Watershed Management

A publication of the North American Lake Management Society

LAKELINEVolume 36, No. 3 • Fall 2016

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ake ine Contents L L Published quarterly by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) as a medium for exchange and communication among all those Volume 36, No. 3 / Fall 2016 interested in lake management. Points of view expressed and products advertised herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of 2 From the Editor / To the Editor NALMS or its Affiliates. Mention of trade names and commercial products shall not constitute 3 From the President an endorsement of their use. All rights reserved. Standard postage is paid at Bloomington, IN and additional mailing offices. Watershed Management NALMS Officers President 5 BMPs for Protecting or Restoring Phosphorus-Impaired Lakes Julie Chambers Immediate Past-President 10 Sebago Lake, Maine, and the Water Quality Index Reed Green 19 Engaging Individuals to Make Big Changes in the Upper President-Elect Tippecanoe R. Watershed Frank Wilhelm Secretary 25 Solving Water Quality Problems via Voluntary, Incentive- Sara Peel Based Programs Treasurer Michael Perry 30 Grassroots Conservation in Turkey Creek, LA NALMS Regional Directors Region 1 Wendy Gendron 34 Climate Variability Influences Cyanobacteria in Region 2 Kiyoko Yokota Shallow Florida Lakes Region 3 Nicki Bellezza Region 4 Diane Lauritsen Region 5 Melissa Clark 39 Affiliate News Region 6 Brad Hufhines Region 7 George Antoniou 40 Student Corner Region 8 Mike Eytel Region 9 Todd Tietjen 44 Literature Search Region 10 Shannon Brattebo Region 11 Anna DeSellas Region 12 John-Mark Davies At-Large Vacant Student At-Large Ted Harris

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Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 1 From Bill Jones the Editor

LakeLine encourages letters to the editor. t seemed fitting to me that we should Success Stories” can be accessed online Do you have a lake-related question? Or, follow up our summer LakeLine that at: https://www.epa.gov/polluted-runoff- have you read something in LakeLine Ifeatured “Shoreline Management” with nonpoint-source-pollution/nonpoint- that stimulates your interest? We’d love the theme of this fall source-success-stories. We present two to hear from you via e-mail, telephone, or issue – “Watershed of these non-phosphorus success stories Management.” postal letter. here. Watershed Pond Creek, in north central management, of divide the watershed into subwatersheds, Oklahoma is probably typical of many course, encompasses evaluate and rank each subwatershed, and creeks in the Central Plains area. the lake, its assess the relative importance of each to Oklahoma’s 303(d) list showed it shoreline, and the the water quality of Sebago Lake. Their impaired for E. coli and it also suffers land area that drains comprehensive approach will inspire high turbidity and low dissolved oxygen. into it. Admittedly this makes for a very you. Those managing Lake Tippecanoe Shannon Phillips and her colleagues at broad theme and, to narrow it down a bit, in rural, northern Indiana had a similar the Oklahoma Conservation Commission we will focus on land or drainage areas situation – large lake, large watershed, and their partners with the Oklahoma outside of the immediate lake vicinity in and many upstream lakes and streams Conservation Partnership worked this issue. contributing to the lake’s water quality with landowners to save their precious When we think about lake decline. Sara Peel and Lyn Crighton topsoil and, in turn, improve water management and watershed management, tell us a story about what committed, quality in Pond Creek so that it now the focus is often nutrient, especially enlightened, informed, and persistent meets all assessed beneficial uses. In phosphorus, management. But partners can accomplish when led by Louisiana, Turkey Creek, in a largely watershed management is much more enthusiastic, science-based leaders. agricultural watershed wasn’t fully than phosphorus control. Watershed Over the past 18 years, more than 300 supporting the water quality standard management plans have been developed individual water quality improvement for contact recreation use nor for to manage problems associated with projects have been identified with 100 designated use of fish and wildlife due E. coli, sediments, toxins, temperature, implemented throughout Lake Tippe’s to high total dissolved solids and fecal low dissolved oxygen, and many other watershed. coliform bacteria. With a federal-state- pollutants. We’ll address several of these Through the Section 319 Nonpoint local partnership delivering targeted in this issue of LakeLine. Source program, USEPA has funded conservation technical and financial We lead off this exploration of projects on many primarily nonpoint assistance, Turkey Creek now meets water watershed management with Dick source-impaired waterbodies where quality goals. Theron Phillips, Michael Osgood, who, as many know, has strong restoration efforts have led to documented opinions about what works and doesn’t water quality improvements. These “NPS (from the Editor, continued on p. 3 . . . ) work to restore phosphorus-impaired lakes. Lucky for us, Dick also has a wealth of experience in this area and in To the Editor: his article, he describes three watershed The last issue of LakeLine focusing on shoreline management was one of the best in a long time. management cases having varying Kudos to the editor and authors for providing a compelling case for shoreline management. I offer degrees of success and effort. Sebago one critique: It seems that in the majority of cases, shoreline management is heavily subsidized. Lake is a huge, deep lake that is the I understand why this is important, especially when trying to engender a new ethic, however, it would be useful to get an idea of the costs involved. Also useful would be the development of source of drinking water for one-sixth of metrics to better document and demonstrate the benefits of sound shoreline management. As Maine’s population. With a 450-square- this is a developing field, NALMS (and others) should encourage research and the adoption of this mile watershed, where do you begin to new ethic. protect it? If you are Paul Thomas Hunt, Kate McDonald, and Kirsten Ness, you Dick Osgood, CLM

2 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE From Julie Chambers the President

ow, this yearPhosphorus has flown by! recycling When and between Membership, aquatic the progress sediment never and lake water I started my term as President slowed and we kept charging on. (from the Editor, continued from p. 2 . . . ) Wlast November, I told my family At the first of the year we submitted Schooler, and Faran Dietz describe the and friends that this comments as part of the White House successful process. would likely be the Water Summit, two of which were NALMS and LakeLine have been fastest year of my accepted! With this we beefed up our focused on problems associated with life. It has proven presence on social media and put out press cyanobacteria for many years. So when to be just that and releases to share on the large stage what Karl Havens sent me an article written I can’t believe that NALMS is working on. Both standing with co-authors Mark Hoyer, Edward I’m writing the final and ad hoc committees have been busy Phlips, and Akaepot Srifa describing LakeLine article of this year, from updating outdated policies their research on how climate variability my term. This year and procedures to developing ideas for influences cyanobacteria blooms in three has been both exciting and busy. Now that a student “how to” video series and large nutrient-rich Florida lakes, I had to my term at the helm is quickly coming streamlining the CLM/CLP application publish it. They make a compelling, well- to an end, I thought it would be a good process. Another big accomplishment this documented case. time to share some of the highlights of the year has been the submittal of information In our “Student Corner,” Edward things we were able to accomplish. for the 501(c)3 status to the IRS. This Kwietniewski writes about his Master’s Many of the Past Presidents were able is one of the many steps to finalize our work on New York’s Rushford Lake. The to join us at last year’s annual meeting incorporation in Wisconsin. lake association has used an extreme fall in Saratoga. As the incoming officer, I As I look back over the year I am drawdown to enhance flows to downstream found this to be a great opportunity to not so pleased to have had the honor to hydroelectric dams and to prevent winter only meet some folks I hadn’t met before, serve as NALMS’ President. It’s truly damage to the dam. However, brittle naiad but to listen and gain insight from their amazing how much work goes on behind has gained a foothold in the lake as a experiences. Some of which, I was able to the scenes, and I was fortunate to have a result and control of this exotic is the focus employ over the course of the year. group of Directors and staff that willingly of Edward’s research. “Get Busy with NALMS” was a dedicated countless hours to Get Busy This issue is the last time we hear theme that we carried throughout the with NALMS and move the organization from Julie Chambers as NALMS course of the year, from committees to the forward. Over the next few months, we President and you’ll discover that she has Board. One thing that was very important will roll out a new communications plan, had a busy and productive year in office. to me for my term was to keep NALMS better engage with our members and We asked our NALMS Affiliates how they moving forward. One of the first items neighbors to the north, and welcome new celebrated Lakes Appreciation Month tackled was rounding out the committees directors and a new president. and we heard from just two: Indiana and and appointing chairs where needed, as Pennsylvania. We conclude this issue, as is the Lakes Monitoring well as identifying liaisons to the Board. Julie Chambers usual, with “Literature Search.” Coordinator for the Oklahoma Water Resources Once everyone was in place, committee I hope to see you all at the Annual Board. She has been a part of the Water Quality chairs were contacted with items that had Symposium in Banff! c been identified by the Board as activities division’s monitoring section since 1999. Julie that we would like to get started on. has been a member of the North American Lake Regular updates on action item progress Management Society (NALMS) for many years, was another way to keep things moving has served on various committees, and was forward at a good pace. previously the Region 6 Director. c While this year saw a good amount of transition, from welcoming a new Secchi Dip-In intern, to rolling out a new website and hiring a new Director of Marketing

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 3 4 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE Watershed Management

BMPs for Protecting or Restoring Phosphorus-Impaired Lakes Dick Osgood, Certified Lake Manager

atershed management for the problem, attacked the problem The DLC was formed in 1995 to restoring phosphorus (P)-impaired systematically and strategically, stuck “prevent pollution, protect and improve Wlakes using best management with a disciplined, long-term strategy, and water quality of the lake and surrounding practices (BMPs) has not panned out. told their story. environment and to prevent the intrusion Previously, I made the case that watershed Deer Lake today has markedly of pollutants into the lake.” management is “unlikely to work” for improved water quality as a result. The DLC got off on a strong mitigating eutrophication and “may work” According to the DLC, Deer Lake is foundation. They sought board members for preventing eutrophication (Osgood the first lake in Wisconsin to have been with specific talents and skills, such as 2015). Here, I present three case studies restored from eutrophic to mesotrophic. marketing, legal, accounting, and real illustrating a range of situations where Deer Lake in western Wisconsin is a estate. According to Jim Miller, “this was watershed management (a) has worked, popular destination for anglers and others. one of the two most important initial steps (b) has not worked sufficiently and (c) The 812-acre lake has a tributary area that we made.” The DLC also recognized has worked using enhanced technologies. that is predominantly agricultural, except its lacked scientific lake management Critical lessons learned from these cases for the seasonal and permanent homes on expertise and retained Harmony support guidelines for more effective lake its shore. The watershed is small – 6,800 Environmental. The DLC’s nonprofit management. acres, which is only eight times the lake’s status facilitated fundraising. The problem is this: Large-scale land surface area. By 1997, all the pieces were in place. clearing alterations in watersheds result Problems were first noted in the late The DLC developed a long-term strategy, in irreversible changes to their hydrology, 1960s with complaints about poor water identified its first project and raised leading to and sustaining eutrophic (or quality, notably algae blooms. Algae sufficient funds to start. P-impaired) lakes. Restoring eutrophic “spraying” (using copper sulfate) occurred This first project was key. Rather lakes requires substantial (>80 percent) throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The state than tackling the biggest project first, reductions in watershed P loading identified agricultural runoff as the biggest they selected a more manageable and (Uttormark 1979) or internal P loading threat to Deer Lake. achievable project – one that could be or both. If caught soon enough, lakes The Deer Lake Improvement done relatively quickly and with a high retain their resilience and eutrophication Association (DLIA) enrolled in likelihood for success. can be reversed (e.g., Deer Lake). If not, Wisconsin’s Volunteer Monitoring This project involved improving watershed management using passive Program in 1987. Awakened members a degraded ravine in a 145-acre controls, such as BMPs, are insufficient, then realized that something needed to be subwatershed. The DLC purchased a even after decades and millions of dollars done with polluted runoff. 17-acre easement and built a 600-foot (e.g., Yahara Lakes). In these cases, A large rainstorm in 1993 washed wing dam along the ravine to create a watershed management using chemical or huge amounts of sediment into the lake sedimentation basin. This project was engineering approaches can be effective along with hundreds of tires (22 trucks highly visible, mitigated a significant (e.g., Central Florida Lakes). full), which had been dumped upstream. source of P and sediments entering the With this undeniable signal, you might lake and set the stage for future work. Case Studies say, the DLIA became “tired” of this The DLC has completed 33 projects pollution. involving the control of 167 acres Deer Lake, Wisconsin Lake leaders, now motivated, (purchased) and 30 acres (easement). Tenacity, focus, resolve, doggedness: commissioned several studies to frame Projects include 12 sedimentation basins, These traits have paid off for Deer Lake. what actions were required to get a handle 3 control dams, 7 wetland restorations, The Deer Lake Conservancy on mitigating upstream pollution sources. 3 gravel pit restorations, 6 prairie (DLC) was fortunate that the Deer Lake They realized they needed to act. They restorations, and 1 creek restoration. watershed is small and manageable and also recognized the DLIA was not the Dozens of additional small projects, such that Deer Lake’s water quality had not yet right organization to effect the required as rain gardens, rock infiltration areas, and changed irreversibly. The DLC foresaw changes. native plantings were installed to capture

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 5 runoff from waterfront property. The total recently, water quality has improved in • The lake must have retained its expenditures have been about $1,200,000. accordance with modeling analysis. resilience. The DLC’s working principles According to Jim Miller of the DLC, • An effective lead organization is include: project visibility has been key to its required. • success. In Jim’s words: Seeking permanent solutions. • Nonprofit status facilitates • Acquiring property if possible, “As the DLC began, our focus was fundraising. acquiring easements otherwise. the installation of projects that would slow runoff and capture P, especially • Pollution sources must be identified • Aiming for 90 percent reductions in P from agricultural sources. The DLC and prioritized. from each project area. has tried to identify a parcel of land • Access to project sites is critical. • in each of the largest watersheds Educating the lakeshore residents and • Performance monitoring is required. others. draining into the lake, which would allow us to control P (and other • Conservation areas have changed the • Projects designed to high technical pollutants). use of surrounding land by replacing and engineering standards. row crops with uses that generate less “What has been accomplished with • Maintenance is planned and provided. runoff. this watershed protection program is • Monitoring is conducted to verify and the protection of arteries that feed this • Land values adjacent to conservation validate P reductions. lake. Without the ability to control areas increase. And, it has worked! the inflow from these watersheds, we • Achieving positive, observable P loads from the Deer Lake cannot control the water quality of the results takes time (decades). lake itself. What we have is unique watershed have been reduced by more • Achieving positive, observable than 50 percent and Deer Lake has among lakes in Wisconsin, we have secured for future generations the results takes money ($1.2 million in improved. this case). Although the DLC may not have fully ability to protect Deer Lake. • realized it at the time, Deer Lake was on “Projects tended to be at the upstream Achieving positive, observable the cusp of irreversible impairment. ends of the drainage ravines that results requires discipline. Lake monitoring in 1993 flowed into Deer Lake, and as such, Yahara Lakes, Madison, Wisconsin demonstrated that dissolved oxygen had not been cleared for agricultural had not become fully depleted below or residential development, therefore In a Nutshell the thermocline – an early indicator of making them somewhat difficult to The work in the Yahara watershed has problems. Hypolimnetic (near bottom) P access. To be able to bring the DLC taken many years, much money, highly concentrations were measured at 989 parts members and the Department of competent scientific leadership, and the per billion (ppb), another indicator that Natural Resources staff into these dedication of many people. This is one of internal P cycling had become initiated. locations to see the projects, we few cases where the community has stuck Modeling I have performed indicated developed a trail system. We did not to the effort and has not given up. that the lake’s surface P concentrations realize at the time that this largely Despite this, there has been no could be reduced from 28 ppb to 16 ppb educational function was also a progress toward the 50 percent P with a 50-percent reduction in P inputs. recreational opportunity. As many reduction goal. But, was it too late? lake residents, whose lots were one The latest program, begun in 2012, The DLIA has participated in WI acre or smaller, found they could appears to have realistically assessed the DNR Citizen’s Lake Monitoring since hike in a natural area instead of on scope and magnitude of the effort needed 1987, including P analysis since 1992. a county road. The project visibility – we will have to give it time to play out These results clearly show the lake has grew and resulted in a doubling of to see. The bottom line is that hardwired improved concomitant with the DLCs DLC membership.” hydrological changes to watersheds are project results. not easily or readily reversed. Project partners have included Years P* Clarity** Harmony Environmental, National Park History Service, Natural Resources Conservation Pre-Project (1992-1996) 22 ppb 10 feet The Yahara Chain of Lakes consists Service, United States Geological of Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, st 1 10 years (1997-2006) 20 ppb 10 feet Service, and the University of Wisconsin and Kegonsa. Lake Mendota is one of the Most recent (2007-2013) 16.5 ppb 20 feet Extension. most studied lakes in the world with the Lessons learned and best practices as * Surface total phosphorus, June-September, University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) averages demonstrated in this case study: campus being on the lake shoreline (great ** July-August, averages • The watershed must be small (

