LITTLE ST GERMAIN LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Sediment Phosphorus Evaluation

Purpose

The Little St. Germain Protection & Rehabilitation District will conduct a sediment phosphorus evaluation project. 18 sediment cores and overlying water will be collected from six lake stations in Little Saint Germain Lake to determine the internal phosphorus loading from sediments under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The State Lab of Hygiene will conduct sediment core incubation techniques on the cores to determine sediment phosphorus flux. This project is cost shared with the USGS who will put the internal phosphorus release results into the larger context of their phosphorus estimates for the Little Saint Germain inflow from Muskellunge Creek, nearshore areas, groundwater, and precipitation to make a final report on phosphorus loading to Little St. Germain Lake. A consultant will incorporate the new data into the existing Phosphorus Removal Study (LPT-153-01), and update recommendations as necessary. Products: 1) Cores collected. 2) Sediment phosphorus flux analyzed by SLOH. 3) Final report by USGS on phosphorus loading to Little St. Germain Lake. 4) Updated Final Report incorporated into LPT-153-01 project report. The Department of Natural Resources will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. The project results will be disseminated to the public by newsletter(s), public meeting(s), and local newspaper articles.

Outcome

USGS found the maximum phosphorus release rate to be 1 mg/m2/day and occured under anoxic conditions. The result of the study shows that with a total lake phosphorus input budget of over 1,000 pounds of phosphorus per year, the relative input from sediment release is small. Based on this study, the internal phosphorus loading is less than 3% of the overall phosphorus loading.

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Lakes Grant
Large Scale Lake Planning
LPL-1014-05
2005
Complete
 
Reports and Documents
Lakes Planning Report. Sediment Phosphorus Evaluation, Phosphorus Removal Study (2004), USGS Report 2005-5071, Lake Management Plan (2001).
 
Activities & Recommendations
Grant Awarded
The Little St. Germain Protection & Rehabilitation District will conduct a sediment phosphorus evaluation project. 18 sediment cores and overlying water will be collected from six lake stations in Little Saint Germain Lake to determine the internal phosphorus loading from sediments under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The State Lab of Hygiene will conduct sediment core incubation techniques on the cores to determine sediment phosphorus flux. This project is cost shared with the USGS who will put the internal phosphorus release results into the larger context of their phosphorus estimates for the Little Saint Germain inflow from Muskellunge Creek, nearshore areas, groundwater, and precipitation to make a final report on phosphorus loading to Little St. Germain Lake. A consultant will incorporate the new data into the existing Phosphorus Removal Study (LPT-153-01), and update recommendations as necessary. Products: 1) Cores collected. 2) Sediment phosphorus flux analyzed by SLOH. 3) Final report by USGS on phosphorus loading to Little St. Germain Lake. 4) Updated Final Report incorporated into LPT-153-01 project report. The Department of Natural Resources will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. The project results will be disseminated to the public by newsletter(s), public meeting(s), and local newspaper articles.
Lakes Planning Grant
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Data analysis, report production
Project Deliverable
1) Cores collected. 2) Sediment phosphorus flux analyzed by SLOH. 3) Final report by USGS on phosphorus loading to Little St. Germain Lake. 4) Updated Final Report incorporated into LPT-153-01 project report.
 
Watershed
 
Waters