Slide 1

Lake Wee-Ma-Tuk Water Quality: Moving Forward1Goals:

FishingSport fish are sight feeders

Recreation/Swimming

Aesthetics

Home Values

Getting Started:

Previous water quality dataCounty Health Department

Additional water quality information?

Previous lake use and inputs?

For a given target area, we have:Inputs: Addition of energy, water, sediment, chemical substances, and organisms from the watershedCattle manure, septic, lawn herbicides and pesticides, sediments, agriculture, other chemicalsMany factors determine the movement of nutrients and sediments within most landscapesVegetative cover throughout watershed (trees/plants at lake edge)Soil typeSlope length/angleFrequency/intensity of rainfallOutputs: Export of material to downstream, to the sediment or to the atmosphereInternal Physical: Erosion, settling, lateral transport, thermal gradient, light penetrationInternal Chemical: Oxygen and pH fluctuation, transformation of compoundsInternal Biological: Contaminant uptake, growth, death, ecological interactionsPhosphorus:

The most important nutrient in lakes

Also the middle number on a fertilizer bag (should be 0)

Note Scotts fertilizer has just announced that it will remove phosphorus from residential market fertilizers..lawns dont need it and lake certainly dont need it.

Too much phosphorus grows algae which leads to:

potentially toxic blooms

- rapid sedimentation

- taste and odor problems

- depletion of dissolved oxygen

- fish kills- decline in property values

Easier to keep it out initially, than take it out later!

History of Lake Wee-Ma-Tuk may mean:Existing sediment from loadings in the past that may release nutrients over time

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia ExampleNutrients=Algae=Plankton=Zooplankton=Bacteria=Low Dissolved Oxygen

2010 Phosphorus Experiment

Solutions:Soil stabilization and buffer stripsUse of native prairie and wetland plantsRid yourselves of the non-natives and invasives that dont help the situationDifference in root structures for soil stabilization and nutrient uptakeAesthetics!Home Valueswere talking money here! (Maine found a 20% drop in property values if lakes bloomed)Recreational use and healthFishingSwimmingWildlifeGoose deterrent

Solutions:If you have major algae blooms and loading, you may need:Watershed actions (first)First- watershed reductions in loads related to development, land-use, fertilization, impervious surfaces. Infiltrate rather than runoff In-lake actions, if needed (once watershed is under control)(include dredging, aeration, circulation, biomanipulation)P inactivation through use of chemicals

Anti-fertilizer treatment coagulates and binds phosphorus and many other contaminants changes internal processes

Most often applies aluminum compounds to lakes with strong internal recycling

Living Wallswww.pizzo.info

Savannah Planting

Lessons Learned:

Have clearly stated goals (once you know the issues)

Involve all essential parties (and maybe the non-essential ones too) as early as possible in the planning stageHomeownersGovernment (local and state, as needed)NRCSIllinois Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program

Recognize the boundaries of the target area, but also consider the influences from outside that areaFocus on what you can control first, then talk to others outside

Think in terms of altering processes to reach desired ends, not just altering some feature at some instant in time

Evaluate expected results in terms of conditions over a decade to a century and consider adaptive management

Assess costs based on long term enhancement or maintenance Illinois Volunteer Lake Management Program (IVLMP)

Educational program and cost-effective method of gathering information on lake health and management

Funds from federal Clean Water Act and Conservation 2000 Program to achieve the following objectives:Increase citizen knowledge and awareness of the factors that affect lake quality so they can understand the lake/watershed/ecosystem and make informed decisions.Encourage development and implementation of sound lake protection and management plans.Provide historic data to help document water quality impacts and support lake management decision-making.Provide a guide for the implementation of lake protection/restoration and a framework for technical assistance for cooperative lake and watershed management projects.

http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/conservation/vlmp/online-lake-database.html

Greg Ratliff, State Coordinator: 217-782-3362

Illinois Volunteer Lake Management Program (IVLMP)

Basic Monitoring (Year One)Secchi disk to determine water clarityThree site monitored, two times per month from May through October (1 hours each event approximately)Field observations including:Water colorAmount of vegetation

Expanded Monitoring (must qualify for this through consistent data input)Monthly water samplesAnalyzed for:AmmoniaNitratesTotal phosphorusTotal suspended solidsVolatile suspended solidsSamples shipped to IEPAs Champaign lab FREE OF CHARGE

Thank You!!!

Environmental Consulting:Shae Birkey AECOM Environment(217) 369-0314slbirk@gmail.com

Native Plant Nursery and Contractors:Pizzo and Associateswww.pizzo.info(815) 495-2300