U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
REPORT
ON
SHERMAN RESERVOIR
SHERMN COUNTY
NEBRASKA
EPA REGION VII
WORKING PAPER No, 561
CORVALLIS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY - CORVALLIS, OREGON
and
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING & SUPPORT LABORATORY - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
•&G.P.O. 699-440
-------
REPORT
ON
SERMAN RESERVOIR
SERfW COUNTY
NEBRASKA
EPA REGION VII
WORKING PAPER No, 561
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
AND THE
NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD
AUGUST, 1976
-------
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword ii
List of Nebraska Study Reservoirs iv
Lake and Drainage Area Map - v
Sections
I. Introduction 1
II. Conclusions 1
III. Lake and Drainage Basin Characteristics 2
IV. Lake Water Quality Summary 3
V. Literature Reviewed 7
VI. Appendices 8
-------
ii
FOREWORD
The National Eutrophication Survey was initiated in 1972 in
response to an Administration commitment to investigate the nation-
wide threat of accelerated eutrophication to freshwater lakes and
reservoirs.
OBJECTIVES
The Survey was designed to develop, in conjunction with state
environmental agencies, information on nutrient sources, concentrations,
and impact on selected freshwater lakes as a basis for formulating
comprehensive and coordinated national, regional, and state management
practices relating to point-source discharge reduction and non-point
source pollution abatement in lake watersheds.
ANALYTIC APPROACH
The mathematical and statistical procedures selected for the
Survey's eutrophication analysis are based on related concepts that:
a. A generalized representation or model relating
sources, concentrations, and impacts can be constructed.
b. By applying measurements of relevant parameters
associated with lake degradation, the generalized model
can be transformed into an operational representation of
a lake, its drainage basin, and related nutrients.
c. With such a transformation, an assessment of the
potential for eutrophication control can be made.
LAKE ANALYSIS
In this report, the first stage of evaluation of lake and water-
shed data collected from the study lake and its drainage basin is
documented. The report is formatted to provide state environmental
agencies with specific information for basin planning [§303(e)], water
quality criteria/standards review [§303(c)], clean lakes [§314(a,b)],
and water quality monitoring [§106 and §305(b)] activities mandated
by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972.
-------
Beyond the single lake analysis, broader based correlations
between nutrient concentrations (and loading) and trophic condi-
tion are being made to advance the rationale and data base for
refinement of nutrient water quality criteria for the Nation's
freshwater lakes. Likewise, multivariate evaluations for the
relationships between land use, nutrient export, and trophic
condition, by lake class or use, are being developed to assist
in the formulation of planning guidelines and policies by EPA
and to augment plans implementation by the states.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The staff of the National Eutrophication Survey (Office of
Research & Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency)
expresses sincere appreciation to the Nebraska Department of
Environmental Control for professional involvement, to the
Nebraska National Guard for conducting the tributary sampling
phase of the Survey, and to those wastewater treatment plant
operators who voluntarily provided effluent samples and flow
data.
The staff of the Water Pollution Control Division, Department
of Environmental Control, provided invaluable lake documentation
and counsel during the Survey, reviewed the preliminary reports,
and provided critiques most useful in the preparation of this Working
Paper series.
Major General Francis L. Winner, the Adjutant General of Nebraska,
and Project Officer Colonel Burl M. Johnson, who directed the volun-
teer efforts of the Nebraska National Guardsmen, are also gratefully
acknowledged for their assistance to the Survey.
-------
iv
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
STATE OF NEBRASKA
RESERVOIR NAME COUNTY
Branched Oak Lancaster
Harlan County Marian
Harry D. Strunk Frontier
Hugh Butler Frontier, Red Willow
Johnson Dawson, Gosper
McConaughy Keith
Pawnee Lancaster
Sherman Sherman
Swanson Hitchcock
-------
SHERMAN RESERVOIR
X Lake Sampling Site
I Nebraska^,
Map Location
4125—1
4120—I
9900
-------
SHERMAN RESERVOIR
STORE! NO. 3108
I. INTRODUCTION
Sherman Reservoir was included in the National Eutrophication
Survey as a water body of interest to the Nebraska Department of Environ-
mental Control. This report relates only to reservoir sampling data.
II. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data indicate that Sherman Reservoir is eutrophic.
It ranked fourth in overall trophic quality when the nine
Nebraska reservoirs sampled in 1974 were compared using a com-
bination of six parameters*. Five of the reservoirs had less
median total phosphorus, seven had less median dissolved phosphorus,
one had less and two had the same median inorganic nitrogen, none
had less mean chlorophyll a_, and one had greater mean Secchi
disc transparency. Depression of dissolved oxygen with depth
occurred at sampling station 1 in July.
