WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS




LAKE MICHIGAN BASIN
                          BIOLOGY
                A technical report containing "background data




                       for a water pollution control program.
                          January 1968
            UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR




         FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION




         Great Lakes Region           Chicago, Illinois

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icwnr

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                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUBJECT                                                       PAGE




FOREWORD	      ii




SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS	      1




BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON WATER USES	      3




MID-LAKE AREA RESULTS 	      7




INSHORE AREA RESULTS	      13




    SPECIFIC AREAS - BOTTOM ANIMALS	      lk




    SPECIFIC AREAS - ALGAE	      21




APPENDIX	      30




    METHODS	      31




    TABLES	      33

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                           FOREWORD








       The study of the biology of the Lake Michigan Basin was



conducted under the administrative guidance of H. W. Poston,



Regional Director, Great Lakes Region, FWPCA.  Sample collections



and analyses and data compilation and organization were made by



regional personnel.  Final draft of the report was prepared by



biologists of the Technical Advisory and Investigations Branch,



FWPCA, Cincinnati, Ohio.
                                ii

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                     SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS








1.  The biota of the mid-water area of Lake Michigan reflects an



    unpolluted environment.  Free floating algal populations



    were less than 500 per milliliter.  Pollution-Sensitive scuds



    predominated in the bottom associated organism population.



    Sludgeworm populations were less than 1,000 per square meter



    and midges were principally of the clean water variety.



2.  Extensive inshore areas of pollution totaling 3,U?5 square



    miles were found along the entire southern perimeter of Lake



    Michigan specifically Milwaukee, Racine and Chicago-Calumet



    and in Green Bay.  The loss of the Green Bay fly, a fish



    food organism, and other detrimental pollution associated



    conditions have impaired commercial fishing in Green Bay.



    Swimming beaches have been closed in Milwaukee, Chicago



    and other areas when large mats of foul smelling algae have



    been deposited on the beaches.  Aesthetic values associated



    with water have been impaired by algae on many occasions.



    Short filter runs and taste and odors resulting from high

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    phytoplankton populations have increased the cost of



    water treatment at Green Bay, Milwaukee, Kenosha, Chicago,



    and other cities.



3.  Other more localized inshore areas of pollution totaling



    350 square miles resulted in increased sludgeworms and



    free floating algal populations offshore from:  Manitowoc,



    Sheboygan, Port Washington, Benton Harbor, South Haven,



    Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Ludington, Manistee, and



    Manistique.



h.  Pollution of inshore areas:  supported pollution-tolerant



    sludgeworm populations exceeding 1,000 per square meter;



    suppressed gamefish food organisms; supported nuisance



    algal populations exceeding 500 per milliliter and as high



    as 20,000 per ml. in Green Bay; produced dense growths



    of attached algae in shallow water areas that break loose



    and become deposited on swimming beaches.  Soluble phos-



    phate (POi ) concentrations averaged O.OU mg/1 with values



    as high as 5.0 in these areas.  These concentrations



    exceed the adopted standard of an annual average total



    phosphate (PO. ) of 0.03 mg/1 and a single daily average



    or value of 0.0*4- mg/1.

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                BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON WATER USES








       The biological examination of waters and bottom materials




incorporates both a qualitative determination of the kinds of




organisms present and a quantitative estimate of their numbers




or bulk.  This information aids in the interpretation of physical




and chemical analyses, indicates pollution by wastewaters, de-




termines the progress of self-purification within the waterways,




assists in the limnological study of the environment, measures




damages inflicted on aquatic life and water use potentials, and




indicates impact of nuisance organisms on water uses.




       Suspended microscopic plants (algae) are the primary con-




verters of light energy to organic matter; they are the original




source of most of the food that nourish fish and other aquatic




animals.  Changes in the physical and chemical properties of




the water affect both algal quantities and species composition.




When the quantity of fertilizing nutrients increases, the




number of algae will increase and the species composition will




change.  Dense green algal populations reduce the aesthetic

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values of a water and interfere with water uses such as boat-



ing and swimming.  Windrows of dead and odoriferous decaying



algae are nuisances and obstruct uses at beaches and surround-



ing lands.  Changes in both the concentration and relative



composition of the fertilizing material produce detectable



changes in the species composition of the algal populations.



High concentrations of phosphorus favor the blue-green algae



which are capable of using nitrogen from the atmosphere as



a source of nitrogenous nutrition; these algae are particularly



obnoxious because they are more buoyant than other forms thus



tending to form windrows more readily and produce especially



obnoxious "pigpen" odors because of chemical compounds peculiar



to them.



       Bathing beaches have been closed for extensive periods



near Milwaukee, Chicago and other localities because of rotting



foul-smelling algae and dead fish, and threats to public health



from water contaminated by sewage.  A seemingly inexhaustible



supply of algae that has washed ashore in recent years has



defied maintenance attempts to keep some beaches usable during



the recreational period.  Bathers and sun-bathers must travel



farther to enjoy their sport.  The aesthetic beauty of Lake



Michigan has been severely impaired.

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       Excessive quantities of algae in Lake Michigan have



caused short filter runs in water treatment plants.  When the



runs are shorter than 20 hours, the result is a loss in



revenue because of loss of plant capacity and the use of



larger amounts of wash water.  Kenosha, Wisconsin obtains its



water supply from an intake pipe extending 4,200 feet into Lake



Michigan to a depth of 30 feet and has experienced three-hour



filter runs in recent years along with taste and odor problems.