6 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE developed for agriculture. By the late- • The Yahara Lakes were originally • Lake Mendota Priority Watershed 1800s, the City of Madison began (pre-1800s) unimpaired. Project (1994-2008) – This program discharging sewage into Lake Monona • Land development (mostly had a clear goal to reduce P loading and the first notice of algae blooms agriculture) and sewage inputs by 50 percent. Final project reports occurred. increased P loading and polluted the (Genskow and Betz, 2012) enumerate Due to deteriorating conditions in lakes. many project accomplishments, but only Lake Monona, wastewater effluent was one that estimated a P load reduction – diverted into Waubesa in 1936, then • The community was well aware of an estimated reduction of 8,923 pounds finally downstream of the lakes in 1958. pollution impacts (algae blooms) in per year from reduced barnyard runoff. For Mendota, its deterioration started the early-1900s. The first treatments This represents about 12 percent of the by the mid-1940s with algae blooms (copper sulfate) of the lower three required overall reduction, but increases becoming “severe” by the 1960s (Lathrop lakes began in 1925. in P loading in other areas may have 2007). This deterioration was due to • Sewage was diverted from Monona offset this. The project invested $2.3 an increase in sewage pollution from first, then ultimately downstream of million spanning about ten years. upstream communities discharging to two the lakes by 1958. The lakes have of Mendota’s inflowing tributaries after remained impaired. • Yahara CLEAN Strategic Action Plan the end of WWII until the sewage was for P Reduction (plan adopted in 2012) – • Excess P loading is a result of diverted out of the lake in 1971. After A more focused, strategic approach with a agricultural and urban runoff, which WWII, the use of agricultural fertilizers lead organization assuming responsibility. is highly variable from year-to-year, also began to increase along with the The plan calls for a 50 percent reduction but has not shown any declining intensification of agriculture including in P loading to be implemented over 20 trends from 1976 through 2012. both milk production (i.e., more manure) years at an estimated cost of $128 million. and the growing of corn (more bare soil • The eutrophic condition of the While it is too soon to tell whether this subject to erosion). Yahara Lakes has also not shown any will prove effective, they appear to be off improving trends. to a slow start with on the ground projects and funding. The Clean Lakes Alliance’s Management • P loading to the Yahara Lakes is 2013 financial statements show they Management of the algae blooms excessive, about double what is have assets of about $1 million, but 85 (algae treatments), then their ultimate desirable. source, watershed P loading, has occurred percent of those are “promised” cash or in-kind services. Their 2013 expenditures during three sequential time periods: Scope and Magnitude of Watershed of about $1 million contained only 16 • Management Efforts Copper sulfate was used to treat percent for watershed programs (it is The Yahara Lakes’ quality is driven nuisance algae conditions from 1925 unclear whether these included on the primarily by external P loads (Lathrop until 1954 in the lower three lakes ground implementation actions). when they were receiving Madison’s and Carpenter 2013). This might be considered fortuitous because the lakes’ inadequately treated sewage effluents. Lessons Learned recovery would not be retarded by internal • Watershed management with state • For eutrophic lakes where external P P recycling. cost-share programs was first reductions can lead to recovery, even There have been three major implemented in the 1970s and 1980s enormous watershed management programmatic initiatives dating back to to control nonpoint pollution from efforts were not successful at the 1970s to reduce phosphorus inputs to agricultural and urban runoff. achieving the P reduction goals, the lakes, yet P loading and lake quality despite: • The “Lake Mendota Priority have not changed, despite considerable A strong, local organization Watershed Management Project” efforts to mitigate eutrophication (Lathrop o dedicated solely to the cause. was initiated in 1994 with watershed 2007). A detailed and credible strategic project implementation from 1998 It is instructive to review these o plan. through 2008. initiatives because they mirror the path o A long time. • “Yahara CLEAN Strategic Plan,” taken by many lake communities have o Faith. initiated through the “Clean Lakes attempted. • Alliance” was developed in 2012 The current watershed program is with a 20-year implementation phase • First program (1970s and 1980s) – A more realistic and ambitious, and will anticipated. loose affiliation of federal, state, and local require: programs encouraged BMPs through cost- o Ongoing monitoring and Status of the Yahara Lakes and share funding opportunities relying on maintenance to assure their benefits Phosphorus Loading voluntary implementation. A strategic plan are maintained and sustained. There is clear consensus and with goals and performance criteria was o Ongoing management and numerous scientific research publications lacking. administration will require an supporting these conclusions: active and sufficiently funded organization to persist.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 7 o Only time will tell if this will be implement and long term clogging and • Significant, sufficient P loading sufficient. maintenance was problematic. reductions are possible with chemical During the early 1990s, alum or engineering approaches, which Stormwater Management in Central stormwater treatment systems began to are often cheaper and quicker than Florida (Orlando) Lakes be installed on some of the more visible BMPs. (see also Harper 2013) urban lakes. These systems inject alum Summary The central Florida landscape is into the storm sewer lines on a flow- dotted with hundreds of lakes, which proportional basis, forming precipitates of Watershed management requires a aluminum Al(OH) and Al(PO ), which long-term, organized effort supported range in size from a few acres to more 3 4 than 30,000 acres. Central Florida has few bind with P, suspended solids (TSS), by good science; an active, effective natural streams or channels, and runoff metals, bacteria, and algae, and settles the organization and significant investments. discharges naturally to the nearest lake. pollutants into the bottom. The controls With luck, such as a small tributary area for the injection systems are contained in (< ten times the lake surface area) and Prior to 1960, most of central Florida was sparsely developed with agriculture – small buildings with underground piping the timely recognition of developing water quality in the central Florida lakes extending to each point of alum addition problems, eutrophication can be arrested was good during this period with many of and flow measurement. and reversed. When watersheds are larger the lakes used for potable water. The alum treatment systems or when runoff pollution overwhelms With the development of Walt Disney exhibit typical removal efficiencies of the lake, watershed management has not World, urbanization exploded in central 90 percent for total P, 95 percent for proven to be effective owing to the scope Florida. Residential, commercial, and TSS, 40-50 percent for total N, and 60- of the problem, the loss of resilience in the highway construction replaced much of 90 percent for metals. Due to the high lake, or (commonly) both. In these cases, the previous agricultural areas. The loss removal efficiencies and the minimal chemical or engineering workarounds of the citrus orchards was significant space requirements, alum treatment have been shown to be effective as well as because citrus is fertilized with nitrogen, systems have removal costs, which are cheaper and quicker. while the lakes tend to be P-limited. New substantially lower (20 to 200 times Our lake and watershed policies and development discharged runoff to the less per pound of P removed) than costs practices should be amended to recognize nearest lake. associated with wet or dry ponds. these shortcomings and take advantage Untreated urban runoff increased Alum stormwater treatment systems to implement innovative approaches that P loadings. Water quality deteriorated resulted in substantial improvements in have been demonstrated to work. rapidly with significant reductions in water quality in the treated lakes. water clarity and increased algal blooms. During the 1990s and early-2000s, Thanks to Cheryl Clemmens, Harmony The poorest water quality for most lakes Florida state agencies were focused on Environmental, Harvey Harper, occurred during the 1980s. treatment of external loadings to lakes Environmental Research & Design, Inc., Requirements for treating runoff and would only provide funding and Dick Lathrop, University of Wisconsin and from new developments in Florida TMDL credits for stormwater treatment Jim Miller, and Deer Lake Conservancy were implemented in 1982, and all projects. Internal nutrient recycling was for assisting with these cases. developments were required to construct not included in any TMDL reports and References either dry or wet treatment systems. Many allocations conducted at the time. This of the initial projects were pilot projects approach led to a gross overestimation Genskow, K. and C.R. Betz. 2012. or were undersized and did not result in of the impacts of runoff on water quality Farm Practices in the Lake Mendota significant water quality improvements. and a narrowly focused emphasis on Watershed: A Comparative Analysis Implementation of stormwater stormwater treatment. of 1996 and 2011. University of retrofit projects increased during the The emphasis on stormwater Wisconsin-Extension Environmental 1990s, particularly in urban residential treatment slowly changed during the mid- Resources Center for the Dane County areas. By this time, most of the available 2000s, and funding gradually became Land and Water Resources Department. watershed area had been developed, available for projects targeting internal Harper, H. 2013. Control of watershed particularly areas near the lake where recycling, but only after all external loadings using chemical treatment. stormwater treatment projects would be sources had been treated. Over the past LakeLine, 33:19-22. most beneficial. The lack of available few years, TMDL reports have begun to Lathrop, R.C. 2007. Perspectives on the space limited the ability to implement include loading estimates from internal eutrophication of the Yahara lakes. Lake stormwater treatment systems capable recycling. Grant funding can currently be Res Manage, 23:345-365. of providing sufficient water quality obtained for mitigating internal loadings, Lathrop, R.C. and S.R. Carpenter. 2013. improvements. but stormwater management projects still Water quality implications from three Construction of underground receive top priority. The most successful decades of phosphorus loads and exfiltration systems became popular water quality improvement projects have trophic dynamics in the Yahara chain of since these systems could be constructed resulted from providing treatment for both lakes. Inland Waters, 4: 1-14. beneath pavement areas. Unfortunately, external and internal loadings. Lessons learned and best practices as these systems were expensive to (OSGOOD, continued on p. 18 . . . ) demonstrated in this case study:

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Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 9 Watershed Management

Sebago Lake, Maine, and the Water Quality Index Paul Thomas Hunt, Kate McDonald, and Kirsten Ness

A Method for Subwatershed Prioritization

Introduction ebago Lake is the drinking water supply for the greater Portland Sregion of Maine. Approximately 200,000 people, one-sixth of Maine’s population, rely on Sebago Lake for drinking water that is treated and distributed by the Portland Water District (PWD). The lake is also an important recreational, residential, and economic resource for the region. It is surrounded by thousands of summer and year-round homes, supports important freshwater fisheries, is popular with boaters, provides the setting for dozens of boys and girls camps and campgrounds, and supports many valuable lake-oriented businesses. The lake is 30,000 acres in size, is over 300 feet deep at its deepest point, averages 100 feet in depth, and holds nearly one trillion gallons of water. With an average Secchi transparency reading of 10.6 meters in the Lower Bay of the lake since 1975, the water quality of Sebago Figure 1. Aerial image of Sebago Lake. Lake can be classified as outstanding and very stable. Because of this high water is more than 80 percent forested, 90 Maine Department of Environmental quality, in 1993 the PWD was granted a percent of the land is privately owned and Protection (DEP) partnered on a project waiver to the filtration requirements of the could be developed over time. Because to identify areas of the watershed where federal Safe Drinking Water Act, so the the forest helps to absorb, filter, and clean future erosion control work would most lake water is treated but not filtered before the water that runs across the landscape, benefit the water quality of Sebago it is delivered to customers. Maintaining reductions in forested land in the Lake. The results will also be used to and protecting Sebago Lake’s water watershed could lead to declines in water engage watershed residents and to help quality is important to the Portland Water quality over time. organizations within the watershed District, as well as the residents who live The size of the lake and its prioritize nonpoint source issues. around the lake, those who enjoy it for watershed, as well as the number of recreation, and those whose businesses lakes that drain to Sebago Lake, provide About EPA’s Non-Point Source depend on it (see Figure 1). challenges for protecting Sebago Lake’s Grants Program A large component of protecting high water quality. In 2014, Portland One of the primary sources of Sebago Lake is maintaining the forested Water District, Cumberland County funding for non-point source planning land in the 450-square-mile watershed that Soil and Water Conservation District, and mitigation is the Nonpoint Source includes all or parts of 23 towns and over Lakes Environmental Association, the Management Program established by 50 lakes and ponds. While the watershed University of Southern Maine, and the the Environmental Protection Agency

