Nutrient, Trace-Element, and Ecological History of Musky Bay, Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin, As Inferred from Sediment Cores
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Nutrient, Trace-Element, and Ecological History of Musky Bay, Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin, as Inferred from Sediment Cores Water-Resources Investigations Report 02–4225 Study area EXPLANATION WISCONSIN Local drainage basin Open water Wetland Stream Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation Drainage basin boundary Core collected in 1999 Core collected in 2001 Grindstone Lake ek re Windigo C aw Lake u q S Northeastern Bay Chicago Durphee Bay Lake Stucky Bay G host Cre Lac Courte Oreilles ek Little Lac Courte Musky Bay Oreilles age Whitefish Lake Sand Lake Billy Boy FlowFlowage Couderay Ashegon 0 1 2 MILES River Lake Devils 0 1 2 KILOMETERS Lake Prepared in cooperation with the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Nutrient, Trace-Element, and Ecological History of Musky Bay, Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin, as Inferred from Sediment Cores By Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Paul J. Garrison, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, and John F. Elder U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 02–4225 Prepared in cooperation with the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Middleton, Wisconsin 2003 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 8505 Research Way Box 25286 Middleton, WI 53562-3586 Denver, CO 80225-0286 CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and scope....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Historical analysis of lake sediment...................................................................................................................................... 5 Description of study area ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 General characteristics ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Land-use history.......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Cranberry farming............................................................................................................................................. 7 Shoreline development...................................................................................................................................... 9 Study methods....................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Sediment coring and subsampling .............................................................................................................................. 12 Physical characteristics and organic content............................................................................................................... 16 Radiometric dating and sedimentation rates ............................................................................................................... 16 Total organic carbon and nitrogen............................................................................................................................... 22 Minor and trace elements............................................................................................................................................ 22 Biogenic silica............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Diatoms ....................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Pollen .......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Quality assurance ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 Historical trends from Musky Bay and Northeastern Bay.................................................................................................... 25 Bulk density and organic content................................................................................................................................ 25 Sedimentation rates..................................................................................................................................................... 26 Nutrients...................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Minor and trace elements ........................................................................................................................................... 36 Biogenic silica, diatom counts, and biovolumes......................................................................................................... 40 Diatom assemblages ................................................................................................................................................... 43 Musky Bay ........................................................................................................................................................ 43 Northeastern Bay............................................................................................................................................... 50 Pollen .......................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Summary and conclusions .................................................................................................................................................... 52 References cited .................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Appendixes: A. Results from analysis of cores and surficial sediment collected from Lac Courte Oreilles and surrounding areas A1. Results from analysis of water content, loss on ignition, bulk density, and porosity from core samples collected from Lac Courte Oreilles, October 1999 and July 2001................................................................... 60 A2. Results from particle-size analysis of lake and soil samples collected in July 2001 from areas surrounding Lac Courte Oreilles ......................................................................................................................................... 63 A3. Results from analysis of 210Pb, 226Ra, and 137Cs from core samples from Musky and Northeastern Bays, Lac Courte Oreilles, October 1999................................................................................... 64 A4. Results from minor- and trace-element analysis of core samples from Lac Courte Oreilles and surrounding areas, October 1999 and July 2001.............................................................................................. 66 A5. Results from nutrients analysis of core samples from Musky and Northeastern bays, Lac Courte Oreilles, October 1999................................................................................................................................................... 75 A6. Results from biogenic silica analysis of core samples from Musky and Northeastern bays, Lac Courte Oreilles, October 1999 ................................................................................................................. 77 A7. Results from analysis of diatom valve concentration from Musky and Northeastern bays, Lac Courte Oreilles, October 1999 ................................................................................................................. 79 A8. Results from analysis of diatom assemblages from Musky Bay, MB-1 and MB-3 cores, Lac Courte Oreilles, October 1999 ................................................................................................................. 80 CONTENTS III CONTENTS–Continued A9. Results from pollen analysis of core samples from Musky and Northeastern bays, Lac Courte Oreilles, October 1999..............................................................................................................................................