Because algae and other microorganisms are implicated in both



of these water supply problems, Kenosha in 1961 installed four



microstrainers at a cost of $330,000 to reduce the number of



microorganisms.  At this time Kenosha was receiving as much as



1|-50 pounds per day of wet algae through the water intake pipe.



Following microstrainer installation, that resulted in 90 per-



cent algal removal, taste and odor problems disappeared and



filter runs increased to an average of k& hours.  Problem



algae were:  Stephanodiscus, Tabellaria, Asterionella, Synedra,



and others.



       At Green Bay, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Waukegan, Evanston,



Chicago, Gary-Hobart, Michigan City, Benton Harbor, Holland,



Grand Rapids, and Musekgon, 37 percent of filter runs were



less than 20 hours in 1961.

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       Bottom animals serve as a vital link in the aquatic food




web by converting plant food into animal food for predatory




fishes.  Changes in numbers of bottom animals and in composi-




tion of the bottom-animal community produce changes in the fish




population.  For example, a community consisting predominantly




of burrowing worms favors a community of fishes such as carp




and suckers that root for their food.  An increase in worms is




a product of an increased food supply from sedimentation of




organic waste materials or dead algae.  Changes in the kinds and




numbers of bottom animals are effects that are frequently a




product of pollutants; these changes result in damages to de-




sirable aquatic organisms, and may produce increased numbers of




undesirable aquatic organisms that interfere with and reduce




the uses that can be made of the waters.




       Environmental changes resulting from pollution eliminated



the burrowing mayfly (Green Bay fly) from major sectors of




Green Bay in recent years.  Concurrently commercial fishing




was severely impaired, thus affecting another water use by




disrupting the aquatic food web.

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                      MID-. LAKE AREA RESULTS








       The deep-water areas of Lake Michigan are presently un-




affected by the pollution observed in many areas closer to




shore.  Soluble phosphate (PO.) averaged 0.02 milligrams per




liter (mg/l) in deep water areas with some values as high as




O.lk mg/l.  inshore areas averaged 0.04 mg/l PO.  with values as




high as 5.00 mg/l.  Adopted water quality standards for Lake




Michigan open water and shore water limit annual average total




phosphate (POO to 0.03 rag/1 and a single daily average or




value to 0.0^ rag/1.  Obviously these standards are now exceeded




in some areas and high nutrient concentrations are reflected




in increased biological growths.  Inorganic nitrogen averaged




0.19 milligrams per liter in deep-water (ranging as high as




1.15) compared to 0.2? milligrams per liter inshore (ranging




as high as 2.2 near Milwaukee).  The distribution of populations




of benthic animals and phytoplankton generally reflects the




pattern of distribution of soluble nutrients.




       With one exception, the population of bottom organisms




decreased with increasing depth (Table l).  In the deepest

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                                8
area (260-269 meters) there was an increase in the population

                               2
of all organisms to 5,000 per m ; this is characteristic of


organism population distribution in many deep lakes.   Scuds


of the genus Pontoporeia, are pollution-sensitive organisms;


they were the predominant bottom-associated organisms in areas


not greatly influenced by organic sediments.


       The population of scuds in much of the deep central basin


numbered less4 than 1,500 per square meter (Figure l).  There


is a combination of depth dependent factors such as sediment


types and nutrient content that limits scud populations in


depths greater than 50 meters.  In the deep central areas of


the lake sludgeworm populations numbered less than 1,000 per


square meter.  This relatively low population of sludgeworms


as shown in Figure 2 indicates an unpolluted environment.  The


midge larval population in the central section of Lake Michigan


averaged 37 per square meter and was composed of Bk percent


clean-water species and no pollution-tolerant species with the


remaining being of variable tolerance.  This further indicates


the unpolluted condition of the sediments of the central basin.


       The deep-water areas of Lake Michigan supported planktonic


algal communities of low population density that generally


ranged from 100 to 300 organisms per milliliter (Figure 3)«


Conversely, nutrient-enriched inshore areas supported larger

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populations of phytoplankton, generally numbering more than



500 organisms per milliliter.



       For many years, the planktonic algae of Lake Michigan



have been dominated by the genera Tabellaria, Asterionella,



and Synedra.  These forms are found in nonfertile lakes.  How-



ever, pollution of Lake Michigan has caused Cyclotella and



Stephanodiscus to become the predominant forms in most samples;



even in samples in which Asterionella, Tabellaria and Synedra



predominated, Cyclotella and Stephanodiscus usually were



abundant,.  Table 2 lists the genera of phytoplankton most



commonly encountered in Lake Michigan waters.

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                   NORTH
       POLLUTED , IOOO- 2OOO/m 2
       VERY POLLUTED, over 2OOO/m2
FIGURE  I
    GREAT LAKES - ILLINOIS
      RIVER  BASINS PROJECT
 SLUDGEWORM POPULATION
    NUMBER  PER SQUARE
            METER
  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE  INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMIN
Gr«ot Lok«» Rtgtwi       Chlcogo ,llllnoi«

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                   NORTH
   GREAT LAKES - ILLINOIS
    RIVER BASINS PROJECT
   SCUD  POPULATIONS
NUMBERING GREATER THAN
  I500 PER  SQUARE  METER
  U S  DEPARTMENT OF  THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMIN
Great Lakes Region       Chicago , Illinois

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                                 NORTH
            :;;-::Traverse
            ;;;;!;•••: City
   :MICH.
    IND.
Michigan
iiiCity
                   f  I  0-300/ml.
                        300-500/ml.
                        over 500/ml.
                         MILE
                               25
                               d
                 GREAT LAKES - ILLINOIS
                  RIVER BASINS PROJECT
      PHYTOPLANKTON
       POPULATIONS
  NUMBER  PER  MILLILITER
	SPRING   1962	
 U.S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR
FED. WATER POLLUTION  CONTROL ADMIN-
Great Lakes Region         Chicago , III.

