EPA CommentaryAmina Pollard

The National Assessment: The Results Are In

Introduction oxygen and algal density; biological Findings he U.S. Environmental Protection indicators such as phytoplankton and The NLA finds that 56 percent of the Agency (EPA) recently released ; recreational­ indicators nation’s lakes support healthy biological its most comprehensive study such as algal toxins and pathogens; communities when compared to least of the nation’s lakes to date (see and physical habitat indicators such as dis­turbed (e.g., reference) sites. Twenty- www.epa.gov/lakessurveT y). The study, lakeshore and shallow water habitat cover. one percent of lakes are in fair biological which finds that the health of shore NLA results are reported for the condition, and 22 percent are in poor habitats is strongly associated with the continental U.S. and for nine ecoregions condition (Figure 1). overall biological condition of lakes, based on landform and climate The study shows that poor habitat marks the first time EPA and its state characteristics. In addition, nine states condition along the lakeshore (found in and tribal partners used a nationally participating in the NLA assessed lake 36 percent of lakes) is the most significant consistent, statistically based approach to condition at the state-scale by sampling stressor in lakes. In fact, the study finds survey the ecological and water quality of additional random sites within their that poor biological health is three times U.S. lakes. boundaries. more likely in lakes with poor lakeshore The National Lakes Assessment (NLA) is the latest in a series of surveys of the nation’s aquatic resources being conducted by EPA and its state and tribal partners. The NLA provides unbiased estimates of the condition of natural and man-made freshwater lakes, , and greater than ten acres and at least one meter deep. Using a statistical survey design, EPA selected lakes at random to represent the condition of lakes across the 48 contiguous states. A total of 1,028 lakes were sampled for the NLA during summer 2007, representing the condition of about 50,000 lakes nationwide, not including the Great Lakes and Great Salt Lake. Field crews collected samples using the same methods at all lakes to ensure that results could be compared across the country. At each lake, crews collected samples (primarily water quality indicators) at a single station located at the deepest point in the lake and at ten stations around the lake perimeter (primarily physical habitat and biological indicators). Researchers analyzed 680,000 data points, including measures of water quality such as nutrients, dissolved Figure 1. Summary of biological conditions in the nation’s lakes

Summer 2010 / LAKELINE 43 habitat than in lakes with good habitat. based on chlorophyll-a concentrations. on the NLA Web site (www.epa.gov/ Removing natural shoreline vegetation The study found that 13 percent of lakessurvey) when they are completed. and constructing docks, marinas, homes, lakes are oligotrophic, 37 percent are and other structures along shorelines mesotrophic, 30 percent are eutrophic, Implications contribute to degraded lakeshore habitat. and 20 percent are hypereutrophic. The The NLA results allow EPA and High levels of the nutrients nitrogen results suggest that natural lakes tend its state and tribal partners to begin and are found in 20 percent toward mesotrophic conditions and man- answering important national questions of lakes. Excess nutrients entering the made lakes toward eutrophic conditions. about the condition of the country’s lakes. lakes from a variety of point and nonpoint The NLA findings suggest that, for at The survey results establish a national sources contribute to algae blooms, weed least a subset of lakes, water quality has base­line status for future monitoring growth, reduced water clarity and other improved since the 1970s. The NLA re- efforts that can be used to track trends in lake problems. Poor biological health is sampled a subset of wastewater-impacted lake condition. Successive surveys will 2.5 times more likely in lakes with high lakes that had been studied 35 years ago help determine how lake condition is nutrient levels (Figure 2). under the National Survey changing over time. Planning is already The NLA included the first national- (NES); the comparison indicates that beginning for the NLA II; sampling will scale assessment of algal toxins in lakes. phosphorus levels dropped in nearly 50 take place in 2012. Researchers observed microcystin – a percent of the 800 NES lakes. Trophic In the meantime, in the face of toxin that can harm humans, pets, and status improved in about 25 percent incredible development pressures wildlife – in 30 percent of lakes, and of those lakes. These data suggest that around lakes, the NLA findings suggest at levels of concern in one percent the nation’s investments in wastewater that our lakes are vulnerable to human of lakes. Microcystin samples were treatment and other pollution control disturbance, especially along the lake­ collected at mid-lake, in open water; activities are having an effect despite shore. Local, state, and national initiatives however, concentrations may be greater in increased population pressures. should center on protecting shoreline nearshore areas. Therefore, NLA results The NLA also collected samples habitats, in particular, maintaining natural may underestimate recreational exposure for several indicators of lake condition vegetative cover and wisely managing when accumulations or algae scums are that are still being analyzed: benthic lakeshore development. Furthermore, present. In planning for the next lake macroinvertebrates; Enterococci since the NLA identified nutrient pollution survey, consideration will be given to bacteria, which serve as an indicator as the second-leading lake stressor, lessons learned from the microsytin for the presence of more dangerous watershed stakeholders should continue sampling and analysis. pathogens; mercury in sediments; and to press for successful, innovative ways The overall trophic state of lakes in invasive aquatic species. The results of to control point and nonpoint sources the U.S. was characterized in the NLA these analyses will be made available of nutrient pollution­ throughout lake watersheds. To learn more about the NLA, download the archived version of “National Lakes Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Lakes,” a two-hour Watershed Academy Webcast presented on Jan. 5, 2010. See www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts. The NLA is available at www.epa. gov/lakessurvey. Data from the NLA are also available on this survey Web site. Hard copies of the NLA (publication number EPA 841-R-09-001) may be ordered from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications at 1-800- 490-9198. To learn more about EPA’s National Aquatic Resource Survey program, visit www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys.

Amina Pollard is the EPA Team Lead for the National Lakes Assessment. x

Figure 2. Lake stressors and their effect on biological condition.

44 Summer 2010 / LAKELINE