Water Quality Monitoring begins in University Bay
Stimulated by the events of 2018—Cyanobacteria blooms of unprecedented size and duration on Lake Mendota in June, high water and flooding in August, and a persistent interest in the health and future of the Class of 1918 Marsh—the Friends Board of Directors voted in February to join Clean Lakes Alliance as a Lake Forecasting Steward. In doing so, we will join other citizen scientists reporting on near-shore conditions at more than 80 sites on the five Madison-area lakes. Our data, collected at the Boat Landing on University Bay twice weekly during the summer, will close a gap in water monitoring sites along the campus shoreline. Our observations will help professionals analyze conditions on Lake Mendota and make decisions regarding health and safety, especially during Cyanobacteria blooms.
On April 24 2019, Luke Wynn, the Watershed Specialist for Clean Lakes Alliance, provided training for the seven Friends of the new Lake Forecasting Steward team: Matt Chotlos (contact for the team) Diane Dempsey, Doris Dubielzig, Olympia Mathiaparanam, Nicole Miller, Genevieve Murtaugh and Steve Sentoff. Because near-shore observations are made from University Bay Boat Landing pier, there is no need to use waders. Arlene Koziol, who has mentored the Friends joining Clean Lakes Alliance water quality monitoring program, provided moral support and experienced observations. Arlene and her husband, Jeff Koziol, are Clean Lakes Alliance Water Quality Monitors at Spring Harbor. See their reporting and actions during the 2018 Cyanobacteria blooms on Lake Mendota. Luke Wynn gave each team member a blue Yahara Lakes t-shirt, adding to our sense of camaraderie and delight in commencing this new venture. Photos from Arlene Koziol on Flickr.
On April 24 2019, Luke Wynn, the Watershed Specialist for Clean Lakes Alliance, provided training for the seven Friends of the new Lake Forecasting Steward team: Matt Chotlos (contact for the team) Diane Dempsey, Doris Dubielzig, Olympia Mathiaparanam, Nicole Miller, Genevieve Murtaugh and Steve Sentoff. Because near-shore observations are made from University Bay Boat Landing pier, there is no need to use waders. Arlene Koziol, who has mentored the Friends joining Clean Lakes Alliance water quality monitoring program, provided moral support and experienced observations. Arlene and her husband, Jeff Koziol, are Clean Lakes Alliance Water Quality Monitors at Spring Harbor. See their reporting and actions during the 2018 Cyanobacteria blooms on Lake Mendota. Luke Wynn gave each team member a blue Yahara Lakes t-shirt, adding to our sense of camaraderie and delight in commencing this new venture. Photos from Arlene Koziol on Flickr.
In the warmth of the spring sunshine, occasionally interrupted by a boat launch at the landing, a passing muskrat, and a sandhill crane’s call, Luke Wynn explained and demonstrated the collection of data.
Seven visual observations Wave Intensity Waterfowl Presence Floating Plant Debris Abundance Bather Load Clarity Surface Algal Bloom Presence Algal Bloom Type (if present) Three Measurements Air Temperature (digital thermometer) Water Temperature (digital thermometer) Water Turbidity (turbidity tube with Secchi disk) Identifying the type of surface Algal Bloom is challenging. Cyanobacteria are microscopic and can appear differently colored, depending on the species, while Green Algae are normally green and the strands can be lifted with a stick or a digital thermometer probe. Each observer was given a laminated, illustrated reference sheet to help identify Green Algae and Blue-green Algae (Cyanobacteria) when a bloom does occur. Observers will also send photos of every bloom to Clean Lake Alliance. For the turbidity measurement, water is collected in the 120cm turbidity tube and then drained from the tube until the observer can just make out the pattern of the Secchi disk at the tube’s bottom. |