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                    INSHORE AREA RESULTS








       Massive areas along the perimeter of the southern half



of Lake Michigan are polluted to such an extent that large popu-



lations of pollution-tolerant sludge-worms occur.  The 2,100 square



mile area classified as polluted in Figure 2, extending from



Chicago northeastward around the southern tip of Lake Michigan,



results from organic nutrients discharged by the large metropolitan



areas bordering the lake.  Lake sediments supporting populations of



sludgeworms greater than 100 per square foot (approximately 1,000



per square meter) are considered polluted.  Other areas that have



polluted lake bed sediments occur in Green Bay, adjacent to the shore-



lines of Manitovoc, Sheboygan, Port Washington to Waukegan, and



between Ludington and Manistee.  Despite generally higher sludge-



worm densities in inshore areas, the average number of organisms was



depressed in a narrow band along the Chicago and Indiana shoreline.



This was probably a result of wave action in the inshore areas which



did not allow the settling of fine organic particles.

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SPECIFIC AREAS - BOTTOM ANIMALS




       Inshore areas receiving municipal wastes supported increased




populations of pollution-tolerant bottom animals such as sludgeworms.




The principal bottom material found at the southern tip of Green Bay




was organic sediment, a favorable habitat for sludgeworms and blood-




worms which were the predominant organisms.  Total populations of




bottom-dwelling organisms in 19^2 and 19^3 averaged 1,960 organisms




per square meter near the mouth of the Fox River and gradually




decreased to 500 or less ten miles out into the bay (Table 3).  Bur-




rowing mayflies were not found.  Some pollution-sensitive snails




occurred about five miles from the mouth of Fox River.




       Twenty-eight square miles of lower Green Bay are classed as




polluted; large number of sludgeworms inhabit this area.  The number




of sludgeworms was greater than the number of scuds in this area;




this indicates a pollution by organic wastes.  The population of




bottom organisms inhabiting the area influenced by the Fox River is




affected adversely, altered in composition, and does not supply the




fish food potential necessary for maximum water use.




       The area of Green Bay affected by the Oconto River discharge




was degraded, as indicated by the types of benthic animals; only a




few pollution-sensitive organisms were found within two miles of the




river mouth.  Benthic populations in 1962 and 1963 were highest




near the mouth of the Oconto River with populations of 1,020 organisms

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                                  15
per square meter.  Five miles from the mouth, populations had de-



creased to about 500 benthic animals per square meter; bloodworms pre-



dominated.  A few pollution-sensitive scuds existed less than two



miles from the mouth.  The discharge of rich organic wastes from the



Oconto area contributes to the enrichment and degradation of Green



Bay.



       Polluted conditions were also indicated in the vicinity of



the Menominee and Peshtigo RiVers.  In 1962 and 1963 there were




fewer benthic organisms in the vicinity of the Menominee and the



Peshtigo River outlets than there were in southern Green Bay.  A



benthic population of 800 per square meter, which consisted mainly



of pollution-tolerant bloodworms and sludgeworms, was found at the



mouth of the Peshtigo.  Twenty-five hundred organisms per square



meter, mostly sludgeworms and bloodworms were found near the mouth



of the Menominee.  Rapid improvement in conditions, in a predominantly



sandy bottom, was shown by 1,300 scuds per square meter occurring



about three miles from the mouth of this river.



       The sand and clay bottom deposits in the near vicinity of Mani-



towoc and Twin Rivers supported a population of bottom organisms



predominated by scuds because organic materials do not settle in this



wave-swept area.  Populations of 5,000 to 10,000 benthic animals per



square meter, mostly sludgeworms, were collected four miles east of



the Manitowoc River, indicating severe pollution caused by the deposition

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                                   16
of organic matter.  A 228 square mile area off shore from the town




of Manitowoc is classified as polluted because the sediments sup-




ported more than 1,000 sludgevonns per square meter indicating




an organic enrichment of the lake bed.




       The Sheboygan River outlet area was found to be degraded




one mile from shore.  Samples showed more than fifty percent sludge-




worms out of a total of 7,000 organisms per square meter.  In an 88




square mile area, sludgeworms numbered more than 1,000 per square




meter thus indicating polluted conditions.  Improved conditions




were indicated by a predominance of pollution-sensitive scuds five




miles from shore.




       Degraded biological conditions in the Milwaukee River out-




let area in 19o2 and 19^3 were indicated by the population of




bottom organisms.  The harbor was almost devoid of pollution-




sensitive organisms.  Populations of sludgeworms as high as 150,000




per square meter were found within Milwaukee harbor and further




pollution was indicated seven miles from the river outlet by a pre-




dominance of pollution-tolerant organisms.




       Fifty-six percent of the midges collected in the area from




Port Washington to Kenosha were of the pollution-tolerant group.




The entire 1,350 square mile shore area from Port Washington to




Waukegan is classified as polluted with 1,100 square miles of it being




extremely polluted.  The pollution-sensitive scud population is depres-

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                                  17
sed in the area off Milwaukee.  The existing bottom-animal popu-




lation indicates organic pollution and a decreased fish food supply.