Survey limnologists did not observe macrophytes or surface
concentrations of algae during sampling visits.
B. Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
The algal assay results indicate that Sherman Reservoir was
limited by nitrogen at the time the assay sample was collected
(04/17/74). The reservoir data indicate nitrogen limitation in
September as wel1.
* See Appendix A.
-------
III. LAKE AND DRAINAGE BASIN CHARACTERISTICS1"
A. Lake Morphometry :
1. Surface area: 11.51 kilometers2.
2. Mean depth: 7.3 meters.
3. Maximum depth: 28.7 meters.
4. Volume: 84.023 x 106 m3.
B. Precipitation*:
1. Year of sampling: 56.3 centimeters.
2. Mean annual: 58.9 centimeters.
t Table of metric equivalents—Appendix B.
tt Martin and Hanson, 1966; maximum depth from Hartung, 1974.
* See Working Paper No. 175, "...Survey Methods, 1973-1976".
-------
3
IV. LAKE WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Sherman Reservoir was sampled three times during the open-
water season of 1974 by means of a pontoon-equipped Huey helicopter.
Each time, samples for physical and chemical parameters were collected
from a number of depths at two stations on the reservoir (see map,
page v). During each visit, a single depth-integrated (4.6 m or
near bottom to surface) sample was composited from the stations
for phytoplankton identification and enumeration; and during
the first visit, a single 18.9-liter depth-integrated sample was
composited for algal assays. Also each time, a depth-integrated
sample was collected from each of the stations for chlorophyll
^analysis. The maximum depths sampled were 17.1 meters at station
1 and 7.6 meters at station 2.
The sampling results are presented in full in Appendix D and
are summarized in the following table (the July nutrient samples
were not properly preserved and were not analyzed).
-------
A. SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR SHERMAN COUNTY RESERVOIR
STORE! CODE 3108
PARAMETER
TEMP (C)
OISS OAY (MG/L)
CNOCTVY (MCROMO)
PH (STAND UNITS)
TOT ALK (MG/L)
TOT P (MG/L)
ORTHO P (MG/L)
N02*N03 (MG/L)
AMMONIA (MG/L)
KJEL N (MG/L)
INORG N (MG/L)
TOTAL N (MG/L)
CHLRPYL A (UG/L)
SECCHI (METERS)
1ST
RANGE
7.4 -
10.2 -
14. -
104.
0.062 - 0
0.046 - 0
0.030 * 0
0.030 - 0
0.300 - 0
0.060 - 0
0.330 - 0
2.7 -
0.6 -
SAMPLING ( 4/17/74) 2ND SAMPLING ( 7/ 1/74)
2
7.7
10.6
121.
107.
.067
.054
.120
.060
.700
.180
.820
3.2
0.7
SITES
MEAN
7.6
10.5
58.
105.
0.065
0.050
0.059
0.044
0.400
0. 102
0.459
2.9
0.7
2 SITES
MEDIAN RANGE MEAN MEDIAN
7.7 18.0 - 23.3 22.1 22.8
10.6 3.2 - 8.0 7.2 7.8
46. 212. - 228. 224. 227.
0.045 »•«»•• .»•««•»««»«»««**»««**««
2.9 2.3 - 2.5 2.4 2.4
0.7 1.8 - 2.1 2.0 2.0
3RD
RANGE
16.2 -
7.8 -
168. -
8.1
103. ~
0.099 - 0
0.026 ~ 0
0.020 - 0
0.020 - 0
0.200 ~ 0
0.050 - 0
0.260 - 0
13.4 -
1.1 -
SAMPLING < 9/27/74)
2
16.4
9.2
170.
8.8
108.
.130
.066
.070
.060
.500
.090
.530
16.2
1.1
SITES
MEAN
16.3
8.8
169.
8.6
i AC
105.
0.111
0.043
0.043
0.034
0.300
0.077
0.343
14.8
1.1
MEDIAN
16.2
9.0
169.
8.8
105.
0.106
0.028
0.030
0.030
0.300
0.090
0.330
14.8
1.1
-------
B. Biological characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampling
Date
04/17/74
07/01/74
09/27/74 .
2. Chlorophyll a_ -
Sampling
Date
04/17/74
07/01/74
Dominant
Genera
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Asterionella sp.
