U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
REPORT
ON
WALDO LAKE
LANECOIMY
OREGON
EPA REGION X
WORKING PAPER No, 834
CORVALLIS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY - CORVALLIS, OREGON
and
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING & SUPPORT LABORATORY - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
-------
REPORT
ON
WALDO LAKE
LANE COUNTY
OREGON
EPA REGION X
WORKING PAPER No, 834
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
AND THE
OREGON NATIONAL GUARD
JANUARY, 1978
-------
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword ii
List of Oregon Lakes and Reservoirs iv
Lake or Reservoir Drainage Area Map v
Sections
I. Introduction 1
II. Conclusions 1
III. Lake and Drainage Basin Characteristics 3
IV. '.later Quality Summary 4
V. Yearly Loads 8
I/I. Literature Reviewed 9
VII. Appendices 10
-------
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 [S303(e)], water
quality criteria/standards review [Q303(c)J, clean lakes [§314(a,b)j,
and water quality monitoring [§106 and §305(b)] activities mandated
by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972.
-------
111
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
fresh water 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
1n the formulation of planning guidelines and policies by EPA
and to augment plans implementation by the states. - • '
ACKNQWLE-pMENT
The staff of the National Eutrophication Survey (Office of
Research & Developments U. S. Environmental Protection Agency)
expresses sincere appreciation to the Oregon Department of Environ-
mental Quality for the professional involvement and to the Oregon
National Guard for conducting the tributary sampling phase of the
the Survey.
William H. Young, Department Director, and Harold L. Sawyer,
Administrator, and the staff of the Water Quality Control Division
provided invaluable lake documentation and counsel during the
Survey5 reviewed the preliminary reports, and provided critiques
nest useful in the preparation of this Working Paper series.
Brigadier General Richard A. Miller, the Adjutant General
of Oregon,, and Project Officer Lt. Colonel John Mewha, who
directed the volunteer efforts of the Oregon National Guardsmen,
are also gratefully acknowledged for their assistance to the
Survey.
-------
iv
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
STUDY LAKES ami RESERVOIRS
STATE OF OREGON
NAME ' COUNTY
Brownlee Baker, OR; Washington, ID
Diamond Douglas
Hells Canyon Baker, Wai Iowa, OR; Adams,
Idaho, ID
Hills Creek Lane
Owyhee Malhuer
Oxbow Baker, OR; Adams, ID
buttle Jefferson
Waldo Lane
-------
4345-
Ore.
Map Location
WALDO LAKE
X
o
i
i
0
f
v^
D
1
i
Lake
Sampling Site
Drainage Area Boundary
r
234 sKm.
i i i i
2 3 Mi .
Scale
4340-
122.05
122,00
-------
WALDO LAKE
STORE! NO. 4108
/
I. INTRODUCTION:
Due to inaccessibility and absence of permanent influent streams,
no tributary samples were taken. Therefore, this report primarily relates
to the lake sampling data. However, the nutrient budget calculated
for Waldo Lake by Powers et al. (1977) is discussed on page 2.
II, CONCLUSIONS:
A, Trophic Condition:
Survey data indicate that Waldo Lake is oligotrophic. It
ranked first in overall trophic quality when the eight Oregon
lakes and reservoirs sampled in 1975 were compared using a com-
bination of six lake parameters*. None of the other waterbodies
had less median total phosphorus and orthophosphorus, none had
less and two had the same median inorganic nitrogen, none had
less mean chlorophyll a, and none had greater mean Secchi disc
transparency. Malueg et al. (1972) classified Waldo Lake as
ultra-oligotrophic and ranked it among the most pristine lakes
in the world.
So Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
The results of the algal assay indicate that Waldo Lake was
phosphorus limited at the time the sample was taken (10/31/75).
Tha lake data indicate nitrogen limitation in July and phos-
phorus limitation in October.
* See Appendix A.
-------
2
C. Nutrient Controllability:
1. Point sources—As far as is known, the only point sources
that could impact Waldo Lake are septic tanks serving three
lakeshore campgrounds. However, a shoreline survey would be
necessary to determine the significance of those sources.
A nutrient budget for Waldo Lake calculated by Powers et al.
(op. cit.) resulted in phosphorus loading estimates ranging from
0.010 to 0.028 g/m2/yr. However, even the highest loading
estimate is less than that proposed by Vollenweider (Vollen-
welder & Dillon, 1974) as an oligotrophic loading (see page 8).
-------
III. LAKE AND DRAINAGE BASIN CHARACTERISTICS1"
A, Morphometry :
1. Surface area: 26.7 kilometers2.
2. Mean depth: 35.6 meters.
3o Maximum depth: 127.0 meters.
4, Volume: 950.520 x 106 m3.
5. Mean hydraulic retention time: 21.2 years*.
B. Precipitation**:
]. Year of sampling: 123.40 centimeters.
2, Mean annual: 117.00 centimeters.
t Table of metric equivalents—Appendix B.
ft Ptelueg et al., 1972.
* Powers et al.6 1977.
** See Working Paper No. 175.
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4
IV. WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Waldo Lake was sampled two times during the open-water season of
1975 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 lake (see map, page v). Dur-
ing each visit, a single depth-Integrated (4.6 m to surface) sample
was composited from the stations for phytoplankton identification
and enumeration; and during the last 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 a^ analysis. The maximum depth sampled at both stations
was 53.3 meters.
The sampling results are presented in full in Appendix C and are
summarized in the following table.
-------
PARAMETER
TEMP (C)
DISS OXY (MG/L)
CNDCTVY (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)
IN09& N (MG/L)
TOTAL N (MG/L)
CHLRPYL A (UG/L)
(METEPS)
AO SUMMARY or PHYSICAL
1ST SAMPLING ( 7/16/75)
2 SITES
CwEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR fefiLDO LAKE
STORE! COQE 4J08
2ND SAMPLING (10/30/75)
2 SITES
a
3.3
a. 2
*»0
6.0
10.
