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Lake Monitoring
WEAL has been providing the Lake Water Quality Program to organizations or individuals interested in the water quality of their lakes. Since 1984 145 lakes have been involved in this program. We provide two analytical programs to evaluate long-term changes in water quality.
Program benefits are useful for explaining:
The present status of the lake.
Whether water quality is changing, this
requires long-term monitoring.
Unusual abundance or lack of algae and/or rooted aquatic plants.
Fish kills.
Changes in water clarity.
These data could be supplemented
by additional monitoring done by lake residents that would make the
interpretation of data more complete.
Package A
In addition to the water chemistry, we recommend
that participants take:
We also encourage participating in
the
DNRs Self-Help
Monitoring Program and other more in depth lake studies, all of which help
residents understand their lakes water quality conditions. The
data report sent to the participants include graphs and tables of results
showing current and previous data, so variability and trends can be seen.
Also included is a comparison of other "similar type" lakes located in the
same part of the state. The extension bulletin
"Interpreting Lake Water Quality" (which we provide) is useful in
helping lake residents interpret results from this program. One or two years
of data are often not sufficient to characterize a lake.
The database generated by this program may also be useful for
graduate students, staff, and local or state professionals who are interested in lake water quality.
With lake participant's consent, results can be added to the DNR statewide
database website called "Surface
Water Integrated Monitoring Systems" (SWIMS).
Spring and Fall Overturn
Samples are collected
twice per year by program participants: once during spring
overturn, the other during fall overturn.
This timing ensures the greatest uniformity of water quality throughout the lake.
We will perform analyses and provide a data summary.
All data is stored on our computer to maintain long-term records for each
lake. Participants are provided sample bottles, shipping cartons, and
sampling instructions prior to each sampling date.
The two packages are available for this program are:
The analyses in this package gives you the basic chemistry of
your lake, including the mineralogy and nutrient content. Analyses include:
alkalinity
ammonium nitrogen
calcium hardness
chloride
color
conductivity
nitrate plus nitrite
nitrogen
pH
potassium
reactive phosphorus
sodium
sulfate
total hardness
total Kjeldahl nitrogen
total phosphorus
turbidity
Package B
Analytes in this package
would affect the plant growth within the lake, which may be an indication of
land use runoff. This package is recommended
after running Package A for at least two years. Analyses include:
ammonium nitrogen
chloride
conductivity
nitrate plus nitrite nitrogen
reactive phosphorus
total Kjeldahl nitrogen
total phosphorus
Additional analyses are available upon request.
Weekly Secchi disc readings during the summer to document changes in light
penetration due to algae growth or other
suspended matter.
Weekly readings of water level; these changes can affect
water quality.
Measurements of oxygen and temperature, along with depth
(during late summer and late
winter).
We maintain the above data in our database and include it in the
report to aid in the interpretation of lake water quality trends.
Participants in the WEAL Lake Water Quality Program can request
information on obtaining the necessary equipment needed and taking measurements.
Data Summary
If you have any questions about this program
contact Richard Stephens (715) 346-4078, or email
rstephen@uwsp.edu.
For research or monitoring projects you may contact Nancy Turyk at (715)
346-4155 or email
nturyk@uwsp.edu