8615-R4_ML&P_LSLA_2024_SummerNewsletter_Web

Water Quality Update Janet Slack

Because of the complexity of lakes, we can’t say exactly why a particular result happens. There are both positive factors and harmful factors occurring all the time. But the more we know about the chemistry and biology of our lake, the more pieces we can sort out to provide protection. The Water Quality program may be the best money that is spent by our Association in terms of protecting our future.

We also can’t control many of the factors that impact water quality – a few examples: the amount of rain, the temperature, the amount of phosphorus released from the sediments on the bottom of the lake. The list of factors we can’t control is long. However, the things we can control can make

phosphorus levels in the major streams around the lake. We sampled those streams multiple times over summer 2023. Continuing stream monitoring will allow us to find potential sources of pollution entering the lake. Our water quality results from summer 2023 include good news and bad news. Good news: • There were very few problems with algae. • Chlorophyl levels have been slowly going down over the past 3 years. • Phosphorus levels in the lake were steady in the middle and lower basins. • Stream phosphorus levels are all within acceptable limits. • Oxygen levels at the bottom of the lake were very low, causing stress for the fish in the lake and therefore stress for the loons. • The upper lake had slightly higher phosphorus levels than in previous years. • The clarity of the water was the lowest in decades in all three basins of the lake. Bad news:

a very big difference. Don’t be fooled by thinking that they are little things – that delicate balance of water quality can be swung quickly in the positive direction if we each do our part. Here are some of the ways to positively impact our lake: • Preventing runoff, especially sand and soil, washing from your property into the lake. • Picking up the dog waste on your property and disposing of it in the trash. • Avoiding churning up the bottom of the lake with your boat. • Getting your septic tank pumped every 3 years. • Monitoring the lake bottom near you for unusual plants or algae. • Replacing some lawn grass with native plants. • Volunteering to drive a boat for sampling or getting trained to run tests on the water.

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