Long-Term Volunteer Lake Monitoring in the Upper Woonasquatucket Watershed Linda Green URI Watershed...

Long-Term VolunteerLake Monitoring in the Upper Woonasquatucket Watershed

Linda Green

URI Watershed Watch

401-874-2905, [email protected]

WATER QUALITY IS A REFLECTION OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THE LANDS AND WATERS SURROUNDING AND LYING UPSTREAM OF ANY LOCATION

WATER QUALITY IS ALSO A

REFLECTION OF

in-water processes:

biology, chemistry,physics of the waterbody itself

Watershed:The area of land that drains to the outlet of a lake, stream or

other waterbody

Limnology:Limnology:

Scientific study of freshwater ecosystems

lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams

Goal: Improve understanding of the physical, biological, chemical, and geological factors affecting these ecosystems

URI Watershed Watch:An Ecological Monitoring

Program

Ecological Monitoring =

Repeated measurements over time to note a condition or track a trend

URI Watershed Watch: Essential Ingredients• science-based

• locally driven

• involve the public

• educational, not regulatory

• provide good, useful information

• stable funding

Woonasquatucket Lakes

• Georgiaville Pond - 238

• Hawkins Reservoir - 90

• Slack’s Reservoir - 309

• Waterman Lake - 386

• Woon. Res. – Stump Pond - 353

Education / Awareness

Assess Impairment

Legal & Regulatory

Increasing Time - Rigor - QA - Expense $$Increasing Time - Rigor - QA - Expense $$

The Continuum of Volunteer Monitoring Data Use

URIWW has EPA-approved QAPP’s & is a RI Dept of Health certified laboratory

We measure:

– Secchi Depth– Chlorophyll– Phosphorus &

nitrogen– Dissolved

oxygen– Bacteria

To indicate:

– Water clarity– Algae– Nutrient levels

– Aquatic health

–Safe for recreation

Monitoring Equipment & Supplies

Monitoring Supplies

• Secchi Disk and View Tube (not for rivers)• Postcards (on-line data entry coming soon!)• Deep or Shallow Sampler• Sample Bottles• Chlorophyll Supplies kits• Thermometer• Dissolved Oxygen Kit• Salinity Kit

Three Tiers of Monitoring

Weekly - water clarity

(lakes and ponds)

Biweekly– water temperature– chlorophyll (algae)– dissolved oxygen– salinity

Three Tiers of Monitoring

Water Collection DaysMonthly- rivers, salty sites

May, July, Oct – lakes and ponds

A suite of water samples collected

and brought to WW lab

for lab analysis of– Acidity level– nutrients– bacteria

The ultimate goal is to ensure that good quality data

is collected by satisfied, well trained volunteers

and is used!

Rainfall

Amount Distribution

WaterWater

Lakes slow the flow of water

Lake water quality reflects the history of the water

• Particulate matter

• Soluble materials

Residence Time:Residence Time: Amount of time water spends in the lake between inflow and outflow

< 10 days algae flushed out

10-100 days nutrients collect, algae use nutrients and multiply

>100 days amount of algae limited by amount of nutrients

Accumulation

Nutrients Sediment Organic Material

Eutrophication

Time

Particulates

Runoff from storms sediments organic matter

Discharge to waterways…nutrients, pesticides,

adsorbed to above

Bacterial contamination

Airborne particulates dust pollen

Soluble MaterialsSoluble Materials

Dissolved plant nutrients, particularly P and N

Agricultural crops Lawn and garden fertilizers

Wastewater discharges

Stages of Lake Aging

Oligotrophy• Clear Water• Nutrient Poor• Sandy or rocky bottom• Inorganic sediments

Mesotrophy• Average nutrient levels• Some organic sediments

Eutrophy• Nutrient Rich• Algal blooms or dense aquatic plant growth• Basin filling with organic sediments

