INTRODUCTION 1 Willard ~. Harman Jeane Bennett O·Dea. .'vlead .'vicCoy. .'vir. Da\id Ramsey. Scott Stanton and Da\"e \\"amer continued their graduate work with the \ascular flora at Greem\"oods. .'v10e Pond fish. Otsego Lake algae. Delaware Ri\"er salmonids and Otsego Lake alewi\es. respectiwly. Two high school students were supported \ia FHV .'vlecklenburg Consenation fellowships: Carrie .'v1iller from Cherry Valley-Springfield and Jennifer Lopez from Richfield Springs Central School. Emera Bridger from Cooperstown Central received support from the Village ofCoopersto\\"D to study water quality on the Susquehanna. Ta\"is Austin from Cooperstown was awarded a Lake and Valley Garden Club internship. Renee Ferguson from RichJield Springs Central. .'vlary.'vlinor from Cooperstown and Allison Barra from Cherry Valley - Springfield were supported by ~e\\ York Academy of Sciences Science Research Training internships. John O'Conner and Brenda Hewett from SUNY Cobleskill were sponsored by Robert C. Mac\\'atters Internships in the Aquatic Sciences. Kristin France from Williams College receiwd a a Rufus 1. Thayer Otsego Lake Research Assistantship. Eric Jorczak from Binghamton University was sponsored by the Lake and Valley Garden Club to work in Goodyear Swamp Sanctuary. Sarah Good from Vasser College and Rebek2.h Perlmutter from Colgate University were sponsored by the Village ofCooperstov,;n to work on the "Otsego Lake Homeov·;ners Sur\"ey" and the "Otsego Lake Management Plan". Robin Basile from SlJNY Oneonta was sponsored by the Peterson Family Conservation Trust to work at Greenv... oods Conservancy. The Lake and Valley Garden Club generously prO\"ided funding for materials and repairs to improve GoodSwamp Sanctuary. Drs. L. P. Sohacki, W. L. Butts, and B.R. Da)10n continued long term studies in their areas ofexpertise. Dr. John Foster. from the SUNY Cobleskill Fisheries and Wildlife Technology Program, worked his fifth year as a BFS Visiting Researcher. Students were enrolled in se\eral SC~Y Oneonta and SUNY Cobleskill on-campus courses and attended field exercises on site. Bio. 108. Ecology and Field Biology. was offered by B.R. Da,yton to selected high school students during the summer. :Ylore than 1,000 K-12 students visited the BFS and received hands-on experiences on Otesgo Lake and BFS woodlands over the year. Several talented citizen volunteers again helped at the BFS during the year: They were Brian Bitteker. Kathy Ernst. Dan Rosen and Miriam Sharick. We conducted the annual Otsego Lake Boat census on July nrd. Boats and personnel were provided for Otsego Lake Cleanup Day and Water Chestnut Day. The BFS provided a berth and personnel to engage in "Waterwatch" activities. 2 Recent Otsego Lake Boat Censuses Types ofBoats 7/31/91 8/5/92 8/5/92 7/27/94 7/14/95 7/23/96 Sailboats 243 220 181 208 208 207 Rowboats 285 243 266 311 313 325 Canoes Outboards 470 407 405 461 430 378 Inboards 60 22 27 16 13 36 Inboard- 213 219 215 227 267 260 Outboards Misc. 61 47 51 62 84 66 TOTAL 1.332 1.158 1.145 1,285 1.315 1.272 Funding for BFS research and educational programs was procured in 1996 from many citizens and local funding organizations including The Clark Foundation. The Gronewaldt Foundation, the Lake and Valley Garden Club, the Peterson Family Conservation Trust, the OCCA, the SUNY Graduate Research Initiative Program. The SUNY Oneonta Foundation, the SUNY Office ofEducational Technology, the Village ofCooperstown, the Schuyler County Water Quality Coordinating Committee and the Mary Imogene Basset Hospital's Science Partnership Program. Prof. and Directo 28/12/96 3 ONGOING S11JDIES: OTSEGO LAKE WATERSHED MONITORING: 1996 Otsego Lake Water Levels Willard.\'. Harman K. S Ernst* The following data were collected at the Biological field Station and illustrated by K. S. Ernst. * BFS volunteer: Graphics and design. Present address: 13 Yard Avenue, farmingdale. NJ. 07727. Mar-96 Apr-96 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 1 ,-------,---~T----.----r-r-,._,______,_____._____.__________r_____,_______,_·._"__.__r_,....__~--._______.____.____,_______,___ 50 50 40 40 30 30 E E 0 0 20 .E 20 .E E E .!'!' 10 .~ 10 :r :r'" Q; 0 0 1ii :s:N :s: -10 -10 -20 -20 -30 -30 Days Days May-96 Jun-96 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 ,-------,-----r,.,--,.--, -', 50 -,--r--r-,-, , , , --.-----.-----------.-.--T-' , , , 50 40 40 30 30 E E 0 0 .E 20 .E 20 E E .~ .~ 10 10 r ~ :r :r Q; 0 !i 0 iii -----­ :s: :s:'" -10 -10 -20 -20 -30 -30 Days Days .f::>. Jul-96 Aug-96 4 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 4 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 50 50 40 40 30 30 E E u u .!; 20 .!; 20 :c E .~ 10 ~10 :r :r ~..... ~ ~ ......... " 0 ----------------------.--.....