10 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE (EPA) under Sections 604(b) and 319 Step 1: Defining the subwatersheds adjacent subwatershed polygons based of the Clean Water Act. In Maine, this The state of Maine maintains an on topography. Ultimately, the Sebago competitive program is administered by online database of spatial data, including Lake watershed was divided into 60 the DEP and over a 20-year period has watershed boundaries, for lakes in subwatersheds (see Figure 2). been used to fund more than 30 projects in the state. For this project, the Maine the Sebago Lake watershed. These efforts Drainage Divide GIS shapefile was Step 2: Compiling existing data have been well-received and generally obtained from the MEGIS website. The Typically, watershed protection successful, judging from the continued file contains watershed boundaries for planning involves completing a non- good water quality of the lakes within the ponds and rivers in Maine, based on the point source survey and identifying watershed. United State Geological Survey 1:24,000 erosion sites and project partners who Beginning in 2014, DEP began scale topography. The Maine Drainage can support mitigation of the sites. It requiring watershed-based plans Divide GIS shapefile broke some lake was clear from the start that Sebago as a prerequisite for awarding 319 watersheds in the study area into multiple Lake’s total watershed protection implementation funds in unimpaired polygons. As part of the subwatershed planning funds would not be adequate water bodies. For impaired waters, EPA definition, these polygons were merged to collect new environmental data to guidance provides a framework for to create one watershed polygon per lake. support the watershed-based protection developing a nine-element watershed- Additionally, a few polygons contained plan. Therefore, the team explored based management plan that includes no bodies of water and were merged with existing environmental data that were extensive characterization of non-point source pollution sources and a public involvement process. For unimpaired waterbodies DEP has issued guidance that streamlines the EPA process and results in a Watershed-based Protection Plan (WBPP). In 2014 the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, partnering with PWD, the Town of Standish, and Maine Forest Service, received a 604(b) planning grant to support developing a watershed-based protection plan for Sebago Lake. The total funding (including grant and match) was approximately $75,000. Sebago Lake is an unimpaired waterbody but the DEP guidance was not easily applied to its 450-square-mile watershed. Furthermore, it would have been cost-prohibitive to develop a nine- element watershed-based management plan following the EPA guidance. The project team therefore developed a revised method that utilized almost exclusively data that were publicly available. The goal of this revised method was to divide the Sebago Lake watershed into parts (subwatersheds), evaluate and rank each subwatershed based on its condition, and assess its relative importance to the overall water quality of Sebago Lake. In an effort to make the results useful and a catalyst for action, the project also involved developing a simple means of communicating the results to the public. There were five steps in this process: (1) defining the subwatersheds, (2) compiling existing data, (3) assessing each subwatershed, (4) completing a sensitivity analysis, and (5) communicating the Figure 2. Subwatersheds of Sebago Lake. results. Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 11 publicly available and could help assess • Samples must have been taken from either reflect a lake that is naturally high the condition of each subwatershed. open water. in nutrients or a subwatershed where Ultimately, three types of data were • There must have been at least five conditions contributing to lake water used: water quality data, land cover data, months of data in a given year. quality are improving. Similarly, a lake and information about known potential with relatively low current TSI and a partners. These data were then used to • It is not permissible to miss any two worsening trend may be in need of more rank the subwatersheds in Step 3. consecutive months in the period of immediate attention before the lake record. becomes impaired. Step 3: Assessing each subwatershed • Water samples must have been taken Lakes with adequate data for The concept behind the Water Quality as cores (depth-integrated epilimnetic a trend analysis were given a score Index (WQI) is to use environmental samples). from 1 (significantly increasing TSI or indicators to evaluate each subwatershed declining water quality) to 5 (significantly • There must be at least five years of data. and convey its present condition and decreasing TSI or improving water favorability for effective non-point • Only data since 1995 were used, and quality). Twenty-two of 26 lakes source work. The WQI can then be used there must have been at least one year evaluated had stable to decreasing TSI. to prioritize non-point source work of data since 2008. Since all of these lakes eventually empty within the greater watershed. For the The parameter used to calculate TSI into Sebago Lake, this fact is a positive Sebago Lake WQI, the team selected for any lake was prioritized by length leading indicator of the likely trend of the following indicators: current water of the dataset and in decreasing order of water quality in Sebago Lake in the quality, recent trends in water quality, reliability: (1) Chl-a (highest because it is coming years. land cover change over the last 25 years, a direct measure of algal abundance); (2) and the extent and success of recent Total P; (3) transparency. For example, Indicator 3: Land Cover Change. Land collaborative lake protection work. if a lake had four years of Chl-a data but cover change is the third indicator in the eight years of Total P data, the Total P WQI. A subwatershed that has seen a Indicator 1: Current Water Quality data were used. Of the 60 subwatersheds significant percentage of land conversion Condition. Current water quality initially evaluated, 26 had adequate data from undeveloped to developed might be provides a strong indication of the need to calculate TSI. a good candidate to invest in non-point for immediate intervention to protect a Once TSI values were determined, source mitigation or to advocate for land lake from non-point source pollution. the lakes were ordered from lowest TSI conservation or planning. Land cover Lakes with higher water quality likely (highest water quality) to highest TSI change could be a leading indicator of the need less attention than those with lower (lowest water quality). The lakes were potential for future declining water quality water quality. The current water quality given a ranking that compared them to not yet evident in the lake monitoring condition assessment was based on the one another: The lakes were divided into data. Maine Trophic State Index (TSI) for each quintiles based on their TSI calculations. Thirty-meter resolution Landsat lake. The TSI assigns a numerical value to Those with the lowest TSI were assigned imagery from 1987 was compared with the trophic conditions of a lake based on a 5 score. Those with the highest TSI imagery from 2013 to assess the degree either water transparency as determined values were assigned a 1 score. Twenty- to which “undeveloped vegetated land” using a Secchi disk (transparency), total one of the 26 lakes have a current TSI had been converted to “developed phosphorus concentration (Total P), or under 44. land” (or vice versa) during this time chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration. period. These data are publicly available The Maine TSI is calculated using slight Indicator 2: Water Quality Trend. The and were processed and checked for adaptations to the methodology described water quality trends were evaluated using accuracy for the purpose of this study in Carlson (1977). These adaptations Mann-Kendall trend analysis based on by faculty and students at the University reflect the range of trophic conditions Chl-a or transparency median values for of Southern Maine. Though 30-meter observed in Maine lakes (Maine DEP July, August, and September for each resolution cannot detect all development 1981). All the water quality data used for year. Only lakes with a minimum of ten details, overall trends can be detected. this assessment are publicly available, years of data were evaluated. Figure 3 shows the imagery for one part and partners at Maine DEP compiled and The trend data complements of the watershed for 1987 and 2013. prepared the analysis for the WQI. the current condition assessment by The light-colored pixels are interpreted The amount of water quality data evaluating stability of the lake’s TSI. as developed land. Note the changes for the many lakes in the Sebago Lake A lake with a relatively high TSI detectable in the circled area. watershed varies. For some lakes there that hasn’t changed in many years or Researchers at the University of are multiple stations with many years of shows an improving trend might be of Southern Maine determined the percent transparency, Total P, and Chl-a data. For lesser concern even though the current land conversion from undeveloped to others the data are more limited. A TSI condition data might suggest that the developed between 1987 and 2013 in was only calculated for lakes with the lake is potentially impacted by non- 60 subwatersheds. As with the water following data: point source pollution. A relatively quality data, subwatersheds compared high but stable or improving TSI could to one another by dividing them into

12 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE successful partnership). The history of successful 319 projects in the watershed is reflected in the scores. More than half of the subwatersheds have at least a medium ranking. Each subwatershed was assessed using the four criteria described in Step 3, resulting in a WQI score. A healthy subwatershed generally has high current water quality, a positive water quality trend, little recent land cover change, and known, engaged lake protection partners. The WQI score for a healthy subwatershed would approach 20 (four criteria with a maximum of 5 points for each). A less healthy subwatershed would score lower for one or more of the criteria and would receive a lower score. Therefore the subwatersheds with lower scores are a higher priority for nonpoint source mitigation work. The WQI provides the subwatershed residents with an overall indication of the health of their Figure 3, Comparison of 1987 and 2013 land cover – detail. own waterbody and allows regulators and watershed partners to have an quintiles and scoring the quintiles from 1 to 5. A score of 1 indicates the most conversion and a 5 the least (see Figure 4). The 1987 and 2013 land cover data indicate a net change of 1.65 percent for the watershed as a whole. The subwatersheds closer to Sebago Lake generally saw more change than those that are further from Sebago Lake. At this rate of land cover conversion, it would take about 150 years to convert 10 percent of the land in the watershed from undeveloped to developed.

Indicator 4: Partnerships. A lake watershed or subwatershed does not belong to any individual. Maine lakes are legally “owned” by the state and the land around them is a patchwork of parcels that are owned by many different individuals, families, and organizations. For this reason, addressing non-point source issues in a lake watershed can only be successful with the cooperation of many partners. Work should be prioritized, at least in part, to those places where committed partners can help ensure success. The last indicator that makes up the WQI is an estimate of the likelihood of finding successful partners with whom to work on lake protection efforts. This estimate is based on two things: (1) evidence of past successful partnerships in the subwatershed and, (2) the existence of groundwork that could aid a potential 319 project work such as a prior non-point source survey, an approved watershed-based protection plan, and/or a likely source of in-kind or cash match for a non-point source grant. Subwatersheds were scored from 1 (low likelihood of successful partnership) to 5 (high likelihood of Figure 4. Land cover change scores.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 13 informed starting point for conversations Table 1. Ten Highest Priority Subwatersheds Based on Annual Phosphorus Contribution to to strengthen watershed protection Sebago Lake. initiatives. Percent of Percent Overall Annual of Annual Step 4: Completing a Sensitivity Analysis. Subwatershed Watershed Contribution P Input to The WQI did not take into account Subwatershed Area (acres) Area (kg P) Sebago the amount of phosphorus that each subwatershed contributes to Sebago Lake. Sebago Lake and Crooked River Therefore it does not provide adequate (direct watershed) 143,396 50.9 5493 68 information to prioritize nonpoint source Long Lake 38,664 13.7 812 10 work that will reduce nutrient input Brandy Pond 3,033 1.1 234 2.9 into Sebago Lake. The team recognized that the subwatersheds are not equally Panther Pond 8,954 3.2 184 2.3 important to Sebago Lake’s overall health. Holt Pond 2,159 0.8 108 1.3 For example, some subwatersheds have a McWain Pond 2,950 1.0 105 1.3 small annual output of Total P compared Crystal Lake 5,791 2.1 89 1.1 to the total annual phosphorus load into Bear Pond 5,581 2.0 79 1.0 Sebago Lake. Therefore, even if the Highland Lake 6,511 2.3 77 1.0 quality of that subwatershed declines dramatically, it may have little overall Crescent Lake 4,748 1.7 61 0.7 effect on the water quality of Sebago Lake. By contrast, a decline in the water quality of a lake with a larger Total P contribution may have a greater negative impact on Sebago Lake. A sensitivity analysis was completed that used a mass balance process based on the work of Vollenweider (1968, 1976) to rank the subwatersheds based on their annual phosphorus contribution to Sebago Lake. In general, a subwatershed with a direct connection to Sebago Lake has little or no opportunity for attenuation of phosphorus. By contrast, a subwatershed that is part of a chain of lakes will contribute less of its load of phosphorus to Sebago since some phosphorus will be bound in the sediments of the intervening lakes (Table 1). Not surprisingly, most of the annual phosphorus input to Sebago Lake comes from its direct watershed (including the Crooked River watershed). For the purposes of this modelling effort, the Crooked River is assumed to act as a direct conduit of water and nutrients to Sebago Lake (i.e., no attenuation occurs). Though the direct watershed accounts for only about half of the total watershed area, it contributes two- thirds of the annual load of phosphorus. This sensitivity ranking highlights the importance of protecting the health of the direct watershed of the lake and also identifies which subwatersheds are most directly connected to Sebago Lake and thus are the ones to which Sebago Lake is most sensitive to change (Figure 5). Figure 5. Direct watershed of Sebago Lake.

14 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE The sensitivity analysis enables For this reason the last step of this Summary Sebago Lake’s environmental stewards to assessment was a consideration of the This project to assess the Sebago prioritize protection efforts. In the past, clearest, most complete way to depict Lake watershed for the purposes of lake protection work has been first-come, the results for sharing with the residents prioritizing future work was triggered first-served. However, now there are data of the watershed. Ultimately, face-to- by a change by the EPA to the eligibility to support investing more Sebago Lake face meetings of various types will be requirements for 319 grant funds. The protection resources into the lakes that are organized in the coming years to meet methodology for a WBPP detailed by the responsible for a greater percentage of the with residents, talk with them about the Maine DEP to meet this requirement was annual Total P load into Sebago Lake. assessment, and hear their questions not easily adapted to the 450-square-mile and concerns. The basic tool to initiate Sebago Lake watershed. Therefore, a team Step 5: Communicating the Results. One these discussions will be a series of of lake professionals developed a method of the challenges with lake protection subwatershed fact sheets. These are for evaluating subwatersheds to provide is that the science behind the health of essentially report cards summarizing how a data-driven methodology to prioritize a lake is often poorly understood by the the subwatershed was scored and what nonpoint source work both to protect the individuals who live and work around actions are recommended to address any subwatershed lakes themselves and to the lake and whose behavior is most low scores. positively influence the water quality of directly linked to the water quality of the A total of 22 fact sheets were Sebago Lake. lake. Just as legal terms are confusing prepared, a customized report of results The evaluation of each subwatershed, to people who haven’t studied law, for each subwatershed for which sufficient known as the Water Quality Index, took limnology terminology can be difficult for information was available (Figures 6 into account current and recent trends in non-scientists. Communicating science through 9). A great deal of effort went water quality, extent of change in land requires a balance between language into using as little jargon as possible and cover since 1987, and the likelihood of a that is technically precise and complete, trying to explain concepts using terms that successful collaborative partnership with and language that is easy to understand are familiar to non-scientists. recently active local groups. In addition, and can be used to motivate community an analysis based on connectedness to action. Sebago Lake was used to estimate the

Figure 6. Fact sheet page 1. Figure 7. Fact sheet page 2. . Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 15 Figure 8. Fact sheet page 3. Figure 9. Fact sheet page 4. sensitivity of Sebago Lake to changes in water quality for each subwatershed. This work relied almost exclusively on previously compiled, publicly available data. Twenty-two fact sheets were prepared as a tool to be used for outreach and to initiate local discussions and, ultimately, action. Because the assessment evaluated each subwatershed in five ways, there are many different approaches that could be used to take action using these results. For example, a subwatershed that had a low score in one or the other of the water quality-related criteria are good candidates for a nonpoint source survey to identify potential sources of nutrients (Figure 10). The land cover change indicator provides a second lens through which to view the results and to guide outreach efforts. Sharing the land cover data with a town that contains a subwatershed with significant conversion to developed land could help inform future planning efforts Figure 10. Subwatersheds with low water Figure 11. Subwatersheds with low land cover (Figure 11). quality scores highlighted. scores highlighted.

