007 & 2008

Otisco LakeAdded in 2008

CTD ProfilesCTD ProfilesSBESBE--2525Sea LoggerSea Logger

Temperature10-20 m Thermocline

Specific ConductanceEpilimnion Dilution

FluorescenceSurface Algae

Surface Dilution?Surface Dilution?

Also detected in Seneca, Owasco, Skaneateles, & Otisco Lakes

Seneca Lake Decline in SalinitySeneca Lake Decline in SalinitySurface and Bottom Water

Specific Conductance by CTD

650

670

690

710

730

750

770

1/1/

02

7/1/

02

1/1/

03

7/1/

03

1/1/

04

7/1/

04

1/1/

05

7/1/

05

1/1/

06

7/1/

06

1/1/

07

7/1/

07

Spec

ific

Con

duct

ance

(uS/

cm)

SurfaceBottom

Seneca Lake

020406080

100120140160180200

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

Year

Chl

orid

e, p

pmJollyHalfmanOthers

Jolly 2006, 2007

2008 CTD Data2008 CTD Data

Subsurface Subsurface AlgaeAlgae

Also detected in Canandaigua, Seneca, Owasco, & Otisco (at chemocline) Lakes

Nepheloid LayersNepheloid Layers

Also detected in Canandaigua & OwascoLakes

Prabi Basnet will discuss Cayuga Turbidity

Dissolved Dissolved OxygenOxygen

AlgaeAlgae Algae

LargestSurface WaterHoneoye

ChemoclineOtisco

SmallestBottom WaterSkaneateles, Cayuga

PhosphatesPhosphatesSRP & TPSRP & TP

Nitrates & SilicaNitrates & Silica

Water Quality RankingWater Quality RankingRanked Each ParameterRanked Each Parameter

ChlChl, TSS, TP (2006, TSS, TP (2006--07), SRP, N, Si, Secchi, Bacteria (only 2005)07), SRP, N, Si, Secchi, Bacteria (only 2005)

Calculated a Mean Rank (1Calculated a Mean Rank (1--7, 17, 1--8 in 2008)8 in 2008)LakeLake 2005*2005* 20062006 20072007 20082008

7.07.0 7.07.0

1.31.3

1.41.4

3.03.0

3.63.6

2.82.8

1.01.0

----

3.13.1

7.87.8

2.32.3

1.81.8

6.36.3

7.67.6

5.95.9

11

3.33.3

3.2 3.2 (no bacteria)(no bacteria)

5.9 5.9 (no bacteria)(no bacteria)

5.65.6

SkaneatelesSkaneateles 1.01.0 1.01.0

88OtiscoOtisco ---- ----

HoneoyeHoneoye 6.16.1

CanandaiguaCanandaigua 1.41.4

KeukaKeuka 3.03.0

SenecaSeneca 7.07.0

CayugaCayuga 4.44.4

OwascoOwasco 6.76.7

GraphicGraphic……

2007: Less Rain – Less Nutrient Runoff – Impacts Faster Residence Time & Nutrient Poor Lakes

Fours Years of Ranking

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Honoey

eCan

andiag

uaKeu

kaSen

eca

Cayug

aOwas

coSka

neatel

esOtis

co

Ran

k (2

9 M

ax)

2005200620072008

GraphicGraphic……

Seneca is declining

Keuka & Skaneateles are Improving

Fours Years of Ranking

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Honoey

eCan

andiag

uaKeu

kaSen

eca

Cayug

aOwas

coSka

neatel

esOtis

co

Ran

k (2

9 M

ax)

2005200620072008

Worst Intermediate Best

Water TransparencySeneca Lake

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Date

Secc

hi D

isk

Dep

th (m

)

Secchi Depth (m) Poly. (Secchi Depth (m))

Lakes do Change!Lakes do Change!

Zebra Zebra IntroducedIntroduced

Zebra Die Zebra Die OffOff

Zebra & Quagga Zebra & Quagga ReboundRebound

Nutrient Nutrient Loading?Loading?

119

197

145

Nutrient LoadingNutrient LoadingSeneca WatershedSeneca Watershed

Annual Average Dissolved Phosphate (SRP) Concentrations

Dissolved Phosphate

0

20

40

60

80

100

Sene

caLa

ke

Wils

on

Kash

ong

Keu

kaO

utle

t

Plu

m P

t.

Big

Stre

am

Ree

der

Ken

dig

Phos

phat

e (u

g/L,

SR

P)1998199920002001200220032004200520062007

118, 197, 145, 102

Agric

ultu

reAg

ricul

ture

Agric

ultu

reAg

ricul

ture

Was

tew

ater

Eff

luen

tW

aste

wat

er E

fflu

ent

Hog

Far

ms

Hog

Far

ms

Thanks Thanks -- Questions? Questions? John Halfman, Environmental Studies, Geoscience, FLI, HWSJohn Halfman, Environmental Studies, Geoscience, FLI, HWSData At:Data At: http://people.hws.edu/halfman/FLhttp://people.hws.edu/halfman/FL--Lim/FLLim/FL--Limnology.htmLimnology.htm

2008 Crew2008 Crew