       The deposition of organic materials in shore areas from Port




Washington past Chicago to Benton Harbor is influenced by currents




that flov parallel to the shore and reverse with the wind direction.




These currents deposit organic materials in a band around the




southern end of Lake Michigan.




       The Root River (Racine) area of Lake Michigan was biologi-




cally degraded.  Pollution-tolerant forms were very abundant near




the mouth of the river and predominated five miles out into the




lake.  A benthic population averaging l8,5oO per square meter (up




to 97jOOO per square meter) was found near the mouth of Racine




Harbor.  Ninety-six percent of these organisms were pollution-




tolerant sludgeworms.




       An examination of bottom samples in the harbor areas along




the southern shore indicated that waste discharges were and are such




that they contribute to a bottom deposit inhibitory to the establish-




ment of large populations of bottom animals.  Some of these deposits




appeared to contain significant quantities of oil, grease and allied




petroleum waste.  The degradation of bottom organisms in the southern




end of Lake Michigan extended out as far as twenty miles.  The total




area degraded by organic wastes discharged from the Chicago-Calumet




area is 2,100 square miles as indicated by the increased population

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                                 18
of sludgeworms.  Offshore from the Calumet area streams,  pollution-




tolerant organisms averaged 2,700 to ^,300 per square meter and there




were only a few pollution-sensitive organisms.  The depression of




the population of clean water associated scuds results from toxic




wastes being discharged from the Calumet area (Figure l).  To the




north, along the Chicago shoreline, pollution-tolerant organisms




averaged about 10,000 per square meter and pollution-sensitive forms




averaged 500 per square meter indicating severe pollution.




       The inshore areas of Lake Michigan from Calumet Harbor to




Burns Ditch were and are extensively degraded biologically in degrees




ranging from severe near Indiana and Calumet Harbors to less severe




near Burns Ditch.  Evidence that wastes from the Calumet area are




deposited in the lake was found in the bottom materials and the odors




of dredgings from this area of Lake Michigan.  Petroleum odors were




often detected in bottom muds.   Pollution-tolerant organisms, mostly




sludgeworms and sphaeriid clams, predominated in the areas along the




southern shore.




       Continuing along the south shore of Lake Michigan in a counter-




clockwise direction, the southern tip of Lake Michigan reflected the




effects of pollution in the vicinity of Trail Creek and the Galien




River (Michigan City-New Buffalo area).  Many of the bottom samples




collected in the vicinity of the Galien River and Trail Creek were




predominantly sludgeworms with populations of 5,000 to 10,000 benthic

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animals existing a few miles from shore.  One sample collected




two miles northeast of Trail Creek consisted of fine black sand and




supported a population of over 26,000 organisms per square meter—




90 percent of which were sludgeworms.  Many of the samples collected




about four miles from shore were devoid of pollution-sensitive organ-




isms.  These conditions represent sustained degradation of the waters




in this area through the discharge of wastes via Trail Creek and the




Galien River.




       Sludgeworms predominated within the South Haven Harbor.  The




bottom habitat emitted a sewage odor.  The discharge of organic




materials from the communities of South Haven, Saugatuck, Grand Haven




and Muskegon results in a band of organically enriched sediments




five miles off shore.  This organically degraded lake bed supports a




sludgeworm population exceeding 1,000 per square meter and a midge




population that numbered 6l per square meter and was made up of jk




percent pollution-tolerant forms.




       Organic enrichment in the area immediately adjacent to the out-




let of White Lake at Whitehall was evident during 19^2 to 1963.




Almost 1,000 midges per square meter, mostly pollution-tolerant




Tendipes plumosus and riparius, were found at that station.




       Water quality conditions appeared good near the Pentwater




and Little Sable Point areas.  The bottom community in the sandy area




off the Pentwater River, consists of mostly midges, scuds and sphaeriid




clams, from 1,000 to 7,000 per square meter.

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                                  20
       Water quality also appeared good near Little Sable Point.



The benthic community consisted of about 5,000 organisms per square


meter with substantial numbers of clean water scud.



       The benthic population around the mouth of the Pere Marquette


River was composed of less than 500 pollution-tolerant sludgeworms


and midges per square meter.  Amphipods, from 3>000 to 6,000 per



square meter, predominated in samples collected within a two mile



radius.  The Ludington Spoil Bank supported a small community that



was mostly scuds, less than 500 per square meter.  The degradation


of the lake bottom was less severe out from the communities of


Ludington and Manistee in that midge populations increased to 12^

     2
per m  and pollution-tolerant forms comprised k6 percent of the



total number (Table 4).  However, a 3°" square mile area between the


towns supported a population of pollution-tolerant sludgeworms

                     2
exceeding 1,000 per m .


       The bottom fauna of Manistee Lake consisted mostly of


pollution-tolerant midges and sludgeworms in populations of 500 to



1,000 per square meter.  Near the outlet of the lake, no organisms



were found.  Lake Manistee deposits emitted sewage and petroleum



odors.  In adjacent Lake Michigan, bottom animal populations were


less than 100 per square meter, although midges still predominated.


The bottom fauna (approximately 1,000 organisms per square meter) con-


sisted of over 50 percent amphipods about two miles out from the mouth



of Manistee Lake.

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                                   21
       No appreciable effects were noted from the Betsie River or




the City of Frankfort on the benthic fauna of adjacent areas of




Lake Michigan.  Populations consisting mostly of 100 to 3,000 amphi-




pods per square meter inhabited the sandy bottom.