16 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE A third approach to outreach is TSI. Since all of these lakes eventually References suggested by the partnership indicator. empty into Sebago Lake, this fact is a Carlson, R. E. 1977. A tropic state index Subwatersheds that scored low for positive leading indicator of the likely for lakes. Limnol Oceano, 22(2):361- that criterion either have not done trend of water quality in Sebago Lake in 369. nonpoint source work and/or have not the coming years. Environmental Protection Agency. 2008. recently completed a watershed survey. • Over a 26-year period, just 1.65 Handbook for Developing Watershed Reaching out to a subwatershed with percent of the land in the Sebago Plans to Restore and Protect Our a low partnership score could lead to Lake watershed was converted from Waters, EPA 841-B-08-002, 400 pp. collaborative lake protection efforts in the undeveloped to developed. Maine Department of Environmental future (Figure 12). Protection. 1981. Understanding The sensitivity analysis points to the • More than half of the subwatersheds Maine’s Lakes and Ponds. (Unpublished fact that two-thirds of the phosphorus load have at least a medium partnership DEP policy.) to Sebago Lake originates in the direct score, reflecting the presence of active Vollenweider, R. A. 1968. Scientific watershed of the lake and the Crooked and interested residents and successful Fundamentals of the Eutrophication River, its primary contributing tributary. groundwork for successful nonpoint of Lakes and Flowing Waters, with For this reason, any effort to safeguard mitigation work. Particular Reference to Nitrogen the water quality of Sebago Lake into Environmental projects often involve and Phosphorus as Factors the future has to include a focus on that many public and private partners with in Eutrophication. Paris, Rep. portion of the 450-square-mile watershed. differing levels of interest in the work and Organization for Economic Cooperation unequal resources to contribute. It is not and Development, DAS/CSI/68.27, 192 Conclusions uncommon to participate in a planning pp. Several findings of this work point to project and find that little is asked of some Vollenweider, R. A. 1975. Advances a favorable water quality trend for at least members, and once completed, the results in defining critical loading levels for the near future of Sebago Lake. These of the work do not get used. This can phosphorus in lake eutrophication. include: leave some team members dissatisfied or Mem. Ist. Ital. Idrobio., 33: 53-83. • Twenty-one of the 26 lakes within with a feeling of irrelevance to the work. the Sebago Lake watershed that were This project was considered a success by Acknowledgements evaluated have a current TSI under 44. all of the contributing partners for several This work could not have been reasons, including: completed without the dedication and • Twenty-two of the 26 lakes within expertise of at least the following team the Sebago Lake watershed that were • The data were almost all publicly members: Heather True, Deb Debiegun, evaluated had a stable to decreasing available and preexisting. For this and Damon Yakovleff of the Cumberland reason the team focused on how to use County Soil and Water Conservation and interpret data with which they were District, who led the project and co- already familiar rather than how to authored the final report; Jeremy Deeds, collect new data. Jeff Dennis, and Kristin Feindel of • Every partner played a key role. The the Maine DEP; Nate Whalen of the product would have been diminished Portland Water District; Firooza Pavri of if any one of the partners were not the University of Southern Maine; and included. This made the work go faster Colin Holme of the Lakes Environmental and more smoothly and kept all team Association. members engaged. • A great deal of time was spent This project was funded in part by the US considering how to use the results. Environmental Protection Agency under The fact sheets were designed to try Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act. to make the results accessible and understandable to the widest possible audience. Paul Thomas Hunt is the environmental • The project was designed to be an manager for the Portland assessment to identify priorities. This Water District, Maine’s work has helped to lay out a direction largest water and for outreach and non-point source work wastewater utility. In for years to come. The Water Quality that role he administers Index as displayed in the fact sheets the Watershed Control can help potential partners see why Program for Sebago the work should be a priority and what Lake, one of only about 50 unfiltered surface Figure 12. Subwatersheds with low specific things could improve the health partnership scores highlighted. water supplies in the United States. The major of their lake.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 17 elements of the program are monitoring, security, inspection and direct actions, education and outreach, and land conservation. Paul is a Maine Certified Geologist and licensed water and wastewater operator. Engaging Individuals to Make Big Changes Kate McDonald is an assistant project Reduce WTP operating costs in the Upper Tippecanoe R. Watershed manager with GZA caused by algae blooms GeoEnvironmental in Portland, Maine. Sarah Peel and Lyn Crighton She is the former project scientist at the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District where she led watershed-based plan development, implementation, and monitoring projects for public and private sector organizations. Kate lives in the Sebago Lake watershed and volunteers on several environmental stewardship projects in Southern “With SolarBee circulators, water quality Maine. becomes better and better every year.” James A. Brown, Water production manager, Newton County, GA Kirsten Ness is a water resources specialist Eliminate taste and odor, restore water quality for the Portland Water with SolarBee® circulators SolarBee® circulators District. She is involved have reduced costs in over 150 raw-water reservoirs in all aspects of the Blue-green algae blooms on Lake Varner required Newton protection of Sebago County, GA, to use enhanced carbon treatments to prevent Lake – monitoring, taste and odor complaints. The raw-water lake serves inspection, laboratory 150,000 people and is a prime fishing destination. Seeking a lower-cost alternative, County officials installed SolarBee analysis, security and circulators to treat 300 acres of the 800-acre lake in front of • Partial or whole lake treatments outreach. She is also a Maine Master Gardener, the WTP. The blooms disappeared and so did the need to • Low maintenance, 24/7 operation a licensed water operator, and chairs the Public treat for taste and odor. The County cut treatment costs Awareness Committee of the Maine Water enough to pay for the circulators in three years. • BeeKeeper factory service program Utilities Association. c Find out how to restore your lake.

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Next Issue – Medora Corporation • Dickinson, ND • 866-437-8076 • www.medoraco.com Brands of Medora Corporation Winter 2016-17 LakeLine (OSGOOD, continued from p. 8 . . . ) LakeLine Many people believe that the heyday Osgood, D. 2015. Do you want something that works? , 35:8-16. Uttormark, P.D. 1979. General concepts of lake degradation and lake restoration. Pp 66- of public funding of lake management 69. In: Lake restoration: Proceedings of a national conference, August 22-24, 1978, activities is over. In our next issue, Minneapolis, MN. EPA 440/5-79-001. we check in with several state and Dick Osgood, co-founder of of Lake Advocates, has 38 years of experience working with lakes, the people that use and love them, and the organizations provincial lake management programs that manage them. He is a co-instructor of the Alum Workshop offered at to learn how and what they are doing. NALMS Annual Symposia. Dick is a Certified Lake Manager and is trained and experienced as a lake scientist, planner, policy analyst, facilitator, mediator, expert witness, and educator. Dick is NALMS Past President and recipient c of NALMS Secchi Disk Award. For more information, contact Dick at: Dick@ DickOsgood.com. c

18 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE Watershed Management

Engaging Individuals to Make Big Changes in the Upper Tippecanoe R. Watershed

Sarah Peel and Lyn Crighton

Meet Lake Tippecanoe ake Tippecanoe is one of Indiana’s largest and deepest lakes covering L768 acres with a maximum depth of 123 feet. The lake forms the headwaters of the Tippecanoe River draining 113 square miles (Figure 1). Water enters Lake Tippecanoe from four small tributaries, Kuhn Ditch (1,600 acres), Hannah B. Walker Drain (600 acres), Long Ditch (340 acres), and Indian Creek (300 acres), as well as two larger tributaries: Grassy Creek (52 square miles) and the Tippecanoe River (51 square miles). Grassy Creek receives drainage from a series of streams and lakes, including Ridinger, Robinson, Troy Cedar, and the Barbee Lakes Chain, while the Tippecanoe River drains Crooked, Big, Loon, Goose, Old, New, Smalley, and Webster Lakes before entering Lake Tippecanoe. Agricultural row crops cover nearly 60 percent of the lake’s Figure 1. The 113-square-mile Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. watershed with an additional 13 percent in pastureland, 11 percent in forestland 1997). Concurrently, summer Secchi disk watershed residents and agricultural and nearly 6 percent in open water in the transparencies decreased from 23 feet in producers throughout the Upper more than 50 lakes measuring greater 1992 to 17.6 feet in 1994. Given Lake Tippecanoe River Watershed. than one acre located throughout the Tippecanoe’s relatively large drainage watershed. The lake’s shoreline measure area (113 square miles) and large lake Making Big Changes 20.9 miles and nearly 90 percent of volume (28,491 acre-feet or 35,143,000 The 1997 Lake Tippecanoe shoreline is developed with nearly cubic meters), Lake Tippecanoe can Diagnostic Study identified and designed 1300 dwellings identified (Richardson absorb a high volume of phosphorus three projects located on small tributaries and Jones 1997). This relatively large before deleterious effects occur. However, draining directly to Lake Tippecanoe watershed area to lake area ratio (93:1) a reduction in total phosphorus loading (Richardson and Jones 1997). LTPO and suggests that maintaining or improving in- by 20 percent was estimated to lower the TWF recognized that Lake Tippecanoe lake conditions will require shoreline and in-lake total phosphorus concentration to residents needed to expand their watershed-based efforts. 0.030 mg/L (Richardson and Jones 1997). focus from in-lake plant and shoreline In 1994, Lake Tippecanoe residents In response to increasing eutrophication, management efforts to encompass the and the Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners the LTPO and The Watershed Foundation entire Lake Tippecanoe watershed. (LTPO) identified a trend in decreasing (TWF) initiated a series of watershed With this in mind, initial water quality water quality. Mean total phosphorus diagnostic studies, education and outreach implementation projects started with concentrations rose from 0.020 mg/L programming, and watershed-wide implementing projects along these local, in 1973 to 0.050 mg/L in 1989 to 0.069 on-the-ground conservation project small tributaries immediately adjacent mg/L in 1994 (Richardson and Jones implementations targeting lake and

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 19 to Lake Tippecanoe. Following their successful implementation from 1999 through 2001, additional subwatershed based diagnostic and feasibility studies identified numerous localized projects throughout the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. Each subsequent project engaged local lake and watershed residents in their portion of the watershed allowing each individual lake association to focus on their local watershed and providing a watershed- wide, cohesive working group to share resources, focus energies, and build a watershed organization. Through LTPO and TWF’s targeted efforts to draw lake residents from solely lake-focused to working throughout the entire watershed, they launched long-term success in water quality improvement project implementation. Since 1998, more than 300 individual water quality improvement projects have been identified throughout the 113 Figure 2. Water quality improvement projects implemented in the Upper Tippecanoe River square mile Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. Watershed (TELWF 2006; TWF 2015). Nearly one-third of these water quality these projects: Region 5 Model (Figure 3A and B). projects have been implemented with donations, as well as local, state, regional, Putney Ditch Streambank Shanton Ditch Two-Stage Ditch and national funding totaling more and Bed Stabilization and Livestock Restriction than $2,958,000. Implemented projects The Watershed Foundation identified Shanton Ditch, a tributary to Ridinger included wetland restoration, conservation nearly 1,100 lineal feet of Putney Ditch, Lake, is a flashy stream located within farming practices, filter strip and grassed a tributary to Little Barbee Lake, a a predominantly row crop agriculture waterway installation and repair, livestock lake within the Barbee Lakes Chain, in watershed that routinely scours its banks restriction, sediment trap construction, need of stabilization. This incised creek resulting in stream down-cutting and ravine stabilization, stormwater detention meanders through second-growth forested streambank erosion. TWF worked with a and retrofits, shoreline rain garden and floodplain draining nearly 2,400 acres local landowner to design and implement rain barrel installation, and shoreline of predominantly agricultural lands. The livestock restriction and streambank stabilization (Figure 2). These combined flashy nature of this small stream was stabilization efforts along 300 lineal feet efforts address runoff from 35 percent of exacerbated by field tiling, ditching, and of Shanton Ditch. Streambank erosion and the watershed and resulted reductions of draining. Project engineers determined down-cutting resulted in eroding banks more than 56,658 pounds of phosphorus, that stabilization of this portion of the along this reach of Shanton Ditch. Areas 198,365 pounds of nitrogen, and 22,433 stream by raising the stream channel of erosion were exacerbated by livestock tons of sediment loading annually to created the best mechanism to interrupt accessing the ditch at this location. Lake Tippecanoe watershed streams from the feedback loop of stream down-cutting, Project engineers designed a two-stage 2013 through 2015 using the USEPA enabling reconnection of the stream ditch and installed livestock fencing and Region 5 Pollutant Load Reduction Model with its adjacent floodplain. Engineers an alternate watering facility at this site. customized for Indiana (Region 5 Model). accomplished this through the installation The two-stage ditch provides a stable, Watershed implementation of water of a series of seven grade control low flow channel through which Shanton quality improvement projects resulted structures to raise the bed of the stream to Ditch flows during typical conditions. A in 557 million pounds algae and aquatic allow the stream to access the floodplain constructed bench located approximately plants prevented from growing in Lake during two year or larger storm events and three feet above the low channel and Tippecanoe. concurrent streambank stabilization using planted it with native plants is accessed by Let’s take a closer look at some of soil-encapsulated lifts along nearly 325 flood waters during high flow conditions, feet of eroding streambank. This project reducing the velocity of water flowing resulted in 400 tons less sediment, 340 across its surface and allowing suspended pounds less phosphorus and 675 pounds sediments and nutrients to settle out of less nitrogen entering Little Barbee Lake the water. The bench provides additional annually since 2003 as modeled using the

20 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 5A and B). Soil Health Initiative TWF initiated their Healthy Soils, Clean Water program in 2013. This program supports three part-time watershed conservationists (including a retired NRCS soil conservationist) who target the installation of soil health practices throughout the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. Soil health focuses on four key ideas: (1) keep soil covered, (2) use plant diversity to increase microbe diversity within soils, (3) maintain living roots throughout the year to feed the soil, and (4) reduce soil disturbance. Ultimately, implementing soil health practices like no till farming and planting cover crops allows A agricultural row crop fields to mimic nature. TWF initiated the Healthy Soils, Clean Water program in 2013 and has worked with more than 29 producers to implement more than 2,500 acres of cover crop planting and nearly 900 acres of no-till farming. These efforts saved nearly 4,000 tons of sediment, more than 20,000 pounds of phosphorus, and nearly 82,000 pounds of nitrogen from entering Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed streams annually (Figure 6).

Healthy Shorelines Initiative In 2011, TWF created the Healthy Shoreline Initiative to improve shoreline habitat and stabilize soils along their watershed’s more than 50 lakes. These cost-share efforts provided up to $3,000 to individual lakeshore residents to improve B shoreline habitat and reduce erosion and runoff. In five years, TWF worked with Figure 3. Putney Ditch streambank stabilization project during (A) and 8 years after 100 shoreline residents on 14 lakes to implementation (B). implement over a mile of bioengineering, install new glacial stone seawalls, and reface existing seawalls with glacial stone instream stability, reduces stream Ditch is a flashy stream located within (Figure 7). down-cutting, and improves instream predominantly row crop agriculture, tile habitat. Since its construction in 2008, drained fields. Erosion measuring greater Engaging Individuals the Shanton Ditch two-stage ditch and than ten feet in height occurred along Making big changes requires livestock restriction resulted in more than nearly 200 feet of the Troy Cedar Branch. connecting lake and watershed residents 550 tons less sediment, 425 pounds less Stabilization including the installation of with their local waterbodies, providing phosphorus, and 790 pounds less nitrogen soil-encapsulated lifts, bank reshaping, key knowledge that will empower entering Ridinger Lake (Figure 4A, B and and seeding resulted in vegetated and individuals to implement sound water C). stable streambanks. The installation quality improvement projects in key of livestock fence and provision of an locations and creating cohesion and Troy Cedar Branch of Elder Ditch alternate water source further improved connection between and within lake Streambank Stabilization and stability at this location resulting in nearly residents, watershed residents, and Livestock Restriction 260 tons less sediment, 135 pounds less agricultural producers throughout the Like Putney Ditch and Shanton phosphorus, and 350 pounds less nitrogen Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. Since Ditch, the Troy Cedar Branch of Elder entering Ridinger Lake annually (Figure

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 21 2005, The Watershed Foundation (TWF) engaged more than 200 individuals with agricultural field days and lake and watershed tours highlighting soil health projects, ongoing and previously implemented water quality improvement projects, and discussing lake history and water quality concerns on a subwatershed basis. Since 2008, TWF, in partnership with the Kosciusko County SWCD, hosted more than 3,500 high school students in a Grassy Creek to Lake Tippecanoe educational float. Watershed residents engage in Lake Tippecanoe’s volunteer water monitoring program, A participate in citizen clean-up events hosted by TWF and LTPO, engage in cottage tours of Lake Tippecanoe residences, and attend education and outreach events on a variety of topics. In total, more than 13,600 individuals engaged with Lake Tippecanoe and its watershed from 2010 through 2014 (Crighton 2015). Stakeholder social indicator surveys indicate that these targeted efforts yield quality results (Busse et al. 2015). Survey data collected in 2014 indicate that both lake residents and agricultural producers were more likely to identify their personal responsibility in improving water quality conditions within the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed than they were in 2010. Agricultural producers also became more aware of specific conservations practices, B their use and implementation as well as the equipment required to implement specific practices between 2010 and 2014.