A Delicate Balance

Woonasquatucket Lakes

• Georgiaville Pond

• Hawkins Reservoir

• Slack’s Reservoir

• Waterman Lake

• Woonasquatucket Res. – Stump Pond

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101

RANK OF LAKES BY MULTI-YEARPHOSPHORUS TROPHIC STATUS

Hypereutrophic: excessive productivity

Eutrophic: high level of nutrients and biological productivity

Mesotrophic: moderate levels of nutrients and productivity

Oligotrophic: low in nutrients and algaeSlack's

StumpWaterm'n

Geo'vl

Hawkins

Bacteria Results

Fecal Coliform Maxima, upper Woonasquatucket Lakes, 1993-2005

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Georgiaville 3 26 8 7 5 19 48 9 3 20 13 38 973Hawkins 9 32 17 303Slacks 4 8 1160 28 194 960 41 124 160 108 64 92Woon-Stump 4 13 11 20 50 4 2 6 21 7 31 344 46Waterman 4 8 11 15 19 11 4 10 2 6 4 136 192

Maximum fecal coliform in each year, typically 3 samples per monitoring season. Recreational contact levels are 200 fc/100 ml water.Typically the maximum occurs during/after rainfall events.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Eutrophic - Low water clarity

Mesotrophic - Moderate water clarity

Oligotrophic - Excellent water clarity

Secchi DepthDepth (m)

0

2

4

6

8

10

1219

90

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Eutrophic - Elevated algae levels

Mesotrophic - Moderate algae levels

Oligotrophic - Low algae levels

Chlorophyll Levelsppb

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Eutrophic - Elevated nutrient levels

Mesotrophic - Moderate nutrient levels

Oligotrophic - Low nutrient levels

Total Phosphorus Levelsppb

Georgiaville Pond

Georgiaville Pond

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

Apr

-90

Jun-

90

Aug

-90

Sep

-90

May

-91

Jul-9

1

Sep

-91

Nov

-91

Jun-

92

Aug

-92

Oct

-92

May

-93

Jul-9

3

Oct

-93

May

-94

Jul-9

4

Sep

-94

Jun-

95

Aug

-95

Jul-9

6

May

-97

Aug

-97

Jul-9

8

Jun-

99

Oct

-99

Jul-0

0

May

-01

Aug

-01

May

-02

Jul-0

2

Jun-

03

Sep

-03

Jul-0

4

Jun-

05

Bottom Depth (m)

Georgiaville Pond Water Clarity 1990-2005(measured by Secchi Depth Transparency)

Very Clear

Moderate Clarity

Poor Clarity

Top

actual bottom depth

Dissolved Oxygen

Necessary for fish and aquatic animals

Prevents re-suspension of trapped nutrients

Content controlled by water temperature and sediment biomass

Lake Stratification

Dissolved Oxygen

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

4/17 5/6 5/28 6/18 7/11 8/1 8/27 9/17 10/8 10/29

Barber Pond

Wash Pond

DISSOLVED OXYGEN at 5 METERS

mg/l

Georgiaville Dissolved OxygenAll Years

0

2

4

6

8

10

12 1990

19911992

1994

19951996

1997

1998

19992001

2003

20042005

Georgiaville Dissolved OxygenBest - Worst - Now

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

10-M

ay

19-M

ay

25-M

ay

1-Ju

n

7-Ju

n

15-J

un

21-J

un

29-J

un

6-Ju

l

12-J

ul

20-J

ul

25-J

ul

2-Au

g

10-A

ug

18-A

ug

27-A

ug

31-A

ug

7-Se

p

14-S

ep

19-S

ep

28-S

ep

5-O

ct

10-O

ct

19-O

ct

25-O

ct

14-A

ug

1990

1996

2005

Alternate Shallow Lake Stable States

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005




Algae Levels(Chlorophyll)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005



Total Phosphorus Levels

Eutrophic - High nutrient levels

Depth (m)

ppb

ppb

Hawkins Pond

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

May

-02

Jun-

02

Jun-

02

Jul-0

2

Aug

-02

Sep

-02

Oct

-02

May

-03

Jun-

03

Jul-0

3

Aug

-03

Sep

-03

Apr

-04

May

-04

Jun-

04

Jul-0

4

Aug

-04

Sep

-04

May

-05

May

-05

Jul-0

5

Aug

-05

Sep

-05

Hawkins Pond Water Clarity 2002-2005(measured by Secchi Depth Transparency)