       At the northern tip of Lake Michigan, degraded localized




conditions appeared near Manistique.  Samples collected near the




Manistique River mouth indicated that benthic populations were less




than 1,000 per square meter,,  Only 67 midges per square meter vere




dredged up near the harbor.  The bottom was found to consist mainly




of organic matter and had a foul odor as the result of paper mill




wastes.  One mile south of this area, 100 to 250 pollution-sensitive




scuds per square meter were found.






SPECIFIC AREAS - ALGAE




       For several years the Chicago Park District has reported that




beaches became fouled with algae washed in from the lake.  In 19^1,




the offending organism at Oak Street and Montrose beaches was found




to be Dichotomosiphon, a green filamentous alga similar in appearance to




Cladophora..  In 1962 Cladophora was the principal alga but Oedogonium




was also present.  All of these organisms require a hard substratum,




or attachment surface.  The windrows of algae that completely lined




the beaches became four-smelling after a few days exposure to the




summer heat.  Flies and other insects covered  the decaying masses.

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                                  22
        In July,  1963 large floating masses of  Cladophora and



 Mougeotia were found in southern  Green  Bay near the western shore.



 The pollution-tolerant  blue-green alga, Lyngbya, was found attached



 to  rocks  on the bottom  of Calumet Harbor  in May 1963.



        Phytoplankton concentrations of  more than 500 organisms per



 milliliter are considered excessive; they may  give the water an



 objectionable  appearance, induce  tastes and odors in domestic water



 supplies,  and  increase  the cost of water  treatment.  The City of



 Kenosha has found it necessary to install a very expensive micro-



straining system for  adequate water treatment because of excessive



 algae in  the raw water.  Other cities that have experienced taste



 and odor  problems in their water  supplies include Michigan City,



 Gary-Hobart and Chicago.



        Green Bay is  an  example of accelerated  eutrophication in-



 duced by  man-made wastes.  Severe oxygen  depletion often occurs.



 Soluble phosphate levels averaged 0.07  mg/1 as PO.  and ranged as



 high as 0.60 mg/1; the  critical level for algal blooms is considered



 to  be 0.03 mg/1 as PO. .  Ammonia  nitrogen averaged 0.17 mg/1 while



 NO  -N averaged only  0.08.  The highest  phytoplankton populations




 occurred  near  the mouth of the Fox River.  In  July 1963? total popu-



 lations of 20,000 per milliliter  were found.   These numbers decreased



 to  5,000  to 10,000 about ten miles out  into the bay.  The kinds of



 phytoplankton  in this area were mostly  green flagellates, centric



 diatoms and green coccoids.  Blue-green forms  were also found in

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large numbers, from TOO to 1,500 per milliliter.  Light penetration



in Green Bay was greatly reduced (Secchl disc readings vere only



0.2 meters compared to 16 meters in the northern basin).  Near the



mouth of the Fox River, average inorganic nitrogen values were close



to 0.5 milligrams per liter and average total soluble phosphates



were 0.20 milligrams per liter, or nearly seven times greater than



the critical level necessary for algal blooms.



       The algal population near the Oconto River mouth in July



1963 averaged over 80,000 phytoplankters per milliliter and consisted



mostly of green flagellates and green coccoids.  These same types



predominated in the adjacent lake area in nuisance numbers, from 1,000



to 20,000 per milliliter.  The proportion of diatoms was higher in



Green Bay than in the Oconto River.  Numbers of algae were consider-



ably less on the eastern shore of Green Bay, from 500 to 5,000 per



milliliter.



       In spring, 1962, phytoplankton populations in excess of 1,200



organisms per milliliter were collected from the Manitowoc-Sheboygan



area (Figure 3)•  This condition resulted from high soluble phosphate



levels, ranging from O.OU to 0.07 mg/1.



       Milwaukee Harbor was found to be severely polluted by organic



enrichment.  It is estimated that 9,300  pounds per day of total



phosphate was discharged into Lake Michigan at the mouth of the



Milwaukee River.  Soluble phosphate concentrations averaged O.kh mg/1



(nearly 15 times the level of phosphates considered critical for the

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stimulation of algal blooms) and ranged as high as "L.k mg/1.




Adjacent water offshore averaged 0.07 mg/1.  Total inorganic nitrogen




in Milwaukee Harbor averaged 1.25 mg/1 and ranged as high as 2.9^




mg/1.  Adjacent areas offshore averaged 0.32 mg inorganic N/l and




ranged as high as 2.2 mg/1 total inorganic nitrogen.  A Secchi disc




was visible to less than one meter in the harbor.




       High phytoplankton counts in the Milwaukee area indicated




enrichment.  In the fall of 1962 over 1,500 organisms per milliliter




were collected from the harbor.  Generally, populations decreased




with distance from shore, from over 1,000 per milliliter to less than




100 per milliliter at mid-lake (Figure 4).  Predominant genera were




Cyclotella, Stephanodisous, Tabellaria, and Asterionella.




       In June of 19^3, populations of almost the same size and kind




existed both in the river mouth and harbor area, from 1,000 to 20,000




per milliliter.  Centric diatoms were the predominant kinds of algae.




In spring, 19^3, phytoplankton numbered nearly 6,000 per milliliter




at the mouth of the Milwaukee River.




       These biological findings reflect the deteriorated water




quality in the Milwaukee vicinity of Lake Michigan and represent the




gross pollution resulting from the domestic and industrial wastes dis-




charged in this area.