~ 0 • • • • • ;:.. ~ -10 -10 -20 -20 -30 -30 Days Days Ocl-96 4 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 50 40 30 5 20 .!; E 10 Cl 'iii :r 0 .• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••-e Oi ~ -10 -20 -30 -40 Days VI 6 ~ :N to en U ~ '" oIII Cl'" :I ~ t ~ f ~ l~~_----,--------,- o o o U'l ~ '7 co N U'l N ) N N ~ I C ~ ~ C to t '":> ~ L '" 0 I Cl'" z t ~ L I I ;: ~ r L ~ r r ~ L ~ ~ r I 0 0 0 0 ;: 0 0 0 0 U'l .. '" N "! '7 W:l U! l4D!aH JalBM 7 Otsego Lake limnological monitoring, 1996 Matthew F. Albright ABSTRACT Limnological analyses of several abiotic factors were performed during 1996 at Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, N.Y. The purpose was to monitor the chemical and physical parameters affecting lake water quality for comparison with past findings. This work was part of an ongoing study begun approximately twenty-nine years ago. Throughout the year, profiles of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity were measured using a Hydrolab Scout 2 at the deepest spot in the Lake (TR4-C). Water samples were collected to analyze total phosphorus, nitrite+nitrate, calcium, chloride, and alkalinity. Photic-zone composite samples were collected for chlorophyll a determinations. Secchi disk transparency was measured. The data, after comparison with earlier information, indicate water quality varies in relation to the volume of cold water fish habitat in late summer. These changes are attributed to fluctuations in nutrient loading and weather conditions. INTRODUCTION Otsego Lake is a glacially formed, dimictic lake supporting a cold water fishery. The Lake is generally classified as being chemically mesotrophic, although flora and fauna characteristically associated with oligotrophic lakes are present (Iannuzzi, 1991). Since the establishment in 1968 of the field station, limnological investigations have been ongoing (Clikeman, 1979; Godfrey, 1980; Harman, 1974; Harman and Sohacki, 1976; Harman, 1978; Harman, 1979; Harman, 1980; Harman and Sohacki, 1980; Homburger and Buttigieg, 1991; Iannuzzi, 1988; Monostory, 1972; Sohacki, 1970; 1971; 1972; 1973; 1974; 1975; Stamand Wassmer, 1969). This study is the continuation of year-round work which began in 1991 to monitor lake water quality. The data collected in this report runs for the calendar year and is comparable with contributions by Homburger and Buttigieg (1992), Groff, et. al.(1993), Harman (1994; 1995) and Austin et al. (1996). MATERIALS AND METHODS Data collection began January 10 and continued until December 17, 1996. During winter months (Jan.-Mar.) while the ice covered the surface of the lake, readings were taken monthly. During periods of open water bi-weekly or weekly readings were collected. Data were collected near the deepest part of the Lake (TR4-C) (Figure 1), which is 8 considered representative as past studies have shown the Lake to be spatially homogenous (Iannuzzi, 1988). Physical measurements were recorded at 2 m intervals between 0 and 20 m and 40 m to the bottom; 5 meter intervals were used between 20 and 40 m. Measurements of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity were recorded on site with the use of a multiprobe digital microprocessor. Samples were collected for chemical analyses at 4 m intervals between 0 and 20 m and 40 m and the bottom; 10m intervals were used between 20 and 40 m. Composite samples were collected through the photic zone (surface to the depth at which light equals 1% ambient levels, determined with a Protomatic photometer) for chlorophyll a determinations. These measurements were made using a Turner Designs TD-700 fluorometer following the methods ofWelschmeyer (1994). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Temllerature Surface temperature reached a high of 23 AOC on August 8 and lows of OOC when under Ice. The near-bottom temperatures ranged from 2.8 0 C on February 14 to 5.60 C on November 28. The Lake froze January 4 and remained ice-covered until April 15. Summer stratification was apparent by mid-May. The thermocline was completely eliminated by December 13. Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved oxygen concentrations ranged from surface readings of 14.0 mg/l on January 10 to 8.0 mg/l on September 17. Near-bottom readings ranged from 11.6 mg/l on May 2 to 2.5 mg/l on October 30 and November 11 (Figure 2). Bottom readings were less than 2 mg/l between October 13 and December 13. Areal hypolimnetic oxygen depletion rates were slightly better than had been observed since 1992 (Table 1). This represents the first instance since 1988 that oxygen-loss rates exhibited some improvement from the previous year. However, current values still exceed the lower limit ofeutrophy (0.05 mg/cm2/day) suggested by Hutchinson (1957). pH measurements in Otsego Lake ranged from 7.3 near the bottom throughout much of the summer to 8.6 through the epilimnion on June 27.