1Diagnostic-Feasibility Study and Lake & Watershed Management Plan for Lake Rippowam, Lake Oscaleta, and Lake Waccabuc Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC 1519 State Route 86, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 http://www.cedareden.com Diagnostic-Feasibility Study And Lake & Watershed Management Plan for Lake Rippowam, Lake Oscaleta & Lake Waccabuc May 2004 Prepared for: The Three Lakes Council South Salem, NY Prepared by: Michael R. Martin, CLM Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC 1519 State Route 86, Saranac Lake NY 12983 518.891.9475 www.cedareden.com copyright © 2004 Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC permission for use granted to Three Lakes Council Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC Table of Contents Section Page 1.0 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 6 1.2 The Lakes ................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 The Watershed .......................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Water Quality ............................................................................................................ 6 1.5 Nonpoint Source Problem Areas ........................................................................... 7 1.6 Management Recommendations ........................................................................ 7 Research Needs .......................................................................................................... 7 Shared Recommendations ........................................................................................ 7 In-Lake Management Recommendations ............................................................. 7 2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Project Objectives ................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Description of Lakes and Watershed ................................................................... 8 Topography .................................................................................................................. 9 Soils ................................................................................................................................. 9 Land Use ...................................................................................................................... 14 Current Land Use ................................................................................................... 14 Lake Rippowam ................................................................................................ 16 Lake Oscaleta ................................................................................................... 17 Lake Waccabuc ............................................................................................... 18 Land Use Trends ..................................................................................................... 19 Water & Wetlands ..................................................................................................... 20 Figure 2.6 here – Wetlands ....................................................................................... 20 Past Management Activities and Data ................................................................. 21 3.0 Water Quality ............................................................................................................. 22 3.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 22 Water Chemistry ........................................................................................................ 22 Oxygen Depletion Rates .......................................................................................... 22 Phytoplankton & Zooplankton ................................................................................ 22 3.2 Lake Ecology Primer .............................................................................................. 23 3.3 Water Quality Results ............................................................................................. 24 Units of measure ........................................................................................................ 24 Summary of Results .................................................................................................... 25 Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature ..................................................................... 25 Profile Data ............................................................................................................. 26 Lake Rippowam ................................................................................................. 26 Lake Oscaleta .................................................................................................... 26 Lake Waccabuc ................................................................................................ 26 Oxygen Depletion Rates ...................................................................................... 27 pH & Alkalinity ............................................................................................................ 27 Conductivity ............................................................................................................... 29 i Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC Phosphorus .................................................................................................................. 29 Nitrate/Nitrite Nitrogen ............................................................................................ 30 Chlorophyll a .............................................................................................................. 32 Transparency .............................................................................................................. 32 Phytoplankton ............................................................................................................ 34 Zooplankton ............................................................................................................... 36 Trophic State .............................................................................................................. 37 3.4 Stream Water Quality ........................................................................................... 38 4.0 Lake Bathymetry & Morphology ............................................................................. 39 4.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 39 4.2 Results ....................................................................................................................... 39 5.0 Aquatic Plants ............................................................................................................ 43 5.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 43 5.2 Aquatic Plant Ecology .......................................................................................... 43 Types of Aquatic Plants ............................................................................................ 43 Factors that Control Aquatic Plant Distribution and Abundance .................... 44 Impact of Invasive, Non-Native Species ............................................................... 44 5.3 Results ........................................................................................................................ 44 Aquatic Plants of Lake Rippowam ......................................................................... 44 Aquatic Plants of Lake Oscaleta ............................................................................ 45 Aquatic Plants of Lake Waccabuc ........................................................................ 46 6.0 Watershed NPS Investigation ................................................................................... 51 6.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 51 6.2 Results ....................................................................................................................... 51 7.0 Storm Drain Investigations ........................................................................................ 55 7.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 55 7.2 Results ....................................................................................................................... 55 8.0 Pollutant Budgets ....................................................................................................... 57 8.1 Hydrologic Budget ................................................................................................. 57 Introduction & Methodology .................................................................................. 57 Lake Rippowam Hydrologic Budget ...................................................................... 58 Calculations ............................................................................................................ 58 Summary ................................................................................................................