Measuring Impact In 1994, Lake Tippecanoe residents and the Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners (LTPO) identified a trend in decreasing water quality. As detailed above, mean total phosphorus concentrations tripled from 1973 to 1994, while Secchi disk transparencies decreased by one third (Richardson and Jones 1997). Data collected by the Indiana Clean Lakes Program indicate that mid-summer conditions within Lake Tippecanoe continued to decline through 2003, when mean total phosphorus concentrations reached 0.115 mg/L – more than five times the concentrations C measured in the early 1970s. Mean total phosphorus concentrations measured in Figure 4. Shanton Ditch two-stage ditch and livestock restriction project before (A), during (B), Lake Tippecanoe in 2012 and again in and 18 months after implementation (C).

22 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 2014 were 0.037 mg/L suggesting that in- lake conditions are improving as a result of watershed-wide, targeted water quality improvement project implementation. In-stream conditions further indicate improving conditions within the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations measured in the Tippecanoe River up and downstream of the lake in 2015 are less than one- quarter those measured in-stream in 1996 (Richardson and Jones 1997; Peel 2016). In addition, seven of ten streams A within the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed showed an improvement in fish community with Index of Biotic Integrity scores increasing by an average of more than ten points from 2005 through 2014 (Bright 2005; 2014) (Figure 8). These data suggest that the collaborative efforts to restore streambanks, improve wetland function, install filter strips, fence livestock from streams, create rain gardens, reduce stormwater impacts, and educate and engage landowners and residents throughout the watershed resulted in improved stream and lake health.

Citations Bright, G. 2005. Upper Tippecanoe River Biological Monitoring Results, Autumn 2005. Commonwealth Biomonitoring, Indianapolis, Indiana, 14 pp. B Bright, G. 2014. Upper Tippecanoe River Biological Monitoring Results, Autumn Figure 5. Troy Cedar Branch of Elder Ditch streambank stabilization and livestock restriction 2014. Commonwealth Biomonitoring, before (A) and one year after implementation (B). Indianapolis, Indiana, 21 pp. Crighton, L. 2015. Water Quality Improvement in the Upper Tippecanoe River – Grassy Creek Watershed, Section 319 Final Report. Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation, North Webster, Indiana, 5 pp. Peel, S. 2016. 2015 Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation Baseline Water Quality Assessment. Richardson, J. and W.W. Jones. 1997. Lake Tippecanoe Feasibility Study, Kosciusko County, Indiana. J.F. New and Associates, Inc., Walkerton, Indiana, 80 pp. Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed in Kosciusko, Noble and Whitley Counties, Warsaw, Indiana, 25 pp. Tippecanoe Environmental Lake Figure 6. Soil health educational billboard. and Watershed Foundation. 2006.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 23 Watershed Management Plan for the Upper Tippecanoe River Basin, North Webster, Indiana, 204 pp. Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation. 2015. Project list, unpublished.

Sara Peel, CLM, is an environmental scientist with Arion Consultants, Inc. Her work focuses on connecting lake residents with their local watershed, engaging individuals to make a positive change on behalf of water quality, and educating the masses about lake and watershed management. Sara serves as the secretary of NALMS and as the president of the Indiana Lakes Management Society.

Lyn Crighton is the executive director of The Figure 7. Healthy shoreline initiative project on Loon Lake. Watershed Foundation, where she works to protect and improve the water quality of over 60 lakes and streams in Northern Indiana. She enjoys integrating science, education, partnerships, and funding for the benefit of clean water – skills developed in her Master’s program at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and through nine years of coordinating the Hoosier Riverwatch volunteer stream monitoring program. c

Figure 8. Biological integrity improvements measured in Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed streams.

We'd like to hear from you! Tell us what you think of LakeLine. We welcome your comments about specific articles and about the magazine in general. What would you like to see in LakeLine?

Send comments by letter or e-mail to editor Bill Jones (see page 1 for contact information). c

24 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE Watershed Management

Solving Water Quality Problems via Voluntary, Incentive-Based Programs

Shannon Phillips

Implementing Agricultural Conservation Practices Improves Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, and Bacteria Levels in Pond Creek

Introduction ccording to Oklahoma’s 2014 Integrated Report, 753 of 4,205 Anamed waterbodies in Oklahoma violate one or more water quality standard (ODEQ 2014). The majority of these waterbodies are impaired by nonpoint source pollution meaning that few regulatory avenues exist to remediate these problems. In addition, most land in Oklahoma is privately owned and in some form of agricultural production. Therefore, voluntary programs are the primary tool available to watershed managers and others working to protect water resources. Fortunately, this type of approach seems to be working in a growing number of waterbodies across the state due to the strong partnership between landowners, local conservation districts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Figure 1. Pond Creek Watershed in Grant County, Oklahoma. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Oklahoma Conservation No point source discharges exist in the in Pond Creek (Figure 2). Pond Creek Commission (OCC), and, surprisingly to watershed. was listed on Oklahoma’s EPA 303(d) some, the U.S. Environmental Protection The OCC began monitoring Pond list as impaired for E. coli bacteria in Agency. Creek in 2002 as part of the Rotating 2004 when the geometric mean was 206 Pond Creek is one of the places Basin Monitoring Program. Funded colony forming units (CFU), higher than where this Oklahoma Conservation primarily through EPA Clean Water the criterion of 126 CFU. In 2006, water Partnership is solving problems. Pond Act Section 319 funds, the purpose of quality monitoring showed that 50 percent Creek (OK621000050010_00) is a this monitoring was to evaluate streams of Pond Creek’s seasonal baseflow water 60-mile-long stream that flows from across the state for impacts or lack thereof samples exceeded 50 nephelometric south central Kansas into Grant County from nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. turbidity units (NTU). A stream is in north central Oklahoma (Figure 1). The OCC uses resulting data to drive considered impaired by turbidity if more Landuse in the 198,000 acre watershed is the state’s EPA-funded NPS program, than 10 percent of the seasonal base primarily cultivated cropland, producing including education and implementation flow water samples exceed 50 NTU. In corn, wheat, sorghum, and soybeans. programs. Data are also used to develop addition, 14 percent of dissolved oxygen About a third of the watershed is pasture Oklahoma’s Integrated Water Quality values in the 2006 assessment were for cattle production. Small towns in the Report. below criteria for warm water aquatic watershed include Medford (population Summarizing these results, the OCC communities; impairment results if more 991) and Lamont (population 418), along found excess sedimentation, high levels than 10 percent of samples fall below 6.0 with several other smaller communities. of bacteria, and low dissolved oxygen mg/L from April 1 through June 15 or

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 25 and two grade stabilization structures further contributed to reduced erosion potential from croplands. Proper nutrient management on 9,755 acres and integrated pest management on 13,936 acres also improved cropland condition and reduced excess nutrient runoff and erosion potential. Through the CRP, landowners restored 2,175 acres of “rare and declining habitat” that had been cropland and enrolled 16,474 acres into “upland wildlife habitat management.” In addition, 100 acres had wetland restoration and enhancement. These practices return degraded land to a more natural, less erosive state. Conservation work continues in the watershed. Between 2010 and 2015, an additional 40,049 acres of cropland have Figure 2. E. coli fecal indicator bacteria dropped from a geometric mean of 206 CFU to 53 CFU. no-till, reduced till, cover crops, and conservation crop rotations. Seven more below 5.0 mg/L during the remainder of share Program and through the NRCS grade stabilization structures, 71,796 the year. These impairments meant that Environmental Quality Incentives linear feet of terraces, and 79 acres of Pond Creek was failing to support both its Program (EQIP), Wetlands Reserve grassed waterways are reducing erosion primary body contact recreation and fish Program (WRP), Conservation potential from cropland. Prescribed and wildlife designated uses. Stewardship Program (CSP), and general grazing on 9,864 acres of pasture and conservation technical assistance program range keep the grazing lands in optimal Tackling the Problem (Figure 3). Practices were also installed health, and 21 new ponds supply At about the same time, but through the USDA Farm Services Agency alternative water to livestock, which keeps largely unaware of the water quality (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program bacteria out of streams. results or concerns, the NRCS District (CRP). From 2005 to 2009, landowners Conservationist in Grant County and the improved many acres of pastures and Water Quality Results: Grant County Conservation District began rangeland, which reduced runoff of Every five years, the OCC’s Rotating to work with landowners in the Pond bacteria, nutrients, and sediment in Basin Monitoring Program returns to Creek Watershed through conservation the watershed. Conservation practices monitor Pond Creek and approximately programs made possible through the 2000 installed to accomplish this improvement 249 other streams for two years to Farm Bill. As a routine part of USDA included: 9,226 acres of prescribed document changes and trends in water programs, the local office considered grazing, 327 acres of forage planting, 911 quality. Through these monitoring cycles, the conservation issues in their county acres of nutrient management, 1,732 acres the OCC was able to document improved and compiled a list of priority resource of integrated pest management, 565 acres and then sustained water quality in Pond concerns. They developed rankings and of brush management, installation of 15 Creek that coincide with the installation prioritization systems and then announced ponds, 8,770 feet of pipeline, and eight of conservation practices through funding availability. Landowners invited water tanks for alternative water sources, voluntary conservation programs. These them to their farms, where they worked and 16,474 acres of upland wildlife improvements include: one-on-one to develop individual habitat management. • In the 2006 assessment, Pond Creek had conservation plans that would address To reduce erosion of soil and runoff a geometric mean E. coli value of 206 individual resource concerns. Cooperating of nutrients from cropland, landowners CFU. The bacteria levels remained high landowners then began the process implemented conservation cover crops for several assessment cycles, as shown of installing a variety of conservation on 3,774 acres and no-till/reduced till/ in Figure 3. In the 2014 assessment, the practices designed to address specific mulch till/residue management on 4,069 geometric mean was 53 CFU, below resource concerns. Landowners paid the acres. Range planting occurred on 6,765 the 126 CFU criterion, which resulted cost of installation up front, and upon acres, which helps stabilize soils by in delisting of Pond Creek for E. coli demonstration that the practices had been converting croplands or degraded range impairment (Figure 4). installed to the NRCS standards, were to perennial vegetation. Contour farming reimbursed for a portion of the installation was implemented on 685 acres, which • In the 2006 assessment, 45 percent cost. included more than 75,000 linear feet of seasonal base flow water samples Landowners implemented of terraces, and more than 140 acres exceeded the turbidity criteria of 50 conservation practices with assistance of critical area planting and grassed NTU. This exceedance was reduced to from Oklahoma’s Locally-led Cost- waterways. Three acres of filter strips zero percent in 2010 (Figure 5).

26 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE A B

Figure 3. No-till soybeans in wheat stubble (A) and rotational or cell grazing systems (B).

received assistance from NRCS and conservation districts to address their natural resource concerns. Without the trust and comfort that private landowners have with these local partners, voluntary adoption of conservation practices would be much more challenging. However, landowners also invest significant dollars, time, and muscle in implementing conservation practices. Although exact dollar contributions of landowners to the programs are unknown, of the roughly 670 conservation practices installed, almost 300 of them were fully funded by landowners. Also, in return for $158,833 from Oklahoma’s Locally-led Cost- Share Program, landowners supplied $76,256 worth of matching funds toward Figure 4. Turbidity decreased from 2006 when 45 percent of samples violated the criterion of 50 conservation practice installation. NTU to 2010 when zero samples violated the criterion. One factor that makes these successes stand out is that these efforts • Also in the 2006 assessment, 19 percent results from the 2016 Integrated Report were implemented without the benefit of dissolved oxygen samples were show that Pond Creek is fully attaining of a total maximum daily load or a below the seasonal criteria. In the 2010 both is primary body contact and fish and formal watershed based plan, although assessment, only 10 percent were below wildlife beneficial uses. conservation planning was certainly a part criteria (Figure 6). of the effort. Water quality in Pond Creek Partners and Funding: Pond Creek was removed from was not the driving factor encouraging What Drove the Success? Oklahoma’s CWA section 303(d) list this adoption of conservation practices, for turbidity and dissolved oxygen Water quality success in Pond Creek nor was water quality the primary impairments in 2010 and remains in coincided with significant investments resource concern. Landowners and the full attainment of the fish and wildlife in conservation by a number of partners. Grant County Conservation District and propagation designated use. Monitoring Since the Dustbowl, landowners have NRCS were working to address erosion

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 27 problems because they were worried about soil loss and gully formation. Nonetheless, Pond Creek is now meeting all assessed beneficial uses. In total, the NRCS and FSA devoted approximately four million dollars toward conservation practices in Grant County between 2005 and 2015. Funding came from a wide variety of Farm Bill Conservation Programs including EQIP, CSP, WRP, and CRP. Some of these programs such as EQIP and WRP are designed to address current resource concerns while others like CSP and CRP are designed to maintain long-term conservation benefits. Although water quality improvement can’t be definitively linked to the installation of these Figure 5. Dissolved oxygen concentrations improved from 2006 when 19 percent of samples practices, the case is strong that they play exceeded the range considered safe for fish and benthic macroinvertebrates. By 2010, only 10 a significant role. percent of samples violated standards, which is an acceptable exceedance level. In part, the case for voluntary conservation practices leading to water quality success is circumstantial. Conservation practices were installed, 2016 Proposed NPS Success Stories

Figure 6. Nonpoint Success Stories in Oklahoma. These stories consist of watersheds where 303(d)-listed streams have been fully or partially delisted as a result of voluntary conservation program. Seven new stories have been proposed in 2016 and await approval by EPA.

