Aquatic Macrophyte Survey with Remediation Suggestions for Best
Hills RanchBrad Kalb
Tyson FehringerMarie Pengilly Kristen Pilcher
Montana SkovlinJohn SchiselTim Barbier
Estimate amount of aquatic vegetation in the lake
Estimate phosphorus in the lake Estimate phosphorus stored in the plants Explore options for remediation
◦ Cost efficient◦ Reduce aquatic vegetation
Objectives
Aquatic vegetation ◦Collected from 14 areas◦Macrophyte sampler◦Dried in oven for 48 hours◦Weighed◦Analyzed for phosphorus
Methods
Aquatic vegetation
◦~2,700 kg (~6,000 lbs) dry mass for entire lake
◦~93 kg (~205lbs) phosphorus in the plants
Results
Estimated 659 kilograms (~1,500 lbs) total phosphorus in sediment
Plants are storing large amounts of phosphorus
Summer pump is only adding 23 grams (0.05 lbs)
Most of the phosphorus most be coming from runoff
Discussion
Physical removal◦Harvest in a striped pattern ◦Raking and hand pulling◦Harvest when growth is at its highest◦160 hours of work◦~$2,000 annually
Remediation
Use strips to keep the sediment down and the water clear
Removing plants could cause an algae bloom
Use chemicals to keep algae down
Remedation
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