Flagellates
Fragilaria sp.
Stephanodiscus sp.
Cymbella sp.
Other genera
Total
Merismopedia sp.
Flagellates
Cryj>tomonas sp.
Schroederia sp.
Stepfianodiscus sj>.
Other genera
Total
Stephanodiscus sp.
Fragilaria sp.
Flagellates
Cyclotella sp.
Melosira sp.
Other genera
Total
Algal Units
per ml
503
457
183
137
91
229
1,600
Station
Number
1
2
1
2
1,537
2,198
244
153
122
122
244
3,083
Chlorophyll a_
(yg/D
3.2
2.7
2.3
2.5
09/27/74
1
2
16.2
13.4
-------
6
C. Limiting Nutrient Study:
1. Autoclaved, filtered, and nutrient spiked -
Ortho P Inorganic N Maximum yield
Spike (mg/1) Cone, (mg/1) Cone, (mg/1) (mg/1-dry wt.)
Control 0.045 0.029 2.0
0.050 P 0.095 0.029 2.6
0.050 P + 1.0 N 0.095 1.029 28.1
1.0 N 0.045 1.029 19.4
2. Discussion -
The control yield of the assay alga, Selenastrum capri-
cornutum, indicates that the potential primary productivity
of Sherman Reservoir was high at the time the assay sample
was collected (04/17/74). Also, the significant increase
in yield with the addition of nitrogen alone indicates that
the reservoir was limited by nitrogen at that time. Note
that the addition of phosphorus alone resulted in a yield
not significantly greater than that of the control.
The reservoir data also indicate nitrogen limitation in
September as well (the mean inorganic nitrogen/orthophosphorus
ratio was 2/1).
-------
V. LITERATURE REVIEWED
Hartung, Ray, 1974. Personal comnunication (reservoir mor-
phometry). NE Dept. of Env. Control, Lincoln.
Martin, R. 0. R., and Ronald C. Hanson, 1966. Reservoirs in the
United States. Water Supply Paper #1838, U.S. Geol. Surv.,
Wash., DC.
-------
VI. APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
LAKE RANKINGS
-------
LAKE DATA TO BE USED IN BANKINGS
LAKE
CODE LAKE NAME
3101 BRANCHED OAK
3102 HARLAN COUNTY RESERVOIR
3103 HARRY 0. STRUNK (MED1CIN
3104 HUGH BUTLER (RED WILLOW)
3105 JOHNSON RESERVOIR
3106 LAKE MCCONAUGHY
3107 PAHNEE LAKE
3108 SHERMAN COUNTY RESERVOIR
3110 SWANSON RESERVOIR
MEDIAN
TOTAL P
0.044
0.112
0.064
0.061
0.075
0.027
0.060
0.067
0.067
MEDIAN
INORG N
0.070
0.365
0.460
0.090
0.340
0.585
0.175
0.090
0.090
500-
MEAN SEC
456.444
476.111
470.500
468.675
477.667
409.555
453.000
451.167
466. J33
MEAN
CHLORA
17.033
27.822
14.367
16.61?
26.133
8.644
15.367
6.717
14.450
15-
MIN DO
9.400
12.200
14.200
14.400
8.600
11.400
8.800
11.800
11.000
MEDIAN
DISS ORTnO
0.013
0.061
0.009
0.014
0.00V
0.004
0.020
0.050
0.016
-------
PERCENT OF LAKES WITH HIGHER VALUES (NUMBER OF LAKES KlTH HIGHEK VALUES)
LAKE
CODt LAKE NAME
3101 BRANCHED OAK
3103 HARLAN COUNTY RESEKVOIK
3103 HARRY 0. STRUNK (MED1CIN
3104 HUGH BUTLER (RED WILLOrf)
3105 JOHNSON RESERVOIri
3106 LAKt MCCONAUGHY
3107 PAWNEE LAKE
3108 SHERMAN COUNTY RESERVOIR
3110 SWANSON RESERVOIR
MEDIAN
TOTAL P
86 (
0 (
50 (
63 (
13 (
100 <
75 (
38 (
25 (
71
0)
4)
5)
1)
8)
6)
3)
2)
MEDIAN
INO*G
100 (
25 <
13 (
75 (
38 (
0 <
50 (
75 (
75 (
N
8)
2>
it
5>
3)
0)
4)
5)
5)
500-
MEAN SEC
63 (
13 (
25 (
38 (
0 (
100 (
75 (
68 (
50 (
5)
1)
2)
3)
0)
8)
6)
7)
4)
MEAN
CHLOWA
25 (
0 (
75 (
38 (
13 (
88 (
50 (
100 (
63 (
2)
0)
6)
3)
1)
7)
4)
8)
S)
15-
MIN DO
75 (
25 (
13 (
0 (
100 (
50 (
88 (
38 (
63 (
6)
2)
1)
0)
8)
<*)
7)
3)
5)
MEuI AN
DISS OKTrlO P
63 (
0 (
81 (
50 <
81 (
100 <
25 (
13 (
38 (
5)
0)
6)
4)
6)
8)
2)
1)
3)
1NOEX
NO
<*!<»
63
257
264
245
4J8
363
352
314
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LAKES RANKED BY INDE* NOS.