28 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE no other significant changes in land management or development occurred in the watershed, and water quality monitoring data documented improved and sustained water quality over a ten year period. This ten-year period coincided with both drought conditions as well as extremely wet years, therefore, water quality did not simply improve because reduced rainfall resulted in less runoff. Still, the water quality improvement in Pond Creek could be just coincidence. However, the strength of the case increases when considering the repetitive success for this process resulting in similar successes in 55-and-counting additional watersheds across the state (Figure 7): (a) all places where nonpoint sources were the primary source of water quality pollution and (b) all places where the conservation partnership used USDA-funded conservation practices Figure 7. Pond Creek in Grant County, Oklahoma. installed by volunteering landowners to result in water quality success that was monitoring and voluntary, locally led water quality protection documented using EPA-funded water implementation of conservation practices, programs in Oklahoma quality monitoring. Oklahoma has made a good start. State government for With 18 percent of known over 21 years. Her agency waterbodies violating water quality References is the lead agency for standards and only seven percent of Oklahoma Department of Environmental nonpoint source pollution impaired waterbodies currently addressed Quality (ODEQ). 2014. Water Quality and much of the work through voluntary conservation programs, in Oklahoma: 2014 Integrated Report. focuses on collaboration Oklahoma has certainly not completed Oklahoma City, OK. with Conservation its mission to protect natural resources. Districts to help agricultural producers protect Voluntary conservation programs may water quality and improve soil health. The OCC’s be unable to address water quality Shannon Phillips is the Water Quality Division water quality programs have been recognized problems in every watershed. However, director for the Oklahoma Conservation nationally for efficiency, innovation, leadership, with focused, long-term water quality Commission (OCC). She’s been working on and success. c

LAKE and RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT

A scientific publication of NALMS published up to four times per year solicits articles of a scientific nature, including case studies.

If you have been thinking about publishing the results of a recent study, or you have been hanging on to an old manuscript that just needs a little more polishing, now is the time to get those articles into your journal. There is room for your article in the next volume. Don’t delay sending your draft article. Let the editorial staff work with you to get your article ready for publishing. You will have a great feeling of achievement, and you will be contributing to the science of managing our precious lakes and reservoirs.

Anyone who has made or plans to make presentations at any of the NALMS conferences, consider writing your talk and submitting it to the journal. It is much easier to do when it is fresh in your mind.

Send those articles or, if you have any questions at all, contact: Al Sosiak, Editor, Lake and Reservoir Management.

If there is anyone who would like to read articles for scientific content, please contact Al Sosiak. The journal can use your help in helping the editorial staff in editing articles.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 29 Watershed Management

Grassroots Conservation in Turkey Creek, LA Theron Phillips, Michael Schooler, and Faran Dietz

Voluntary Conservation Measures through Locally Led Resource Assessment

he Ouachita River Basin extends the entire Ouachita basin in northeast continent, and has been intensively from central Arkansas southward Louisiana is of geologically recent utilized for this purpose since the early Tinto central Louisiana, where the alluvial deposition and is quite fertile. 19th century (Figure 1). Ouachita empties into the Black River. The LA portion of the Ouachita basin In the 1960s and ’70s as row crop and Except for the prominent Macon Ridge, encompasses some of the most productive forage agriculture equipment, production an isolated narrow strip of loess soil, agricultural land on the North American methods, and agronomic crop plant

Figure 1. Turkey Creek Watershed, Ouachita River Basin, Franklin Parish, Louisiana. Image created by A. Venuto, LDEQ.

30 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE cultivars/varieties became more efficient, Turkey Creek was listed on both Creek, an outreach effort was conducted and markets more demanding, agriculture the 1998 and the October 28, 1999 to increase the awareness of nonpoint acreages were extended to include many court-ordered 303(d) lists as not fully source pollution problems and issues drained and cleared bottomland hardwood supporting the water quality standard associated with agricultural activities areas, eliminating the moderating for primary contact recreation use (i.e., within the watershed. The LDAF, the influences of previously expansive swimming). Approximately 62 percent Northeast SWCD, and the NRCS and floodplain woodlands and riparian areas. of the Turkey Creek watershed is the LSU Ag center conducted the NPS This broadened row crop landscape, along utilized for cropland and pasture lands. education effort for farm operators and with the intensified land-use regime, Accordingly, this watershed was targeted other area land-users. resulted in localized surface water quality for best management practices (BMP) to In the producer-oriented outreach degradation and impairments throughout adequately reduce the TDS loading within program, fliers were issued locally to the lower Ouachita basin. the upper portions of the watershed. notify landowners of CWA Section 319 Strictly regarding the agriculture- funds being available for conservation induced impairments, conservation Defining and Developing the Land-Use assistance to correct surface water practices and technical assistance made Prescription impairments made known during previous available to farmers and landowners To effect the changes necessary to SWCD Locally Led conservation through the federal Farm Bill achieve required coliform reductions in meetings. The initial program fliers Conservation programs were able to Turkey Creek, the Northeast SWCD and included an invitation to attend a begin moderately addressing this concern the NRCS, with many years of experience SWCD-led BMP workshop and project in often fragmented locales across the interacting with its constituent public, was orientation. This workshop included region. In this manner, the local Northeast the conduit to the agricultural landowners presentations by the Northeast SWCD Soil & Water Conservation District in the Turkey Creek watershed sought to Chairman, LDAF and NRCS technical (SWCD), through Farm Bill program deliver targeted conservation technical specialists, and LDEQ water quality assistance made available through the and financial assistance. The LA Dept. specialists to clarify the extent of USDA-Natural Resources Conservation of Agriculture & Forestry/Office of Soil impairments, environmental/agricultural Service (NRCS), brought their long- & Water Conservation (LDAF) provides impacts resulting from these impairments, standing private landowner relationship administration and coordination to the and methods of remediation. To accent into focus, further establishing the statewide SWCD program in Louisiana, the agricultural landowner outreach effort, premise that voluntary conservation and for all agricultural water quality community outreach is also regularly programs can indeed be effective, and conservation efforts, works closely with conducted by the SWCD using school with effective outreach and opportunities LDEQ to assess and deliver agricultural and community oriented outreach such for adequate assistance, private NPS reduction programs as effectively as through material provided via the landowners will become deliberately as possible. With this federal-state-local- National Association of Conservation engaged in natural resource conservation private partnership in place and LDEQ’s Districts Stewardship Program. and sustainability efforts. sampling and monitoring programs Additional commodity-specific providing a target for the approach and BMP field days were made available to LDEQ Identifies and Quantifies a gauge of effectiveness, CWA Section the Turkey Creek producers by the LSU Impairments 319 funds were allocated to the Turkey Ag Center with NRCS and Northeast In 1999, the Louisiana Department Creek effort. With surface water quality SWCD inputs, through which NPS related of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) conditions and trends provided by LDEQ, publications such as BMP manuals are conducted monthly water quality administrative assistance, financial issued. These events are also required sampling across the representative assistance, and program guidance from for certification as a Louisiana Master spectrum of surface water parameters in the LDAF, and technical assistance from Farmer, and as continuing education several watersheds within Louisiana’s the NRCS, the Turkey Creek Special credits to maintain LA Master Farmer upper Ouachita River Basin in northeast Water Quality 319 Watershed Protection certification status. Another significant Louisiana. In 2000, one of these, the Project was implemented locally by instance of conservation outreach Turkey Creek watershed, was added to the Northeast SWCD during the period and community involvement is the Louisiana’s Clean Water Act (CWA) of 2004-2009. With LDEQs sampling Northeast SWCDs annual Locally Led section 303(d) list of impaired waters data in hand, and the Northeast SWCDs Conservation meeting, where the public for not fully meeting its designated use knowledge of predominant land uses in is invited to receive updates from natural of fish and wildlife propagation (FWP) the watershed, the LDAF developed a list resource specialists on current local due in part to high concentrations of of agricultural BMPs to be implemented natural resource conditions and ongoing total dissolved solids (TDS). Based on to achieve the TMDL. projects/initiatives, then asked to state these data combined with historical their individual natural resource issues data, USEPA Region 6 developed Total Outreach-First Steps toward Success and concerns. This is a huge benefit Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Although much planning and to maintaining valuable stakeholder fecal coliform for the upper portions of preparation precede the availability of input. These concerns are recorded, and the Turkey Creek watershed. Suspected CWA 319 project funding, the inaugural the group then prioritizes these concerns sources of these impairments were event of most successful watershed for the SWCD to include in their long- agriculture, natural conditions, and programs is targeted outreach. For Turkey range work plan, with which they then unknown sources. Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 31 work to leverage funding for top priority conservation needs. Beyond this initial community awareness and orientation, the next level of outreach typical to any prospective participant is one-on-one orientation and instruction on Section 319 project application and ranking. Due to often limited funding and concise project scope, project sign-up periods are generally a brief ten days to two weeks. Applications are ranked according to landowners production management objectives, physical proximity to the affected water body, BMPs planned, and willingness to fully implement a resource management system plan (RMS) as a condition of Figure 2. Wheat cover crop on cotton stubble provides many water quality and soil health benefits, receiving 319 BMP incentive of cost- such as lessened sheet and rill erosion via soil stability, increased soil organic matter, reduced share payments. The highest ranked sediment and nutrient loading, rainfall runoff reduction, and others. Photo by Michael Schooler. applications are accepted/funded until implementation funds are completely utilized. These applicants sign contracts, obligating a fixed amount of funds per producer per contract. Contract periods are for thee years, giving the land owners adequate time to fully implement their RMS plans, in light of often inclement weather during planting, harvest, and fallow periods.

Conservation Best Management Practices The BMP implementation requirements specific to each contract are based upon NRCS practice standards that may be accessed on their web- based Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). The BMPs selected for use, Figure 3. Grade Stabilization Structures, or “pipe drops” are an essential practice for eliminating and implemented in the Turkey Creek gully erosion and head cuts along areas of high water flow and velocity, most often adjacent to Watershed Project were conservation near natural coulees or other water courses. NRCS file photo. crop rotation (1,173 acres), conservation tillage (202 acres), critical area planting (11 acres), residue management-seasonal (217.4 acres), fencing (36,453 feet), field borders (225,590 feet), grade stabilization structure (21), grassed waterway (24 acres), irrigation pipeline (32,524 feet), irrigation water management (391.4 acres), precision land forming (1,640 acres), mulching (5.25 acres), pasture and hayland planting (272 acres), pipeline (3,309 feet), prescribed grazing (282 acres), heavy use area protection (1), nutrient management (2,232 acres), pest management (2,232 acres), watering facility (1), and water well (4) (Figures 2, 3, and 4). Altogether, 35 landowners participated in the Turkey Creek Watershed Project, implementing BMPs Figure 4. Field borders help capture runoff from cultivated fields.

32 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE on 1,400 acres at a cost of $1.5 million. Data collected by LDEQ after BMPs were implemented indicate that water quality rapidly improved. Monthly TDS concentration data show that the exceedance rate decreased from 65 percent before BMP implementation to nine percent in 2011/2012 after BMP implementation (Figures 5 and 6). The improvement in water quality following BMP implementation indicates the major source of TDS impairment in Turkey Creek is indeed agriculture. As a result of the BMPs implemented, TDS concentrations are meeting the standard criterion and remain below the 30 percent maximum exceedance rate. Consequently, the 2010 Integrated Report delisted Turkey Creek for TDS. Through collaborative efforts with LDEQ Figure 5. Annual TDS Concentrations in Turkey Creek. BMPs were implemented in 2003. and its partners, all stakeholders will continue to implement and maintain the prescribed BMPs on the agricultural lands to maintain these water quality improvements (Figure 7).

Theron Phillips began work with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 1998. He worked as a coastal vegetative planting project manager until 2005, then transferred to the Agricultural CWA Section 319 Program working as an agriculture environmental specialist, primarily in the Ouachita River Basin. Figure 6. Exceedance Rates for Turkey Creek. Michael Schooler has been employed with the Department of Ag & Louisiana Department of Forestry/Office of Soil Agriculture and Forestry & Water Conservation for over 17 years. Michael as an agricultural worked under the office environmental specialist of Ag Environmental focusing on CWA Section Science as a field unit 319 implementation supervisor for the Boll on agricultural land in weevil Eradication southwest Louisiana. Program for four years and then transferred to c the Office of Soil and Water Conservation for 14 years thru current working as an agriculture environmental specialist supervisor with the 319 Nonpoint Source program. Figure 7 (right). Conservation tillage, Faran Dietz previously served the USGS such as no-till soybeans following wheat Wetland Research Center as research harvest, provides many on and off-site biologist, and the Capital SWCD as water conservation benefits, and is often essential to successful natural resource conservation on resource specialist. She now works for the LA working cropland. NRCS file photo.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 33 Climate Variability Influences Cyanobacteria in Shallow Florida Lakes Karl E. Havens, Mark V. Hoyer, Edward J. Phlips, and Akaepot Srifa

Introduction ocean cycles, including the ENSO or El monthly measurements of rainfall, any of Florida’s nutrient-enriched Niño Southern Oscillation (Abtew and water depth, water color, flushing rate lakes experience blooms of Trimble 2010). During El Niño years, (the rate at which water in the lake is Mcyanobacteria nearly every there is considerably more rainfall from being replaced by inflow water), and the summer. The blooms can lead to problems late fall to early spring, whereas during biomass of cyanobacteria determined with aesthetics, with odor if they wash up La Niña years, rainfall is considerably from counts and measurements of cells. on shore and die, and on occasion they reduced and winter droughts can occur. The data were obtained from the St. Johns can become toxic to aquatic organisms. Hoyer et al. (2005) examined data River Water Management District and It therefore is important to have a full from 84 lakes in Florida to determine were collected following standard USEPA understanding of what causes a wax and how variability in rainfall affects the and other protocols. wane of cyanobacteria blooms that often concentration of chlorophyll a (Chl-a) in A 15-year dataset from Lake George is observed from year to year in Florida the water. They found that in some lakes, was assembled by Havens et al. (2016b), lakes, particularly when there are ongoing there was a higher concentration of Chl-a and included monthly measurements of attempts to control them in response to in years of high rainfall, in some lakes it water level, discharge rates at the lake’s federal law. was higher in years of low rainfall, and in outlet (a measure of the rate at which Cyanobacteria blooms generally a third group of lakes there was no rainfall water is flowing through the system), are linked to high levels of nutrients effect. They concluded that it is important water color, and cyanobacteria biomass as in the lake water and the extent of to understand this relationship for lake determined for Lake Harris. This dataset nutrient enrichment of Florida lakes management purposes, but that a careful is from a long-term ecological assessment varies tremendously. To a large degree lake-by-lake study might be needed in program led by the Phlips laboratory, this is caused by a strong relationship order to identify that relationship and its again following standard protocols for between nutrient concentration of lake underlying causes. sample collection and analysis. water and the natural levels of nutrients Lake Okeechobee data were obtained in underlying bedrock, watershed soils, General Approach from several research projects done and lake sediments (Bachmann et al. Here we present results from three between 1993 and 2016 by the South 2012). There also are cases where lakes large nutrient-rich lakes in Florida that Florida Water Management District, have been enriched to a higher level have summer blooms of cyanobacteria: including studies in the lake’s deeper than background by nutrients from Lake Harris in the Ocklawaha Chain of central region overlying a mud sediment human sources. One example is Lake Lakes north of Orlando, Lake George and a shallow region overlying sand and Tohopekaliga, located south of Orlando. in the headwaters of the St. Johns peat sediment where, unlike the other two It once received high levels of nutrients River south of Jacksonville, and Lake lakes, a vast area of submerged plants can from sewage treatment plants, and it had Okeechobee in the center peninsular grow (Havens et al. 2002). intense cyanobacteria blooms. The lake south Florida (Figure 1). All three lakes recovered after sewage diversion. have long-term data collection programs Results and Discussion The concentration of phytoplankton that include monitoring water quality in Florida lakes also varies considerably and cyanobacteria, as well as extensive Lake Harris over time, across different areas of the research programs. This allowed us to Yearly-averaged water levels in lake, and sometimes due to the algae (a) determine the relationship between Lake Harris are highly correlated with being concentrated along a shoreline rainfall and cyanobacteria blooms and (b) the amount of rain that falls over the when blown there by the wind. Rainfall develop hypotheses about what causes watershed in the preceding year, which and drought are factors that can cause year to year bloom variability. reflects the fact that rainwater must first large-scale changes in the concentration flow off a large land area, then into other of phytoplankton and the occurrence of Research Methods lakes in the chain and finally drain into blooms in Florida lakes. Rainfall over Havens et al. (2016a) assembled a Lake Harris. During the 15 years in which the Florida peninsula is linked to distant 15-year data set on Lake Harris including the lake was studied, there were two

