Limnology, Primary Production, and Zooplankton in Lake Roosevelt, Washington
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Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program, Part B Limnology, Primary Production, and Zooplankton in Lake Roosevelt, Washington Annual Report 1998 November 2002 DOE/BP-32148-5 This Document should be cited as follows: Shields, John, Jim Spotts, Keith Underwood, Deanne Pavlik, "Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program, Part B; Limnology, Primary Production, and Zooplankton in Lake Roosevelt, Washington", 1998 Annual Report, Project No. 199404300, 95 electronic pages, (BPA Report DOE/BP-32148-5) Bonneville Power Administration P.O. Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208 This report was funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), U.S. Department of Energy, as part of BPA's program to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife affected by the development and operation of hydroelectric facilities on the Columbia River and its tributaries. The views in this report are the author's and do not necessarily represent the views of BPA. 1998 ANNUAL REPORT, PART B. LAKE ROOSEVELT FISHERIES EVALUATION PROGRAM LIMNOLOGY, PRIMARY PRODUCTION, AND ZOOPLANKTON IN LAKE ROOSEVELT, WASHINGTON. Prepared by: John P. Shields Jim V. Spotts Keith Underwood and Deanne Pavlik Department of Natural Resources Spokane Tribe of Indians Wellpinit, WA 99040 Prepared for: Charlie Craig, Project Manager U.S. Department of Energy Bonneville Power Administration Division of Fish and Wildlife Portland, OR 97208-3621 Current Contract Number 00005756 Current Project Number 1994-043-00 Original 1998 Contract Number 94BI32148 Original 1998 Project Number 94-043 November 2002 DISCLAIMER The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bonneville Power Administration and the Northwest Power Planning Council, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program, and/or the Federal Government. This report contains preliminary data and conclusions that may be subject to change. This report may be cited in publications, but the manuscript status (Annual Report)) must be noted. Suggested citation: Shields, J.P., J.V. Spotts, K.D. Underwood, and D.E. Pavlik. 2002. Annual Report 1998, Part B Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program. Limnology, Primary Production, and Zooplankton in Lake Roosevelt, Washington. Spokane Tribe of Indians, Department of Natural Resources. Prepared for the Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Portland, OR. Project Number 1994- 043-00. II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program is the result of a merger between two projects, the Lake Roosevelt Monitoring Program (BPA No. 8806300) and the Lake Roosevelt Data Collection Project (BPA No. 9404300). These projects were merged in 1996 to continue work historically completed under the separate projects, and is now referred to as the Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program. The 1998 Annual Report, Part B. Limnology, Primary Production, and Zooplankton in Lake Roosevelt, Washington examined the limnology, primary production, and zooplankton at eleven locations throughout the reservoir. The 1998 research protocol required a continuation of the more complete examination of limnological parameters in Lake Roosevelt that began in 1997. Phytoplankton and periphyton speciation, phytoplankton and periphyton chlorophyll a analysis, complete zooplankton biomass analysis by taxonomic group, and an increased number of limnologic parameters (TDG, TDS, etc.) were examined and compared with 1997 results. Total dissolved gas levels were greatly reduced in 1998, compared with 1997, likely resulting from the relatively normal water year experienced in 1998. Mean water temperatures were similar to what was observed in past years, with a maximum of 22.7 °C and a minimum of 2.6 °C. Oxygen concentrations were also relatively normal, with a maximum of 16.6 mg/L, and a minimum of 0.9 mg/L. Phytoplankton in Lake Roosevelt was primarily composed of microplankton (29.6 %), Cryptophyceae (21.7 %), and Bacillriophyceae (17.0 %). Mean total phytoplankton chlorophyll a maximum concentration occurred in May (3.53 mg/m3), and the minimum in January (0.39 mg/m3). Phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations appear to be influenced by hydro-operations and temperature. Trophic status as indicated by phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations place Lake Roosevelt in the oligo- mesotrophic range. Periphyton colonization rates and biovolume were significantly III greater at a depth of 1.5 m (5 ft) when compared with a 4.6 m (15 ft) depth, and during the shorter incubation periods (two and four weeks). Mean zooplankton densities were greatest for Copepoda (88 %), then Daphnia spp. (10 %) and other Cladocera (2.1 %), while the zooplankton biomass assessment indicated Daphnia spp. had the greatest biomass (53.6 %), then Copepoda (44.0 %) and other Cladocera (2.5 %). Mean overall zooplankton densities were the lowest observed since 1991. The cause was unclear, but may have been an artifact of human error. It seems unlikely that hydro-operations played a significant part in the reduction of zooplankton in light of the relatively friendly water year of 1998. IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Allan Scholz and Dr. Ross Black (Eastern Washington University), and Casey Baldwin (WDFW) for advice and scientific input on this project. We thank Hank Etue, Randy Peone, Andy Moss, and Joni Wynecoop for collection of limnological, primary production, and zooplankton data. We also thank Rudy Peone, Tim Peone, Mary Verner, Chuck Lee, and Ben Scofield (Spokane Tribe of Indians), John Whalen, and Mitch Combs (WDFW), Jerry Marco, Kirk Truscott, Monty Miller, and Richard LeCaire (Colville Confederated Tribes), for counsel, advise and support in all areas. We recognize the National Park Service (USDI), for graciously providing camping at no cost to the project. Thanks also goes to Charlie Craig (BPA, Division of Fish and Wildlife), who served as BPA project manager. This project was supported by a contract from the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Contract No.94BI32148 and Project No. 94-043. Additional financial support for this project was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT; Grant No. P12614208001). V TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………III ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………………………………………………….…..V TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………...VI LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………VII LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………IX Table of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................1 1.1 Project and Data Collection History ..........................................................1 1.2 Description of Study Area .........................................................................3 1.3 1998 Study Objectives ...............................................................................5 2.0 Materials and Methods .................................................................................7 2.1 Reservoir Operations ................................................................................7 2.2 Reservoir Water Quality ...........................................................................7 2.3 Primary Production ...................................................................................8 2.4 Zooplankton ..............................................................................................9 3.0 Results and Discussion ................................................................................13 3.1 Reservoir Operations and Hydrology .....................................................13 3.2 Water Quality..........................................................................................19 3.2.1 Total Dissolved Gas....................................................................19 3.2.2 Additional Limnological Parameters ..........................................23 3.3 Primary Production .................................................................................25 3.3.1 Phytoplankton Chlorophyll a......................................................25 3.3.2 Periphyton...................................................................................29 3.3.3 Phytoplankton .............................................................................34 3.4 Zooplankton Density and Length Analysis.............................................39 3.4.1 Species Identified........................................................................39 3.4.2 Overall Pelagic Zooplankton Densities ......................................41 3.4.3 Zooplankton Lengths ..................................................................51 3.5 Zooplankton Biomass ............................................................................59 3.5.1 Overall Pelagic Zooplankton Biomass........................................59 3.5.2 Daphnia Biomass........................................................................65 3.5.3 Copepoda Biomass......................................................................72 3.5.4 Other Cladocera Biomass ...........................................................76 4.0 Recommendations and Research Needs................................................79 5.0 Literature Cited............................................................................................80