       The Root River (Racine) area of Lake Michigan was severely




polluted with organic enrichment.  In 1962 and 19^3 soluble phosphate




(PO, ) averaged 0.07 mg/1 and ranged as high as 0.10 mg/1.  Phytoplankton

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      I   I 0-300/ml.
          3OO-500/ml

          ovtr 500/ml.
     GREAT LAKES* ILLINOIS
     RIVER BASINS PROJECT
      PHYTOPLANKTON
       POPULATIONS
  NUMBER  PER  MILL I LITER
         FALL  1962
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FED. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMH4
Gr«ot Lok«» Region         Chicago,III.

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                                  26
samples in the fall of 1962 contained 2,229 organisms per milliliter




(Figure 4); this was one of the most dense phytoplankton populations




encountered during the fall survey and may be compared with concentra-




tions of less than 200 phytoplankton organisms per milliliter in the




mid-lake deepwater areas.  Cyclotella, Stephanodiscus, Tabellaria and




Asterionella were the predominant algal forms.  Melosira became the




predominant form in the summer.




       The waters of Chicago Harbor, Calumet Harbor and Indiana Harbor




each contained excessive amounts of algal-stimulating nutrients.  In




Chicago Harbor, soluble phosphates averaged 0.04 mg/1 and ranged as




high as 0.15 mg/1-  In Calumet Harbor, soluble phosphates averaged




0.05 mg/1 and ranged as high as 0.1^ mg/1; total inorganic nitrogen




averaged 0.35 mg N per liter and ranged as high as 1.02 mg/1.




Indiana Harbor water contained an average of 0.05 mg/1 soluble phos-




phorus  and ranged as high as 0.12 mg/1.  Total inorganic nitrogen




averaged 1.56 mg/1 and ranged as high as 3-1^ mg/1-  A concentration



of 0.30 mg/1 inorganic nitrogen is considered critical for stimulation




of algal growth in the presence of adequate phosphorus.




       Phytoplankton populations in the Chicago-Calumet area remained




very dense during the period of study.  In 1962, up to 1,298 organisms




per milliliter of sample were found (Figure 3)•  In 1963> phytoplankton




populations increased to 2,1^3 phytoplankton organisms per milliliter.




Light penetration in the Indiana Harbor Canal was severely restricted;




a Secchi disc was not visible at one meter.

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                                 27
       The distribution of phytoplankton in Lake Michigan was gener-




ally influenced "by wind-produced currents.  In spring, 19^2, over 500




phytoplankton per milliliter were collected from inshore waters,




beginning at the Chicago-Calumet area and continuing north up the




entire eastern lake shore (Figure 3)«  By the summer of 19^2, the




current pattern had changed; phytoplankton distribution became more




random, except for high numbers of organisms (over 300 per ml) near




Chicago and South Haven (Figure 5).  Fall, 19^2, phytoplankton counts




again revealed high concentrations of over 500 organisms per milli-




liter along both the southeastern and southwestern shores (Figure k).




       The effects of heavy pollutional loads were evident in the




vicinity of the St. Joseph River and Benton Harbor.  Soluble phos-




phate concentrations in the St. Joseph River averaged 0.2^ mg/1 and




ranged as high as 0.9^ mg/1.  Total inorganic nitrogen concentrations




averaged 1.12 mg/1 and ranged as high as 3-04 mg/1.  In spring, 19^2,




phytoplankton populations of 3*100 organisms per milliliter were con-




centrated in the waters just offshore from Benton Harbor (Figure 3)•




Mid-lake waters contained less than 200 phytoplankton organisms per




milliliter in spring, 1962.




       Lake Michigan waters in the vicinity of Grand Haven,  Mighican




consistently exhibited the effects of pollutional nutrient loadings.




The Grand River,  which enters the lake at this point, carries total




soluble phosphate concentrations averaging 0.52 mg/1 and ranging as




high as 1.1 mg/1.  Total inorganic nitrogen in Grand River water

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                  |  |  0-300/ml.
                      300-500/ml

                      over 500/ml.
   MICH.
   IND.
Michigan
 iCity
                 GREAT LAKES - ILLINOIS
                 RIVER BASINS  PROJECT
    PHYTOPLANKTON
     POPULATIONS
NUMBER PER MILLILITER
     SUMMER 1962
            U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
           FED. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMIN.
           Great Lakes Region	Chicago, III.
                                    GPO B06—408—4

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averaged 1.4 mg (N)/l and ranged as high as 3-9 mg/1.  Phytoplankton




populations in adjacent Lake Michigan waters were correspondingly




high.  Phytoplankton counts averaged 2,230 organisms per milliliter




in summer, 1962 (Figure 3)«  A high concentration of 630 phytoplank-




ton organisms was again found in, the Grand Haven area in fall, 1962




(Figure k).




       The Manistique River at the northern tip of Lake Michigan,




carried heavy concentrations of algal-stimu3ating nutrients.  Soluble




phosphate concentrations in this river averaged O.OU mg/1 and ranged




as high as 0.09 mg/1.  Total inorganic nitrogen concentrations averaged




0.^7 mg/1 and ranged as high as 2.46 mg/1.  Ehytoplankton populations




in Lake Michigan offshore from Manistique consisted of 528 organisms




per milliliter in spring, 1962.  Mid-lake waters in northern Lake




Michigan contained less than 300 organisms per milliliter (Figure 3)-

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APPENDIX
   30

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                             METHODS








BOTTOM ANIMAJiS




       Sampling of bottom organisms was accomplished with three




Petersen dredge hauls at each lake station.  These were washed




through U. S. Standard No. 30 mesh bronze seine cloth and the




remaining organisms and debris preserved with formalin for




further analysis in the laboratory.