Depth (m)

Top

actual pond bottom depth

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Apr

-02

Jun-

02

Aug

-02

Oct

-02

Dec

-02

Feb

-03

Apr

-03

Jun-

03

Aug

-03

Oct

-03

Dec

-03

Feb

-04

Apr

-04

Jun-

04

Aug

-04

Sep

-04

Nov

-04

Jan-

05

Mar

-05

May

-05

Jul-0

5

Sep

-05

Nov

-05

Hawkins Multi-year Algae Levels(Chlorophyll)

ppb




Slack’s Reservoir0

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Eutrophic - Low water clarity

Secchi DepthDepth (m)

Mesotrophic - Moderate water clarity

Oligotrophic - Excellent water clarity

0

2

4

6

8

10

1219

90

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005





ppb

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005





Slack’s Reservoir

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Apr-9

1

Jun-

91

Aug-

91

Oct

-91

May

-92

Aug-

92

Oct

-92

Jun-

94

Oct

-94

Sep-

95

Jun-

96

Aug-

96

Oct

-96

Jun-

97

Aug-

97

Oct

-97

Jun-

98

Aug-

98

Oct

-98

Jun-

99

Aug-

99

Oct

-99

Jun-

00

Aug-

00

Oct

-00

Jul-0

1

Sep-

01

May

-02

Jul-0

2

Sep-

02

May

-03

Jul-0

3

Sep-

03

Jun-

04

Aug-

04

Slack's Reservoir Water Clarity 1991-2004 (measured by Secchi Depth Transparency)

Depth (m)

Top

actual bottom depth

Waterman Lake0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Water Clarity(Secchi Depth)

Depth

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1419

90

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005





ppb

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005





Waterman Lake

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

May

-91

Jul-9

1O

ct-9

1

Jun-

92Au

g-92

Nov-

92Ju

l-93

Oct

-93

Jun-

94Se

p-94

Apr-9

5

Jul-9

5Se

p-95

May

-96

Aug-

96O

ct-9

6Ju

l-97

Sep-

97

Jun-

98Au

g-98

May

-99

Jul-9

9O

ct-9

9Ju

l-00

Sep-

00

Jun-

01Se

p-01

May

-02

Aug-

02O

ct-0

2Ju

l-03

Sep-

03Ju

l-04

Sep-

04Ju

n-05

Oct

-05

Waterman Lake Water Clarity 1991-2005(measured by Secchi Depth Transparency)

Depth (m)

Top

Actual bottom depth

Stump Pond (Woon. Res.)0

1

2

3

4

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Water Clarity(Secchi Depth)Depth (m)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005





ppb

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005





Stump Pond

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

May

-91

Jul-9

1

Sep

-91

May

-92

Aug

-92

Oct

-92

May

-94

Aug

-94

Oct

-94

Jun-

95

Aug

-95

May

-95

Jun-

96

Aug

-96

Oct

-96

Jun-

97

Aug

-97

May

-98

Sep

-98

May

-99

Jul-9

9

Sep

-99

Jun-

00

Aug

-00

Oct

-00

Jul-0

1

Sep

-01

Jun-

02

Aug

-02

May

-03

Jul-0

3

Sep

-03

Jul-0

4

Oct

-04

Jul-0

5

Sep

-05

Woonasquatucket Reservoir-Stump Pond Water Clarity 1991-2005 (measured by Secchi Depth Transparency)

Max. Depth (m)

Top

actual bottom depth

The bottom line…

• All the data is invaluable

• The data point to water quality as stable or slightly improving

• This is GREAT NEWS!

Thank You!

Long-Term Volunteer Lake Monitoring in the Upper Woonasquatucket Watershed Linda Green URI Watershed...

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