LONG LAKE MANAGEMENT ISSUES
The Problem/s:
Turbidity caused by
Inorganic (TSS) and
organic solids
(TVS). Turbidity
decreasing?
Zebra mussels
Long Lake Algal Bloom 2015
HAB
Common Carp
Potential influences
Round lake drain urban non-point
Eagle Creek Drain urban non-point
Squaw Creek ag and urban non-point
Baxter residential sewage ( point source )
Legacy loadings from previous STPs*
Mud Lake ( intercepts P and sediment)
Anabaena sp. = Annie
Blue green algal bloom caused by
“Annie, Fanny, and Mike
Aphanizomenon= Fanny
Microcystis= mike
Impact of Blue Green Algal Blooms:
Temporarily closed down drinking water
source on Lake Erie
•Increased turbidity
•Changes in fish food chains
•Changes in macroinvertebrates/aquatic insects
•Potential toxicity ( nuerotoxins and liver toxins)
•Suppress growth of “good” plants
•Interact with zebra mussels/ mussels can actually
promote blue green blooms
•Negative impact on recreational fisheries
•Potential loss of recreational use….dependent on density
•Are found everywhere but size ( population numbers) matters
NOT NICE ! Say thank for your oxygen today however
Classes of Pollutants and Their Typical Origin
Salt …. street run-off, winter de-icing ( avg. in county vs. USEPA standard)
Metals ( Cu,Zn,Pb)….street runoff; sewage
Nutrients ( P, NH3-N,NO3 )….Ag. Run-off, sewage, lawn fertilizers
+ legacy in bottom sediments
BOD= Biological oxygen demand…..sewage treatment, animal waste
Suspended Solids ( sediment)….Ag. Run-off, construction sites,
bank erosion
Volatile Organics ( gas,oil,solvents)….urban @ special locations like gas stations
PNAs (organics from street treatments)….driveway sealants
Size ( amount or concentration ) matters
Phosphorus however drives basic productivity in
lakes and is the most important nutrient which is
responsible for blue-green algae blooms.
Two ways to evaluate P :
1.) Concentration= weight/volume of liquid
.05 mg/l is State Standard
routinely violate state standard for all yrs. 2005-2016
avg. in surface = .091 2X state standard
avg. below= .626 3.5X county avg. 10X s.s. Significant
2.) Load= total weight delivered to the lake / unit of time
lbs. or kg /day for the whole lake
lbs. or kg/ year for the whole lake
loading determines
concentration
SIZE MATTERS
2001 to 2004
•Measured flow, water quality parameters
( weekly) including P and TSS
•Measured rainfall, evaporation, soil moisture
land use, etc.
•Created detailed watershed model
•Total cost $500,000
Conclusions and significance:
1. Annual load and discharge from Baxter
similar to 1.5% of total
2. Principal load for Long Lake= internal load
from historic STPs
3. Mud Lake mitigates or intercepts 35% to
85% of P and TSS dependent on flow
4. Model can be “updated” and used in future
years
Size matters
2001 to 2004
Size matters
Conclusions of Stanley Eng. Study
2004
•Multiagency Management Plan
•Identified land use practices, green infrastructure,
stream bank stabilization opportunities, flood
control opportunities
•Multiple nutrient and sediment reduction efforts
for both agricultural and urban land use
•Conservation plan for the watershed
Conclusions and Significance:
•SMC has 34 conservation projects on watershed
•25,250 acres means significant discharge to Long Lake
•Need to update Watershed Plan
•Need to validate yearly load assessments
Size ( of watershed P and TSS) matters
2005 to 2016
•Monitored water quality in upper and lower layers of lake
•No discernible trend in Total P or TSS
•Long Lake P limited in almost all years
•Avg. Water clarity decreased by
close to a foot (2005 to 2015)
•Documented potential hazardous blue-green
algal bloom ( 2015)
Conclusions and Significance:
•Use impairment is increasing
•Management intervention is desirable
•Need to evaluate internal and external P loads
•Need to extend monitoring to the watershed and outlet
Size and Origin of the Loading Matters for
Framing Future Management…..Size Matters
2017
•Standards violation
•TMDL analysis
•July of 2017…engineering firm is doing
analysis
•TMDL= 1. export from watershed model
2. and lake response model
TMDL Analysis = amount of P
loading that is required to meet
the State Standards for Total P
Long Lake
State
Standard
P Control Options:
Analytic Options
•Aeration ( large scale)
•Alum Treatment
•Hypolimnetic withdrawal
•Dredging
•Optimize wetland interception at
Mud Lake
•Carp removal
•Scale up watershed water quality
monitoring and analysis
•Update Baxter Watershed Model
•Update SMC Watershed Plan
•Obtain 319 Funds from IEPA and
update TMDL analysis
•Prepare a Lake Management Plan
•Determine Internal Loading
estimates w LCHD
•Optimize nutrient treatment
across watershed
•Baxter sewage rerouting
Some lesser known residents of Squaw Creek/Long Lake
Orangespotted sunfish Lepomis humilis
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