lake wee-ma- tuk water quality: moving forward
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Lake Wee-Ma- Tuk Water Quality: Moving Forward. Goals: Fishing Sport fish are sight feeders Recreation/Swimming Aesthetics Home Values. Getting Started: Previous water quality data County Health Department Additional water quality information? Previous lake use and inputs?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Slide 1
Lake Wee-Ma-Tuk Water Quality: Moving Forward1Goals:
FishingSport fish are sight feeders
Recreation/Swimming
Aesthetics
Home Values
Getting Started:
Previous water quality dataCounty Health Department
Additional water quality information?
Previous lake use and inputs?
For a given target area, we have:Inputs: Addition of energy, water, sediment, chemical substances, and organisms from the watershedCattle manure, septic, lawn herbicides and pesticides, sediments, agriculture, other chemicalsMany factors determine the movement of nutrients and sediments within most landscapesVegetative cover throughout watershed (trees/plants at lake edge)Soil typeSlope length/angleFrequency/intensity of rainfallOutputs: Export of material to downstream, to the sediment or to the atmosphereInternal Physical: Erosion, settling, lateral transport, thermal gradient, light penetrationInternal Chemical: Oxygen and pH fluctuation, transformation of compoundsInternal Biological: Contaminant uptake, growth, death, ecological interactionsPhosphorus:
The most important nutrient in lakes
Also the middle number on a fertilizer bag (should be 0)
Note Scotts fertilizer has just announced that it will remove phosphorus from residential market fertilizers..lawns dont need it and lake certainly dont need it.
Too much phosphorus grows algae which leads to:
potentially toxic blooms
- rapid sedimentation
- taste and odor problems
- depletion of dissolved oxygen
- fish kills- decline in property values
Easier to keep it out initially, than take it out later!
History of Lake Wee-Ma-Tuk may mean:Existing sediment from loadings in the past that may release nutrients over time
Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia ExampleNutrients=Algae=Plankton=Zooplankton=Bacteria=Low Dissolved Oxygen
2010 Phosphorus Experiment
Solutions:Soil stabilization and buffer stripsUse of native prairie and wetland plantsRid yourselves of the non-natives and invasives that dont help the situationDifference in root structures for soil stabilization and nutrient uptakeAesthetics!Home Valueswere talking money here! (Maine found a 20% drop in property values if lakes bloomed)Recreational use and healthFishingSwimmingWildlifeGoose deterrent
Solutions:If you have major algae blooms and loading, you may need:Watershed actions (first)First- watershed reductions in loads related to development, land-use, fertilization, impervious surfaces. Infiltrate rather than runoff In-lake actions, if needed (once watershed is under control)(include dredging, aeration, circulation, biomanipulation)P inactivation through use of chemicals
Anti-fertilizer treatment coagulates and binds phosphorus and many other contaminants changes internal processes
Most often applies aluminum compounds to lakes with strong internal recycling
Living Wallswww.pizzo.info
Savannah Planting
Lessons Learned:
Have clearly stated goals (once you know the issues)
Involve all essential parties (and maybe the non-essential ones too) as early as possible in the planning stageHomeownersGovernment (local and state, as needed)NRCSIllinois Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
Recognize the boundaries of the target area, but also consider the influences from outside that areaFocus on what you can control first, then talk to others outside
Think in terms of altering processes to reach desired ends, not just altering some feature at some instant in time
Evaluate expected results in terms of conditions over a decade to a century and consider adaptive management
Assess costs based on long term enhancement or maintenance Illinois Volunteer Lake Management Program (IVLMP)
Educational program and cost-effective method of gathering information on lake health and management
Funds from federal Clean Water Act and Conservation 2000 Program to achieve the following objectives:Increase citizen knowledge and awareness of the factors that affect lake quality so they can understand the lake/watershed/ecosystem and make informed decisions.Encourage development and implementation of sound lake protection and management plans.Provide historic data to help document water quality impacts and support lake management decision-making.Provide a guide for the implementation of lake protection/restoration and a framework for technical assistance for cooperative lake and watershed management projects.
http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/conservation/vlmp/online-lake-database.html
Greg Ratliff, State Coordinator: 217-782-3362
Illinois Volunteer Lake Management Program (IVLMP)
Basic Monitoring (Year One)Secchi disk to determine water clarityThree site monitored, two times per month from May through October (1 hours each event approximately)Field observations including:Water colorAmount of vegetation
Expanded Monitoring (must qualify for this through consistent data input)Monthly water samplesAnalyzed for:AmmoniaNitratesTotal phosphorusTotal suspended solidsVolatile suspended solidsSamples shipped to IEPAs Champaign lab FREE OF CHARGE
Thank You!!!
Environmental Consulting:Shae Birkey AECOM Environment(217) [email protected]
Native Plant Nursery and Contractors:Pizzo and Associateswww.pizzo.info(815) 495-2300