November 2009 Water Quality Monitoring Report
The streams were tested on the morning of Friday, November 20th. The testing was performed by 4 volunteers. The lake is not tested in November and this is the last streams test of the season. The 2010 testing season will begin in March of 2010.
This season yielded some unusual readings in both the lake and streams test data due most likely to the very different weather we had this season. Far more algae blooms were observed than past seasons and this resulting in higher turbidity readings (lower water clarity), more widely varying dissolved oxygen levels, along many questions and complaints from the residents with homes on the lake.
In November, a week before our test date, it had rained extending over several days. Then, for several days just before the testing day, the weather was dry. However, on the test day, heavy bands of showers moved through the area early, starting about 6:30am. By 9:30, the showers had moved out of the area, and the decision was made to go ahead with testing. Rainfall on the lakeside weather station located on the eastern shore of the lake registered .79” of rain during this 3 hour period of rain bringing the month to date total to 2.71” and the 2009 year to date, to 51.33” of rainfall. Lakeside Station also recorded winds gusts of up to 28 mph and a high temp of 62 degrees was seen on the test day.
The troll was calibrated starting at 7:45am and calibration was complete by 8:20am. No unusual conditions were encountered during calibration. The RDO calibration did report outside the range but per a tech note from In-Situ, the manufacturer, there is a software issue and the calibration that resulted is good.
General Observations
Several of the volunteers noted that the streams for this test were the highest they had ever seen. It should also be noted that this is the first time in the five years of testing that all streams continued to flow during the whole March thru November testing season. Except for this year, at least one or two of the streams would be dry on one or more of the monthly test dates. During the worst year, only Sucker Brook continued to flow.
This year, the runoff brook at the corner of Wakefield and Lakeside Ave was also tested. Unlike prior years, it continued to flow throughout the entire season. While this is a wet weather runoff brook, the test results were consistence with those seen in the main feeder streams to the lake.
The wet weather contributed to higher levels of algae than was seen in prior years. This showed up in the streams mainly in the form of higher turbidity (lower clarity) readings than past years. The higher water flow keep the streams flushed of any algae buildup in the streams with more ending up in the lake.
Site Observations
The testing plan submitted to the Ma. DEP calls for water samples to be taken at the Browns Brook 18, Mine Brook 17, and Sucker Brook 16 sites. The BB18 site is at the bridge on Gore Rd. and the MB17 and SB16 sites are at the bridges where these streams cross Mine Brook Road. Staff flow gauges are installed at the BB18, MB17, and SB16 and these readings are recorded on the streams field sheets. Water samples for Colorimeter testing of Phosphors, and Nitrates are taken at these same three sites.
A Troll snapshot was taken in the runoff brook at the corner of Wakefield and Lakeside Ave. Readings were taken each test month from this location.
The site labeled LKQ20 was the first stream site tested. This site is located next to the LKQ parking lot. The team observed high flow rates from both the upstream branch of Browns Brook, and the outflow pipe coming from LKQ. The flow from the Browns Brook branch indicated very clear water. Troll readings were taken in both branches to show the contrast. The water flow from the LQK outflow was Tan colored, suggesting a high level of sediments in the runoff from that source.
The picture below shows the outflow from LKQ on the left. The forefront stream is Browns Brook coming from above LKQ and the two join and are flowing off to the upper right side of the photo. That flow joins with Un-Named Brook a little further down to form the total flow seen at the Lower Gore Rd Bridge site BB18.
This report and picture was forwarded to LKQ to see if they could correct the problem. They responded with the following solutions:"LKQ on Rt16 has also found a area where the water that enters the property was not flowing into a swale properly. This was causing a large amount of runoff to flow directly through the property. This area has been corrected.
Rt16 is also installing stone and filter matt (by Mirafi) in a heavy traveled area on the property. This material has been use at other locations with great success."