34 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE periods of high water and two periods of low water. Cyanobacteria blooms waxed and waned with season and there was a clear pattern of summer blooms being less intense in high water years (Figure 2). How is this explained? A statistical analysis of the results indicates that summer blooms either are suppressed by something that happens when water depth is higher, or they are stimulated by something that happens when water depth is lower – or both. Havens et al. (2016a) found no evidence of a connection between nutrient inputs and blooms. However, they observed that two factors associated with water level and inflow might be at play when the lake is deep. The first is flushing rate. During times when the lake had very little water flowing through it and was nearly stagnant (flushing rate near zero in Figure 3), blooms in summer were able to develop to a very high level, presumably because of un-interrupted growth. In contrast, in deep water years, when there were periods when a large volume of the lake water was flushed out, blooms were greatly reduced, perhaps indicating interruption of growth by those disturbance events. It also was discovered (Havens et al. 2016a) that in the high water periods, the color of the water was elevated (Figure 4). In this case, knowing that source water to the lake comes from a highly colored river, it was suggested that the increased inflow contributed to elevated color. Dissolved color absorbs a considerable amount of light, in the very same part of the spectrum that phytoplankton require to grow. Thus higher color also could have Figure 1. Map of Florida showing the location of the three case study lakes. Lake Apopka also is reduced blooms in the high water periods. shown as a point of reference, as Lake Harris occurs in a chain of lakes that starts with flow from So two factors (flushing and color) may Apopka.

Figure 2. The biomass of cyanobacteria over a period of 15 years in Lake Harris, based on monthly sampling, superimposed on a plot of monthly water levels. Redrawn from Havens et al. 2016a.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 35 Figure 3. The biomass of cyanobacteria over a period of 15 years in Lake Harris, based on monthly sampling, superimposed on a plot of flushing rate of water through the lake (percent of lake volume). Redrawn from Havens et al. 2016a.

Figure 4. The biomass of cyanobacteria over a period of 15 years in Lake Harris, based on monthly sampling, superimposed on a plot of water color, which represents materials dissolved in the water than can absorb light and negatively affect growth of algae. Redrawn from Havens et al. 2016a. have been at play in reducing blooms when the lake was deeper. At the same time, Lake Harris, like nearly all other Florida lakes (a) is very shallow, with a maximal depth less than 5 m; (b) has mud sediments at its bottom that contain high levels of nutrients that have accumulated over time; and (c) has a dense population of gizzard shad that feed on the lake bottom and are known from other studies to mobilize large amounts of nutrients from the sediments into the water. Therefore, another hypothesis, that needs to be tested in future research, is that during low water periods, the normal array of chemical and biological processes (including fish) are at work releasing nutrients from the sediments into the water, and with a lesser amount of water, the concentration of nutrients is higher … providing more nutrients for algae, and larger blooms. Figure 5. A conceptual diagram illustrating how recent research identified (Havens et al. 2016) We can summarize these effects using that the intensity of cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Harris is controlled by variability in rainfall a simple conceptual diagram (Figure 5) between wet and dry periods linked to a natural climate cycle. The blue arrows (+) indicate of hypothetical controlling factors. To positive effects and the red arrow (-) indicates inhibitory effects.

36 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE resolve the relative importance of the al. 1993). This is created by suspension of particular lake region, water level has the various processes requires a focused the mud bottom sediments by wind and opposite effect from what was described research project. At this point we only can waves, which reduces light penetration for Lake Harris, Lake George, and the say that normal variations in water depth and creates light-limited conditions for open-water region of Lake Okeechobee. that are linked with a climate cycle can phytoplankton (Aldridge et al. 1995; The response is akin to what is observed have a major impact on the intensity of Phlips et al. 1995). However, there are in shallow lakes in The Netherlands. potentially-toxic cyanobacteria blooms, occasional intense summer blooms. When the lake is deep, insufficient light and there are several explanations that Examination of physical, chemical, and gets to the bottom to support growth of suggest it is more than a coincidental biological data from the open-water plants. Phytoplankton are the dominant occurrence. region with multi-variate statistics form of primary producers and blooms indicates that blooms are not stimulated can occur. When the lake is very shallow, Lake George by elevated levels of nutrients, but rather, and there is just one or two feet of water In this lake, there also is a 15- by periods of time when there is unusually in the shoreline area, light reaches the year monthly record of the biomass of low rainfall, hot and calm conditions, and bottom and there is dense growth of phytoplankton (Figure 6) and it can a water column that is stable for many submerged plants that compete with the be observed that the maximal summer days (Figure 7). These conditions allow phytoplankton for nutrients and keep biomass is lower in some years than in cyanobacteria to grow, float to the water blooms in check. There no doubt are others (Srifa et al. 2016). A statistical surface, and form intense blooms. It is other lakes in Florida that behave in this analysis of these data (Havens et al. important to note that the process starts manner, but to our knowledge, none with 2016b) revealed a very similar result to with dormant cyanobacteria near the lake such a comprehensive history of research. what was found in Lake Harris. In years sediments where they have an ample of below-average rainfall and lower water supply of phosphorus. The most recent Management Implications levels, the most intense summer blooms lake-wide bloom was in summer 2005. In The results presented here illustrate of cyanobacteria occurred. Blooms were this case, elevated levels of biologically how variation in rainfall, which results reduced in years of high rainfall and available nutrients, introduced into the in wet and dry periods with high and higher water, which coincided with more water column by two hurricanes in the low lake levels, respectively, can water flowing through the lake into the prior year, may have set the stage, but the have profound effects on blooms of St. Johns River and with much higher proximal cause seems to fit the model of cyanobacteria in Florida lakes. Large- color, which again, absorbs light and hot calm conditions. This response is not scale changes in the maximal summer reduces phytoplankton growth potential. It unlike that observed in Harris and George level of cyanobacteria have been observed also may be the case that the stimulatory – i.e., cyanobacteria have a preference in three large Florida lakes – Harris, processes identified in Figure 4 were at for periods of tranquil water and hot George, and also the open-water region play in lower water years and favored mid-summer conditions. Intense rainfall of Okeechobee. In all three cases, years blooms of cyanobacteria, along with them and mixing of the water by wind during of increased bloom intensity can be having more time to grow and take up Hurricane Irene in late 2005 immediately explained by physical and chemical nutrients in the more stagnant water. disrupted the cyanobacteria bloom in factors related to variation in weather Okeechobee. and climate. In the Winter 2015 issue Lake Okeechobee Lake Okeechobee is unique among of LakeLine, the featured topic was In the open-water region of Lake the three lakes in also having a vast “managing lakes in droughts.” In the Okeechobee blooms of cyanobacteria area along the west and south shore that examples provided, there were massive generally are suppressed by a high amount can support submerged plants – up to cyanobacteria blooms in Diamond Valley of inorganic solids in the water (Phlips et 50,000 acres (Havens et al. 2002). In this Lake, California, and Rampart Reservoir,

Figure 6. The biomass of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and other phytoplankton over a period of 15 years in Lake George, based on monthly sampling. Redrawn from Havens et al. 2016b.

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 37 of rehabilitation efforts, when in fact they might still be needed. The bottom line is that periods of extremes in rainfall (wet and dry) can significantly impact cyanobacteria blooms along with the nutrients discharged during these events. These naturally occurring events need to be considered by the agencies charged with setting water quality standards and monitoring and enforcing compliance with those standards. If either water quality standards or compliance are determined and evaluated in only periods of extremes, invalid conclusions can be made. This is why several authors have suggested the need for multiple years of data ranging from 6 to 20 years to evaluate true trends in lake water chemistry and responses to nutrient reduction strategies.

Literature Cited Figure 7. Conceptual diagram of cyanobacteria bloom dynamics in Lake Okeechobee under Abtew, W. and P. Trimble. 2010. El mixed conditions, which occur when wind blows across the lake with sufficient intensity to stir up Niño-Southern Oscillation link to the water and sediments, and under calm conditions that occur sometimes in dry summer periods. south Florida hydrology and water Under mixed conditions, cyanobacteria biomass is lower and distributed through the water col- management applications. Water Resour umn. Under calm conditions, surface blooms occur. Redrawn from Havens et al. 1998. Manage, 24: 4255-4271. Aldridge, F.J., E.J. Phlips and C.L. Colorado, during drought years. The regarding future trends in rainfall. As Schelske. 1995. The use of nutrient first record of microcystin in Lake Mead new research emerges, managers need to enrichment bioassays to test for spatial was during a drought that resulted in consider whether climate change will be and temporal distribution of limiting Microcystis blooms. These observations a substantive issue for lake rehabilitation factors affecting phytoplankton are consistent with what we report here planning. dynamics of Lake Okeechobee, Florida. for Florida lakes. There is another reason why, from Arch für Hydrobiol, 45: 177-190. In order to protect lakes from a lake management standpoint, it is Bachmann, R.W., D.L. Bigham, M.V. over-enrichment by nutrients (i.e., critical to understand natural variation in Hoyer and D.E. Canfield, Jr. 2012. eutrophication), the Environmental cyanobacteria blooms: because without Factors determining the distributions Protection Agency requires the states being aware of natural environmental of total phosphorus, total nitrogen and establish nutrient concentration and controls, wrong conclusions could be chlorophyll a in Florida lakes. Lake input thresholds. In Florida, it already reached and wrong actions taken. For Reserv Manage, 28: 10-26. has been established that this standard example, if an agency is monitoring a Havens, K.E., R.S. Fulton III, J.R. setting must be done in the context of lake where nutrient inputs have been Beaver, E.E. Samples and J. Collee. natural background variation caused reduced, and this coincides with the onset 2016a. Effects of climate variability by differences in bedrock and soils. of a multi-year drought, there might be on cladoceran zooplankton and The results of our case studies also intensified cyanobacteria blooms simply cyanobacteria in a shallow subtropical demonstrate that nutrient standards need due to the lower water. Without knowing lake. J Plankton Res, 38: 418-430. to consider how lakes respond to variation this, it might be concluded that nutrient Havens, K.E., H. Paerl, E.J. Phlips, in weather and climate. Further, if there is reduction strategies were not sufficiently M. Zhu, J.R. Beaver and A. Srifa. a projected long-term change in climatic aggressive and additional unnecessary 2016b. Extreme weather events and conditions, such as duration of droughts or projects might be planned, possibly climate variability provide a lens into intensified rainfall, this needs to be taken wasting tax dollars. Or, an agency might how shallow lakes may respond to into consideration when setting nutrient implement a nutrient-reduction program climate change. Water 8, doi:10.3390/ standards. At the present time, there are at a time when a lake transitions from w8060229. consistent projections among climate a drought to a wet period and observe Hoyer, M.V., C.A. Horsbaugh, D.E. models that the future will be warmer, a large suppression of cyanobacteria as Canfield and R.W. Bachmann. 2005. with a greater loss of water from lakes happened in Lake Harris and George. It Lake level and trophic state variables by evapotranspiration. However, there might wrongly be attributed to the nutrient is not agreement among climate models reduction program and could termination (HAVENS continued on next page . . . )

38 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE Affiliate News

“How We Celebrated Lakes Appreciation Month”

Indiana Lakes Management Indiana Clean Lakes Program at Lake associations around the state to conduct Society (ILMS) Lemon – photos are here: https:// lake awareness events, promote the ILMS hosted “Love Your www.facebook.com/IndianaCLP/ Secchi Dip In, as well as encourage Lakes” Day at the Indiana posts/1169061046500304 citizens to enjoy the lakes and reservoirs State Fair Fishing Pond Submitted by: Sara Peel in Pennsylvania. Of note was a new – super- rainy day at the event at Harveys Lake, in Luzerne fair but we had fun fishing Pennsylvania Lake Management County. The event included an initiative with youth and parents! Society (PALMS) to educate lake users on the danger of Photos are here: https:// Once again in aquatic invasive species, especially www.facebook.com/ Pennsylvania July hydrilla, which was recently found at indianalakes/photos/pcb.9 was proclaimed Lake the lake. Other outreach events included 41827969295746/941827 Awareness Month displays and materials at the Linesville 562629120/?type=3. by Governor Tom State Fish Hatchery as well as others We also co-hosted the Great Aquatic Wolf. The PA Lake around the Commonwealth. Invasive Species Workshop with the Management Society Submitted by: Brian S. Pilarcik. (PALMS) conducted outreach to lake

(HAVENS continued from previous page . . . )

among a population of shallow Florida dynamics in a sub-tropical lake at the University of lakes and within individual lakes. Can J dominated by cyanobacteria: Florida IFAS. Mark has Fish Aquat Sci, 62: 2760-2769. Cyanobacteria like it hot and sometimes been active in Florida Phlips, E.J., F.J. Aldridge, P. Hansen, dry. Aquat Ecol, http://dx.DOI. Lake Management P.V. Zimba, J. Ihnat, M. Conroy and org/10.1007/s10452-016-9565-4. Society (FLMS) and the P. Ritter. 1993. Spatial and temporal Mothership NALMS since variability of trophic state parameters the early 1990s, including in a shallow subtropical lake (Lake Karl Havens is director a turn as NALMS Okeechobee, Florida, USA). Arch für of the Florida Sea Grant president from 2009 to Hydrobiol, 128:437-458. College Program and a 2011. Phlips, E. J., F. J. Aldridge, C. L. professor in the fisheries Schelske, and T. L. Crisman. 1995. and aquatic sciences Edward Phlips is a professor in the fisheries Relationship between light availability, program of the University and aquatic sciences program of the School chlorophyll-a and tripton in a large of Florida IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation at shallow sub-tropical lake. Limnol of Forest Resources University of Florida IFAS. His research focuses Oceanogr, 40:416-421. and Conservation. His research deals with on the ecology of algal blooms in freshwater Scheffer, M., S. H. Hosper, M. L. Meijer, responses of lake ecosystems to perturbations, and marine ecosystems. B. Moss, and E. Jeppesen. 1993. and he is a past recipient of the Edward Deevy “Alternative equilibria in shallow Jr. award. Akaepot Srifa is an assistant professor of lakes.” Trends Ecol Evol. 8: 275-279. biology at Mahasarakham University, Thailand. Srifa, A., E. J. Phlips, M. F. Cichra, and J. Mark Hoyer is director of Florida LAKEWATCH, His research focuses on the dynamics of C. Hendrickson. 2016. Phytoplankton a volunteer water quality-monitoring program freshwater plankton. c

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 39 Edward Kwietniewski Student Corner The Influence of an Extreme Drawdown on a Northeast Lake: Putting the Puzzle Together

ew York State is home to a multitude of human-created Nreservoirs that augment natural, glacier-created lakes. These reservoirs can provide recreational opportunities such as boating, swimming, or fishing and can be important sources of drinking water. Because reservoirs provide these uses, understanding the dynamics of individual reservoir systems is a key component of their proper management.