RANK LAKE CODE LAKE NAME INDEX NO
1 3106 LAKE MCCONAUGHY 43B
^ 3101 BRANCHED OAK 414
3 3107 PAWNEE LAKE 363
4 3108 SHERMAN COUNTY RESERVOIR 352
5 3110 SWANSON RESERVOIR 314
6 3104 HUGH BUTLER (RED WlLLOrf) 264
7 3103 HARRY D. STRUNK (MEDICIN 257
8 3105 JOHNSON RESERVOIR 245
9 3102 HAPLAN COUNTY RESERVOIR 63
-------
APPENDIX B
CONVERSION FACTORS
-------
CONVERSION FACTORS
Hectares x 2.471 = acres
Kilometers x 0.6214 = miles
Meters x 3.281 = feet
-4
Cubic meters x 8.107 x 10 = acre/feet
Square kilometers x 0.3861 = square miles
Cubic meters/sec x 35.315 = cubic feet/sec
Centimeters x 0.3937 = inches
Kilograms x 2.205 = pounds
Kilograms/square kilometer x 5.711 = Ibs/square mile
-------
APPENDIX C
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
-------
STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 75/13/23
310801
41 19 30.0 098 54 00.0
SHERMAN COUNTr RESERVOIR
31163 NEBRASKA
DATE
FROM
TO
74/04/17
74/07/01
74/09/27
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
09 35 0000
09 35 0005
09 35 0015
09 35 0050
15 25 0000
15 25 0005
15 25 0020
15 25 0035
15 25 0056
14 20 0000
14 20 0005
14 20 0015
14 20 0045
00010
WATER
TEMP
CENT
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.4
22.6
22.8
21.7
20.8
18.0
16.2
16.2
16.2
16.2
11EPALES
00300
DO
MG/L
10.6
10.6
10.2
8.0
7.8
7.2
6.8
3.2
8.8
9.0
9.0
8.6
00077
TRANSP
SECCHI
INCHES
28
84
42
00094
CNDUCTVY
FIELD
MICROMHO
29
25
72
121
226
227
222
219
212
169
169
169
170
3
00400
PH
SU
8.60
8.60
8.50
8.40
8.20
8.85
8.79
8.79
8.82
00410
T ALK
CAC03
MG/L
107
106
105
105
106
108
103
106
2111202
0056
00610
NH3-N
TOTAL
MG/L
0.060
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.040
0.060
0.020
0.040
FEET DEPTH
00625
TOT KJEL
N
MG/L
0.700
0.400
0.400
0.500
0.500
0.300
0.300
0.300
00630
N02&N03
N-TOTAL
MG/L
0.120
0.070
0.060
0.060
0.030
0.030
0.030
0.020K
00671
PHOS-DIS
ORTHO
MG/L P
0.054
0.050
0.051
0.050
0.028
0.028
0.026
0.026
DATE
FROM
TO
74/04/17
74/07/01
74/09/27
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
09 35 0000
09 35 0005
09 35 0015
09 35 0050
15 25 0000
14 ?0 0000
14 ?0 0005
14 20 0009
14 20 0015
14 20 0045
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.067
0.065
0.065
0.066
0.099
0.106
0.101
0.104
32217
CHLRPHYL
A
UG/L
3.2
2.3
16.2
00031
INCDT LT
REMNING
PERCENT
1.0
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE
LESS THAN INDICATED
-------
STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 75/12/33
310802
41 20 45.0 098 55 45.0
SHERMAN COUNTY RESERVOIR
31163 NEBRASKA
DATE
FROM
TO
74/04/17
74/07/01
74/C9/27
TIME
OF
DAY
10
10
10
10
15
15
15
15
14
14
14
DEPTH
00010
MATER
00300
DO
TEMP
00
00
00
00
10
10
10
10
50
50
50
FEET
0000
0005
0015
0025
0000
0005
0015
0020
0000
0005
0010
CENT
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.7
23.2
23.3
23.2
23.2
16.4
16.4
16.4
00665
DATE
FROM
TO
74/04/17
74/07/01
74/09/27
TIME
OF
DAY
10
10
10
10
15
15
14
14
14
00
00
00
00
10
10
50
50
50
DEPTH
FEET
0000
0005
0015
0025
0000
0010
0000
0005
0010
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.063
.065
.062
.066
.114
.120
.130
MG/L
10.