PHYTOPLAMKTON




       Samples for phytoplankton identification were collected




with polyvinylchloride (PVC) sampling bottles attached to a




cable at intervals of zero, 5, 15, 30, 50, 75 and 100 meters




from the surface, and at surface, mid-depth and near bottom




where depths were less than ten meters.  Sufficient formalin




was added to each phytoplankton sample to effect a 3 percent




solution.  One milliliter of the water sample was placed in a




Sedgwick-Rafter counting cell and examined microscopically at




200 X.
                               31

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LIGHT PENETRATION




       Light penetration was determined with a standard, 20




centimeter diameter Secchi disc.  The limit of visibility




was defined as the mid-point between the depths of disappearance




upon lowering and reappearance with the disc was again raised.




Measurements were reported in meters.

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                  TABLE 1

DISTRIBUTION OF BOTTOM ORGANISMS BY DEPTHS
          LAKE MICHIGAN, 1962-64
Depth in Meters
0-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
k$-k9
50-59
60-69
70-79
80-89
90-99
100-109
110-119
120-129
130-139
140-149
150-159
160-169
170-179
220-229
230-239
260-269
Number per Square Meter
7494
3357
4694
5752
3020
2713
2146
1505
889
642
647
721
26k
425
506
186
201
70
140
88
5019
                   33

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                              TABLE 2
                    LAKE MICHIGAN EHYTOPLANKTON
                 MOST COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED GENERA.
   Anabaena                                    Melosira
   Anacystis                                   Navicula
   Ankistrodesmus                              Nitzschia
   Asterionella                                Oocystis
   Chlorella                                   Phonnidium
   Chodatella                                  Rhizosolenia
   Closteriopsis                               Scenedesnius
   Cocconeis                                   Schroederia
   Cyclotella                                  Selenastrum
   Dinobryon                                   Stephanodiscus
   Euglena                                     Synedra
   Fragilaria                                  Tabellaria
   Golenkenia                                  Unidentified Green Coccoids
   Gomphosphaeria                              Unidentified Green
   Gonium                                        Flagellates
NOTE:  Only those genera whose average total per milliliter
       exceeds 10 percent of the average grand total are
       considered predominant.

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                                                                   page 1 of  5  pages
                                      TABLE
                      BIOLOGICAL DATA - LAKE MICHIGAN, 1962-1964

Quad,
1
BOTTOM ORGANISMS
Numbers per square meter
Scuds
Sludge-
worms
Midges
Total*

Spring
1962
PHYTOPLANKTON
Numbers per milliliter
Summer
1962
Fall
1962
Spring 1 summer
1963 1 1963
F-19
E-49
D-19
C-19
G-18
F-18
E-18
D-18
C-18
H-17
G-17
F-17
E-17
D-17
C-17
B-17
H-16
G-16
F-16
1,450
1*70
50
80
1,190
720
2,710
610
180
3,180
1,940
310
1,120
3,840
1,610
1,240
4,020
1,170
220
780
1,310
1,950
4,630
1,670
4,750
1,730
24o
490
l,66o
4,620
100
470
2,180
1,850
400
1,040
1,760
170
100
20
20
20
100
130
140
20
70
140
120
0
X
30
50
260
30
10
0
2,650
2,000
2,210
6,000
3,160
6,200
5,160
920
1,670
5,540
7,030
410
l,6oo
6,090
3,910
1,910
5,490
3,400
4lO
176
171
301
1,036

248
748
1,298 258
233

3,108 224
322
66
420 66
225

357
900 98


246 1,155
398 1,3H
1,588
694
175 1,870
172
350 2,143
588 1,347
1,022
261
66
119
239
546 357

853
148
154

1,106
1,035
1,036














*Includes miscellaneous organisms not mentioned in Table
1.  See Figure 6 for locations of quadrangles.
                                          35

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                                                                   page 2 of 5 pages

Quad.
BOTTOM ORGANISMS
Numbers per square meter
Scuds
Sludge- 1 Midges
worms 1 1
! Total*
FHYTOPLANKTON
Numbers per milliliter
Spring]
1962 |
Summer 1 Fall 1 Spring
1962 | 1962 | 1963
Summer
1963
E-16
D-16
C-16
B-16
1-15
H-15
G-15
E-15
D-15
C-15
B-15
1-14
H-14
G-14
C-14
B-14
H-13
G-13
E-13
D-13
C-13
B-13
H-12
130
190
2,260
3,220
1,700
4,360
340
80
150
I,l6o
1,200
3,060
2,280
390
5,820
10
3,970
810
1,200
1,560

500
4,550
190
40
1,590
5,420
380
1,130
180
60
70
2,400
15,910
300
1,240
10
1,370
13,980
I,l4o
530
520
1,620

15,770
860
X
X
80
180
30
40
10
0
X
120
210
40
0
10
50
820
20
20
20
100

90
290


4,
10,
2,
5,



3,
18,
3,
3,

7,
16,
5,
1,
1,
3,

16,
330
240 253
810
270
300
860 1, 503
540 638
l4o 182
220 364
730
560
660
580
410
340
360
530 2,230
400 474
800 378
330 210

980
165
28
402
384

294
70

198
694
896



270
423
134
121

385
242
484
5,860
132
143
1,035
371
154
203
no


2,229
1,867
443
108

145
1,530
295
196


121
1,770
270


572
638


416


2,552



836



660



6,310

^Includes miscellaneous organisms not mentioned in Table.