P. Mahoney
LKQ
Site Name---Time Stamp--Depth--Cond---Nitrate---ORP---pH----RDO-----Temp---Turbidity--------------------------------------11/20/2009-----(ft)---(uS Act)--(ppm)---(mv)----------(mg/L)------(F)------(NTU)
LKQ20 Flow--------10:12------0.331 --37.37------0.8-----181-----6.56---10.55-----54.91-----763.55
Above LKQ20------10:14------0.773---76.91------0.18---178-----6.02---13.33-----50.65--------0.3002
BB18----------------10:22-----1.315--64.55----0.53--168----6.36---15.25---51.97------77.55
The huge difference in turbidity (loss of clarity) indicates that the LKQ outflow is depositing very high levels of sediments into Browns Brook. EPA guidelines call for turbidity levels no greater than 20 NTU. Also, while we are not sure of the reasons, the differences in Nitrate and pH readings are significant differences between the two measurements. While conductivity levels differ, both are well below 100 uSem and can be considered as natural background levels. The lower Dissolved Oxygen (RDO), is consistent with the high sediment loading in the outflow source.
The Browns Brook 18 site (BB18), which is at the bridge where Browns Brook crosses under Gore Road, also reflected a high sediment loading from the LKQ outflow. The water at this site is a mix of the flow coming down the Browns Brook, with the flow coming from the Un-named Brook. This creates a greater volume of water flowing past the BB18 location resulting in a dilution of the flow. The Troll measurement indicated a Turbidity (loss of Clarity) reading at the BB18 site of 77.55 NTU. While this is the worst effect we have seen being caused by the cloudy water from the LKQ outflow pipe, the water from the LKQ source has always been cloudy but the flow rate was extremely low. Higher flows have been observed for much of this season with the highest being in the last 3 months. This has resulted in Turbidity readings at BB18 rising from the 2-4 NTU range to the latest 77.55NTU reading. The water flows into the lake in Smith Cove a short distance downstream from the BB18 site.
The Mine Brook 17, and Sucker Brook 16, sites tested normal. MB17 continued to measure a very low 15.9 uSem conductivity (salinity) reading, and SB16 showed a very slight elevation in Turbidity at 2.8 NTU likely caused by the increased runoff from the high morning rains. MB17 was used as the QC site this month which involves taking all readings at the site twice to provide a check of consistency of the data. All of the readings from these two sites were well within the normal levels. Like the first two sites, water flow levels at MB17 and SB16 were rated as high flow levels.
Going Forward
While the actual testing events are completed for the year, more work lies ahead. The following actions are yet to be completed:
1. The Troll needs to be prepared for off season storage which involves special treatment for some of the sensors to maintain their life expectancy. The RDO sensor tip must be replaced. A spare pH junction will be needed. It will not be installed until the present junction fails to calibrate but we should expect a failure during the 2010 testing period.
2. An inventory of equipment, materials, chemicals, etc. needs to be generated and provided to the lake association finance manager.
3. The final report for 2009 needs to be prepared and published. In past years this included presenting it to the Lake Association membership.
4. A meeting will be convened of the testers to review this year’s events and prepare suggestions for incorporation into the 2010 plan.
Preparatory Actions for the 2010 Season
1. Convene a meeting in the Feb timeframe to agree on any changes for the 2010 monitoring plan.
2. Create an addendum document to the 2008 QAAP that defines any changes from the QAPP and submit the 2010 plan to the Ma. State DEP.
3. Check out all equipment needed for the 2010 plan. Update batteries, and perform any needed maintenance.
4. Locate and install software updates for the Troll and Rugged Reader.
5. Update the field data sheets for the lake and streams.
6. Update the Water Sample Custody and Analysis results sheets.
7. Negotiate and finalize the contract with outside sample testing site for Chlorophyll, etc.
8. Establish a volunteer schedule and solicit volunteers for both lake and stream testing.
Al Huefner
82 Lakeside Ave
Webster, Ma. 01570
(H)508-461-9775 (New 6/20/09)
(C)847-971-8190
email: HuefnerAL@aol.com
website: http://lakeside.homeserver.com/ (5am-11pm EDT)
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