An Unusual Northeastern Reservoir Rushford Lake is a reservoir located in the Northwestern corner of Allegany County in New York State. Similar to other Northeastern reservoirs, it has been invaded by an exotic macrophyte – the brittle naiad (Najas minor, Figure 1a). However, Rushford Lake is unique because of an unusually extreme water A level drawdown (Figure 1b). Every October, Rushford Lake has its water level reduced by 30 feet (9.1 m) to 60 feet (18.2 m). Fall and winter drawdowns are common in Northeastern reservoirs. Many reservoirs use drawdown as a tool to reduce macrophyte abundance (e.g., Saratoga Lake, Galway Lake, Forest Lake (NYSFOLA 2009); reducing the water level by two to four feet exposes a portion of the littoral zone that causes littoral macrophytes to be eliminated by desiccation. The Rushford Lake drawdown, however, has a different purpose. The reservoir was owned by a power company that released water from Rushford Lake to enhance flow to downstream hydroelectric dams during low-flow periods during autumn months. Although ownership of the dam changed to the Rushford Lake Recreation District in 1980, the annual drawdowns B have continued as a way to prevent ice damage to the dam. The 150’ dam is Figure 1. The exotic brittle naiad in Rushford Lake (A); after the 2014 Rushford Lake drawdown (B). 40 Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE tapered from the top to the bottom. Winter The first macrophyte survey was the sediment composition, is reducing ice could easily damage the relatively thin conducted on Rushford Lake in August and redistributing the native macrophyte upper portions of the dam. Thus, lowering 2015. The majority (~75 percent) of the taxa that serve as warm water fish habitat the water level reduces the likelihood that macrophyte biomass in the lake was while opening up rockier habitat more the dam will incur serious ice damage. the exotic brittle naiad (Figure 2). The supportive of cool water fishes. As a Unlike other reservoirs that have used invasion of the exotic macrophyte was result, conditions in Rushford Lake seem Student Corner drawdown as an effective management most pronounced in the bays and stream to favor cool water fish species over warm solution to nuisance macrophyte growth, mouths where finer sediments comprised water species. the annual drawdown on Rushford Lake a majority of the lake bottom. The annual seems to have stimulated the growth of drawdown is consistently supporting A Plan for a Reservoir the exotic brittle naiad. This phenomenon distribution of the finer, nutrient A clear lake management plan is has been observed in other lakes (Peterson rich sediments to these areas while needed to reduce the brittle naiad in and Branch 1987) including recently redistributing them below the littoral zone Rushford Lake. within New York State (Galway Lake; in others. This, in turn, created optimal One of the first necessary steps will Eichler 2011). conditions for macrophyte growth in be to limit the spread of the invasive Aquatic macrophyte invasions have the bays and stream mouths. Thus, the naiad. Reducing traffic through dense led to competition with and displacement disturbance of the annual drawdown beds of brittle naiad will reduce of native species, negative lake user seemed to open up Rushford Lake for fragmentation, and thus, potential spread. influences, as well as significant control the introduction of brittle naiad, a species Therefore, it should be suggested that lake and recreational costs (Pimentel et that favors nutrient-rich sediments and is users refrain from entering these areas al. 2000). Therefore, an effective tolerant to water level drawdowns. More as soon as possible. The next step would management plan for the exotic pieces were beginning to come together. then be to ensure that brittle naiad does macrophyte problem in Rushford Lake Fisheries surveys were conducted not move from Rushford Lake to any will have to account for the influences that throughout the 2015 growing season. other local lakes. A watercraft inspection the large, annual drawdown has had on These surveys documented relatively few program already exists at the lake’s only the system. These historical drawdowns, warmwater fishes such as largemouth public boat launch, however, it focuses combined with a general lack of historical bass (Micropterus salmoides) and only on what enters Rushford Lake, not monitoring and the contrasting response bluegill (Lepomis gibbosus). In contrast, what exits. Inspectors in this program of winter drawdown on macrophyte cool water fish species like smallmouth should be trained to also observe boats as growth, create an intriguing puzzle that bass (Micropterus dolomieu), walleye they are exiting the lake for any invasive must be pieced together to successfully (Sander vitreus), and yellow perch (Perca aquatic species, clean off any sign of reduce the exotic macrophyte abundance flavescens) were doing well comparatively exotics, and educate the boaters as they in Rushford Lake. in terms of abundance (Figure 3). This leave. Once these initial and immediate may be because the drawdown, by altering steps have been taken, potential Piecing the Puzzle Together In Rushford Lake several pieces of information had to be linked together to solve the puzzle. The first piece clicked into place when I first observed the annual drawdown in the fall of 2014. Drawdown caused the lake bottom to become visible in much of the lake. The sediments were comprised of fine stream- derived sediments in the bays as well as stream mouths and larger-sized cobbles in the riverine and transition zones of the reservoir (Figure 1b). The drawdown may have helped transport the finer sediments from the shoreline-littoral zone down into the lower portions of the reservoir. This is similar to the Sooke Reservoir in British Columbia, Canada where seasonal drawdowns were observed to move finer sediments from littoral zone areas to post-drawdown water levels (Furey et al. 2004). This seemingly small observation would have major implications for future Figure 2. Results of a rake toss macrophyte survey conducted in Rushford Lake during August pieces of the puzzle. 2015. Brittle naiad was the most abundant species found during this survey (blue).

Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 41 altered the lake’s biota and influenced the aesthetics of the lake. An efficient lake management plan requires actions that will immediately limit the spread of the aquatic nuisance, and then work with control methods to reduce the influence of the macrophyte on people’s use and enjoyment of Rushford Lake by the following growing season.

References Eichler, L. 2011. An Assessment of Aquatic Plant Growth in Galway Lake, Saratoga County, New York. Darrin Freshwater Institute Report. http://50.6.152.76/News_%26_ Information/Entries/2011/12/10_ Figure 3. Pie chart showing the percentage of warm (red) and cool water (blue) fish species quantitative_aquatic_plant_survey_ within the fish community of Rushford Lake during the 2015 fisheries survey. Smallmouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch were the three most abundant species. files/Galway%20Lake%20Plant%20 Survey%20Report%202011.pdf. Furey, P. C., R.N. Nordin and A. management options can be taken into ensure that any fragments are collected Mazumder. 2004. Water level consideration. since brittle naiad can spread easily via drawdown affects physical and Management options that can be fragmentation. Reducing the extent of biogeochemical properties of littoral taken into consideration to control the the drawdown every fall may be a way sediments of a reservoir and a natural invasive brittle naiad on Rushford Lake to reduce invasive naiad abundance lake. Lake and Reserv Manage, 20(4): include mechanical options such as the since it seems to help stimulate its 280-295. installation of benthic mats, the use of growth. However, since the drawdown is NYSFOLA. 2009. Diet for a Small Lake: a mechanical harvester, and altering the necessary for the health of the dam it may The Expanded Guide to New York State drawdown level, as well as chemical not be possible to reduce the drawdown Lake and Watershed Management. options like herbicide application. Many to a point that discourages exotic species New York State Federation of Lake of these options are relatively cost- from becoming reestablished. Therefore, a Associations, Inc. efficient, a factor that is important to much stronger assessment of the influence Peterson, S. A., and W. Branch. 1987. Rushford Lake stakeholders. of the ice on the dam will be required Lake Restoration Methods: Some Work, Benthic mats are a way to create before this technique is considered. Some Don’t. Management of Bottom channels through the brittle naiad to allow The use of aquatic herbicides on Sediments Containing Toxic Substances. mid-lake access to those lake property Rushford Lake could be focused in areas Proceedings of the 11th U. S./Japan owners who live near dense beds of the where dense beds of brittle naiad exist Experts Meeting, November 4-6, 1985, invasive macrophyte. This would be one throughout the next growing season. Seattle, WA. April 1987. p 15-25, 37 way to allow stakeholders to adapt to This technique could result in more ref.. 1987. living with brittle naiad with a relatively available nutrients for algal blooms from Pimentel, D., L. Lach, R. Zuniga and cost-efficient technique that can begin the decomposition of dead plant matter D. Morrison. 2000. Environmental as early as the next growing season. especially when the target is the majority and economic costs of nonindigenous Additionally with the drawdown, it could of the macrophyte biomass. In addition, species in the United States. Bioscience, be possible to apply the mats easily while repeated herbicide treatments could 50:53-65 the water level is low just before spring result in herbicide-resistant populations fill-in. Lake stakeholders would have to emerging. The potential for algal blooms be mindful to properly maintain the mats as well as the possibility of resistance Edward Kwietniewski by cleaning off deposited sediments and the herbicides could create a situation is a student at the State allowing gas to exit from beneath them where the benefits of quick brittle naiad University of New York via slits, requiring their time and energy. biomass control is offset by long-term College at Oneonta A mechanical harvester is another way consequences. Therefore, herbicide use currently finishing up his to carve channels through the naiad and should be limited and used only if other Master’s degree in Lake allow lake access to those afflicted by potential techniques present themselves to Management. His Master’s the dense beds. A technique such as this be inefficient. work has focused on could be utilized later in growing season The completed Rushford Lake puzzle creating a comprehensive when the negative influence of the exotic shows a reservoir that has been invaded management plan for Rushford Lake in New macrophyte is at its greatest. However, by brittle naiad through the influences York State. c great care would have to be taken to of a large drawdown. This may have

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Fall 2016 / NALMS • LAKELINE 43 Bill Jones Literature Search

Archiv Fur Hydrobiologie Geophysical Research Letters Nürnberg, G.K. and B.D. LaZerte. Lee, T. A., S.M. Bollens, G. Rollwagen- Lee, M., E. Shevliakova, S. Malyshev, 2015. More than 20 years of estimated Bollens and J.E. Emerson. 2016. The P.C.D. Milly and P.R. Jaffé. 2016. Climate internal phosphorus loading in effects of eutrophication and invasive variability and extremes, interacting with polymictic, eutrophic Lake Winnipeg, species on zooplankton community nitrogen storage, amplify eutrophication Manitoba. J. Great Lakes Res. 42, 18–27. dynamics in a shallow temperate lake. risk. Geophys Res Let, 43(14):7520-7528. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2015.11.003. Arch Hydrobiol, 188(3):215-231. Hydrobiology Landscape Research Candian Journal of Fisheries and Pawlik-Skowronska, B. and M. Olwig, K.R. 2016. Virtual enclosure, Aquatic Sciences Toporowska. 2016. How to mitigate ecosystem services, landscape’s character Pick, F.R. 2016. Blooming algae: a cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxin and the ‘rewilding’ of the commons: the Canadian perspective on the rise of toxic production in eutrophic water reservoirs? ‘Lake District’ case. Landscape Res, cyanobacteria. Can J Fish Aquat Sci, Hydrobiol, 778(1):45-59. 41(2):253-264. 73(7):1149-1158. Hydrological Processes Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Desalinization and Water Treatment Zeiger, S.J. and J.A. Hubbart. 2016. Valério, E., V. Vasconcelos and A. Mehrabi, N., M. Soleimani, H. Sharififard Nested-scale nutrient flux in a mixed- Campos. 2016. New insights on the and M. Madadi Yeganeh. 2016. land-use urbanizing watershed. Hydrol mode of action of microcystins in animal Optimization of phosphate removal from Process, 30(10):1475-1490. cells – A review. Mini Rev Med Chem, drinking water with activated carbon 16(13):1032-41. using response surface methodology Journal of Geophysical Research (RSM). Desal Water Treat, 57(33): Oliver, A.A., R.G.M. Spencer, M.L. Seminars in Dialysis 15613-15618. Deas and R.A. Dahlgren. 2016. Impact Hilborn, E.D. and R.A. Ward. 2016. The of seasonality and anthropogenic risk of cyanobacterial toxins in dialysate: Earth and Environmental Science impoundments on dissolved organic what do we know? Semin Dial, 29(1):15- Shodimu, O and R. Al-Tahir. 2016. matter dynamics in the Klamath River 18. Modeling land cover dynamics to assess (Oregon/California, USA). J Geophys the sustainability of wetland services: a Res: Biogeosci, 121(7):1946-1958. case study of the Grand Lake Meadows, William (Bill) Jones, is LakeLine’s editor Canada. IOP Conference Series: Earth Journal of Great Lakes Research and a former NALMS president, and clinical Environ Sci, 34(1):12033-12039. Hudson, J. and D. Vandergucht. 2015. professor (retired) from Indiana University’s Spatial and temporal patterns in physical School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He Environmental Microbiology properties and dissolved oxygen in Lake can be reached at: 1305 East Richland Drive, Beall, B. F. N., M.R. Twiss, D.E. Smith, Diefenbaker, a large reservoir on the Bloomington, IN 47408; e-mail: joneswi@ B.O. Oyserman, M.J. Rozmarynowycz, Canadian prairies. J. Great Lakes Res, indiana.edu. c C.E. Binding, R.A. Bourbonniere, G.S. 41(2):22–33. Bullerjahn, M.E. Palmer, E.D. Reavie, M.K.Waters, W.C. Woityra and R.M.L. R.L. North, J. Johansson, D.M. McKay. 2016. Ice cover extent drives Vandergucht, L.E. Doig, K. Liber, phytoplankton and bacterial community K-E Lindenschmidt, H. Baulch and structure in a large north-temperate lake: J.J. Hudson. 2015. Evidence for implications for a warming climate. Env internal phosphorus loading in a large Microbiol, 18(6):1704-1719. prairie reservoir (Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan). J. Great Lakes Res, 41(Sup 2):91-99.

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