GRINDSTONE LAKE ASSOCIATION: Critical Habitat Survey & Water Quality Study

Grindstone Lake Association is sponsoring a project to conduct a water quality study to determine pollutant sources/threats within the watershed and use citizens to identify critical habitat needing protection. Project goals: 1) Develop a watershed and lake information system to be used for natural resource and lake protection decision-making, planning and management; 2) Develop a watershed and lake conservation strategy and protection plan including protection priorities for the critical, threatened, aesthetic or ecologically important habitat; 3) Develop an involved citizenry; 4) Build awareness among lake associations, land trusts, other conservation organizations, professionals of methods citizens can use to determine critical habitat; 5) Produce data that will reduce resources needed for the DNR critical habitat analysis (2011); 6) Update the 1998 water quality study; 7) Reduce nutrient loading and develop a lake and watershed monitoring program for early detection of potential adverse changes; 8) Identify changes to be made in the Town of Bass Lake Comprehensive Land Use plan to enhance protection of critical habitat. Project deliverables: Critical habitat inventory and watershed map, electronic form; critical habitat protection plan (DNR); updated water quality study showing: phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, secchi disc transparency, temperature, dissolve oxygen, total dissolved solids and specific conductance isopleths diagrams, pH isopleth diagrams, alkalinity data and current Trophic State Indices; Recommendations and management action from the LCO Conservation Department based on their water quality study; distribution of a final report.

Activities

• Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
• Natural Areas Protection
• Project Deliverable
• Information and Education
• Monitor or Assess Watershed Condition
• Lakes Planning Grant
• Monitoring Ecosystem

Final Report and Products

• Citizen Assessment of Critical Habitat and Priority Shorelines [PDF 10 MB]

People/Organizations Involved

• Grindstone Lake Association