10.
10.
7.
8.
7.
fl.
7.
9.
9.
32217
6
6
6
8
0
8
0
8
2
2
CHLRPHYL
A
UG/L
2.
2.
13.
7
5
4
00077
TRANSP
SECCHI
INCHES
25
72
42
00031
INCOT LT
REMNING
PERCENT
1.0
00094
CNDUCTVY
FIELD
MICROMHO
14
23
63
115
227
228
228
228
168
168
168
11EPALES 2111202
3 0033 FEET DEPTH
00400 00410 00610 00625 00630 00671
PH T ALK NH3-N TOT KJEL N024N03 PHOS-OIS
CAC03 TOTAL N N-TOTAL ORTHO
SU MG/L MG/L MG/L MG/L MG/L P
105 0.040 0.300 0.050 0.050
105 0.030 0.300 0.030 O.OSO
104 0.040 0.300 0.040 0.048
104 0.030 0.300 0.040 0.046
8.60
8.60
8.60
8.60
8.16 104 0.030 0.300 0.060 0.063
8.40 104 0.030 0.200K 0.060 0.065
8.10 105 0.020K 0.200K 0.070 0.066
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE
LESS THAN INDICATED
-------
APPENDIX D
TRIBUTARY DATA
-------
STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 76/01/27
3108A1
41 17 37.0 098 52 06.0
OAK CREEK
31109 7.5 LOUP CITY SE
0/SHERMAN RESERVOIR
BRDG ON SEC RO 1 M DtfNSTRM SHERMAN DAM
11EPALES 2111204
4 0000 FEET DEPTH
DATE
FROM
TO
74/08/25
74/09/08
74/10/06
74/11/24
74/12/24
75/01/25
75/02/21
75/03/25
75/04/20
75/05/04
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
14 55
14 35
14 55
17 25
16 30
11 00
16 00
14 00
14 20
17 15
00630
(M02&N03
N-TOTAL
MG/L
0.470
0.470
0.660
0.768
0.910
0.830
0.915
0.681
0.510
0.390
00625
TOT KJEL
N
MG/L
0.500
0.550
0.800
0.500
1.000
2.300
1.750
1.100
1.300
0.750
00610
NH3-N
TOTAL
MG/L
0.075
0.060
0.050
0.064
0.165
0.256
0.114
0.055
0.050
C.158
00671
PHOS-DIS
ORTHO
MG/L P
0.490
0.480
0.550
0.490
0.360
0.320
0.497
0.485
0.530
0.575
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.610
0.620
0.630
0.610
0.615
1.390
1.000
0.600
0.660
0.645
-------
STORE! RETRIEVAL DATE 76/01/27
310881
41 21 47.0 098 57 25.0
UNNAMED CREEK
31 7.5 LOUP CITY SE
T/SHERMAN RESERVOIR
BRDG ON SEC RO 6.5 MI N OF LOUP CITY
11EPALES 2111204
4 0000 FEET DEPTH
DATE
FROM
TO
74/08/25
74/09/08
74/10/06
74/11/17
75/06/01
75/06/15
75/06/29
75/07/13
75/08/10
TIME DEPTH
or
DAY FEET
09 55
15 20
14 20
14 40
11 30
16 ?0
11 00
15 45
00630
N02&N03
N-TOTAL
MG/L
0.288
0.280
0.432
0.368
0.185
0.350
0.290
0.145
0.015
00625
TOT KJEL
N
MG/L
0.300
0.500
0.450
0.400
0.850
1.150
1.050
1*280
1.300
00610
NH3-N
TOTAL
MG/L
0.020
0.015
0.045
0.050
0.025
0.170
0.100
0.035
0.020
00671
PHOS-DIS
ORTHO
MG/L P
0.165
0.125
0.140
0.145
0.135
0.160
0.190
0.125
0.110
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.220
0.145
0.175
0.150
0.150
0.250
0.300
0.175
0.200
------- |