                                          36
GPO 8O6—40&-3

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                                                                page 3 of 5 pages

Quad.
BOTTOM ORGANISMS
Numbers per square meter
Scuds
Sludge- 1 Midges
worms 1
Total*
FHYTOPLANKTON
Numbers per millillter
Spring
1962
1 Summer
1962
Fall
1962
Spring
1963
1 Summer
1963
B-12
H-ll
G-ll
F-ll
E-ll
D-ll
C-ll
B-ll
H-10
G-10
F-10
C-10
H-9
G-9
E-9
D-9
C-9
H-8
G-8
E-8
1,810
4,180
3,770
300
1,070
170
5,010
5,150
1,150
i,44o
60
3,770
310
1,760
i4o
1,740
3,020
80
30
30
610
80
980
90
760
60
1,470
320
i4o
70
10
690
120
1,130
90
750
2,890
20
90
10
30
140
80
10
0
X
50
4o
170
60
0
20
60
110
10
4o
80
80
10
0
2,660
4,880
5,180 1,664 354
4oo 252
1,850 121
230 264 154
7,l4o 896 322
6,590
1,630
1,720
90
4,580
520
3,090 616
240 168 308
2,590 319
6,140 3,696 220
230 373
130 189
40 770
1,107
924
1,^52
1,474


1,267
1,232





1,689
512
1,035
5,940
1,078


^Includes miscellaneous organisms not mentioned in Table.



                                           37

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                                                                Page 4 of 5 pages

Quad.
BOTTOM ORGANISMS
Numbers per square meter
Scuds
Sludge -
worms
Midges
Total
PHYTOPLANKTON
Numbers per milliliter
Spring
1962
Summer
1962
Fall 1 Spring 1 Summer
1962 1 1963 1 1963
D-8
C-8
1-7
H-7
G-7
D-7
C-7
B-7
A-7
L-6
K-6
1-6
E-6
D-6
C-6
B-6
L-5
K-5
G-5
F-5
D-5
C-5
2,990
X
400
630
1,120
20
0
10
0
60
110
950
240
950
0
10
44o
470
20
2,060
20
200
650
0
100
120
540
140
80
1,620
300
10
20
1,240
110
920
90
190
60
no
30
10
130
720
10
0
390
30
160
30
210
280
0
0
40
20
X
80
110
780
10
20
0
10
10
170
3,840
X
920
790
1,900
210
290
1,980
300
70
190
2,250
370
1,960
240
1,020
520
620
60
2,280
200
1,220



463
165
1,254

209



858
308


468

1,067


484
440
                                                  1,067
*Includes miscellaneous organisms not mentioned in Table.
                                          38
                                                                             462
                                                                             352
                                                                           2,728
                                                                          16,209
                                                                          60,088
                                                                           2,882
                                                                           2,100
                                                                           5,375
                                                                   6,160     2,018

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                                                                    Page 5 of 5 pages

Quad.
BOTTOM ORGANISMS
Numbers per square meter
Scuds
Sludge- 1 Midges
worms §
Total

Spring
1962
PHYTOPLANKTON
Numbers per milliliter
Summer 1 Fall
1962 J 1962
Spring 1 Summer
1963 ] 1963
N-4
M-4
L-4
K-4
J-4
F-4
L-3
1-3
H-3
E-3
N-2
M-2
K-2
1-2
10
140
T60
1,420
500
44o
1,060
690
10
370
20
20
30
600
10
60
470
180
320
100
730
480
50
380
70
310
100
210
0
30
210
20
30
10
10
30
10
50
180
4o
60
70
20
260
1,510
1,660
860
610
1,810
1,240
80
1,150
290
410
420
890


407
660
319
693
253
231
792
968
308

330
528
                                                                   1,056

                                                                     396

                                                                     896

                                                                   3,124
                                                                     968
                                                                   1,008
*Includes miscellaneous organisms not mentioned in Table.
                                        39

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TAELE
MIDGE LARVAE DATA WITHIN TEN MILE LIMIT FROM SHORE
TotaJ
Area Per 1
Percent of
LpNo. Pollution
« Tolerant
Lower Green Bay 201 80
Kenaunee-Sheboygan 53 0
Fort Washington-Kenosha 118 56
Waukegan-Evanston 113 2^
Chicago -Gary 39 6
Michigan City to Buffalo 92 37
Total
Cosmo-
politan
16
29
19
57
79
59
Benton Harbor -South Haven 121 51 34
Saugatuck-Muskegon 6l 74
Ludington-Manistee 124 46
Arcadia -Mackinaw City
Kewaunee-St. Ignace
6l 21
12 0
7
16
56
23

Clean
Water
0
22
3
0
0
0
0
7
10
13
37

Other
4
49
22
19
14
4
5
12
28
10
4o
     4o

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BCDEFGH   IJK.LMNO
                                                   NORTH
                                             MILE
                               FIGURE 6
                                     GREAT LAKES-ILLINOIS
                                     RIVER BASINS PROJECT
                                LOCATIONS OF QUADRANGLES
                                             IN
                                      LAKE  MICHIGAN
                                U.S.  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                               FED. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMIN.
                                Great Lakes Region
Chicago. (II.
                                                        GPO 806-408-2

-------