O.OOb
0.009
0.020
0.020
0.200
0.040
0.220
0.2
15.2
4I4GE
- 13.1
- 11.0
7.
7..0
lOo
- 0.175
- 0.013
- 0.040
- 0.030
- 0.900
- 0.06C
- 0.920
0.4
- 15.2
MEAU
7.8
9.7
6.
6.2
10.
0.020
0.011
0.021
0.021
0.250
0.04?
0.271
0.3
15.2
MEDIAN
6.1
9.9
6.
6.2
10.
0.006
0.011
0.020
0.020
0.200
0.040
0.220
0.3
15.2
RANGE
7.9
9.4
1.
6.2
10o
0.004
0.002
0.020
0.020
0.200
0.040
0.220
0.4
15.2
- 10. C
- 10.6
1.
7.8
10.
- 0.007
- 0.003
- 0.020
- 0.020
- 0.200
- 0.040
- 0.220
0.4
- 15.2
MEAN
9.6
9.9
1.
7.0
1C.
0.005
0.002
0.020
0.020
0.200
0.040
0.220
0.4
15.2
MEDIAN
10.0
9.6
1.
7.1
10.
0.004
0.002
0.020
0.020
0.200
0.040
0.220
0.4
15.2
3KO SAMPLING
0 SITES
RANGE MEAN
MEDIAN
—
-------
B. Biological Characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampling
Date
07/16/75
10/31/75
2. Chlorophyll a^ -
Sampling
Date
07/16/75
10/30/75
10/31/75
Dominant
Genera
1. Asterionella sp.
2. Peridinium sj).
3. JL^nedra^ sj>.
Total
1. Asterionella sp.
2. Melosira sp>
3. Synedra sp.
4. Glenodinium sp.
Total
Station
Number
1
2
1
2
Algal Units
per ml
9
4
_4
17
12
12
4
4
32
Chlorophyll a
(yg/1 )
0.2
0.4
0.4
0.4
C. Uniting Nutrient Study:
lo Autoclaved, filtered, and nutrient spiked -
Control
0.050 P
0.050 P
1.0 N
1.0 N
Ortho P
Cone, (mg/1)
<0.005
<0.055
<0.055
<0.005
Inorganic N
Cone, (mg/1)
0.025
0.025
1.025
1.025
Maximum yield
(mg/1-dry wt.)
0.1
2.3
13.6
0.1
-------
7
2. Discussion -
The control yield of the assay alga, Selenastrum capri-
cornutum, Indicates that the potential primary productivity
of Waldo Lake was low at the time the sample was collected
(10/31/75). Note that there was a significant growth res-
ponse to the addition of phosphorus alone, but no increase
occurred when only nitrogen was added. These results indicate
that phosphorus was limiting at that time. However, the lake
data indicate nitrogen limitation in July; i.e., the mean in-
organic nitrogen to orthophosphorus ratio was 4 to 1, and
nitrogen limitation would be expected.
-------
8
V. YEARLY LOADS:
In the following table, the estimated existing phosphorus loadings
are compared to those proposed by Vollenweider (Vollenweider and Dillon,
1974). Essentially, his "dangerous" loading is one at which the receiving
water would become eutrophic or remain eutrophic; his "permissible"
loading is that which would result in the receiving water remaining
oligotrophic or becoming oligotrophic if morphometry permitted. A
mesotrophic loading would be considered one between "dangerous" and
"permissible".
Note that Vollenweider's model may not be applicable to water
bodies with short hydraulic retention times.
Total Phosphorus Total Nitrogen
grams/mVyr* 0.01-0.028 0.22-0.44
Vollenweider phosphorus loadings
(g/m2/yr) based on mean depth and mean
hydraulic retention time of Waldo Lake:
"Dangerous" Ceutrophic loading) 0.24
"Permissible" (oligotrophic loading) 0.12
* Nutrient budget estimates by Powers et. al., 1977.
-------
VI. LITERATURE REVIEWED
Malueg, K. W., J. R. Tilstra, D. W. Schults, and C. F. Powers, 1972.
Limnological observations on an ultra-oligotrophic lake in Ore-
gon, U.S.A. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. J£, 292-302.
Powers, Charles F., William D. Sanville, and Frank S. Stay, 1977.
Waldo Lake, Oregon. In: North American Project—A study of
U.S. Waterbodies. Rept. of the Org. for Econ. Coop. & Dev.,
EPA-600/3-77-086, Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis,
OR.
Vollenweider, R. A., and P. J. Dillon, 1974. The application of the
phosphorus loading concept to eutrophication research. Natl. Res.
Council of Canada Publ. No. 13690, Canada Centre for Inland Waters,
Burlington, Ontario.
-------
10
V«. APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
LAKE RANKINGS
-------
LAKE DATA TO BE USED IN RANKINGS
LAKE
CODE LAKE NAME
8RGWNLEE RESERVOIR
4102 DIAMOND LAKE
4103 HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR
4104 HILLS CREEK RESERVOIR
4105 OWYHEE
4106 OXBOW RESERVOIR
4107 SUTTLE LAKE
4108 WALDO LAKE
MEDIAN
TOTAL P
0.079
G.028
0,068
C.038
0*095
0«071
0.031
0.005
MEDIAN
INORG N
0,560
G.040
0.640
0.060
0.425
0.690
0.040
0.040
500-
MEAN SEC
428.133
294.500
429.111
435*200
480.417
425.555
95.000
-100.000
MEAN
CHLORA
16.207
7.300
18.722
2.333
3.350
10.311
9.167
0.350
15-
MIN DO
14.500
6.800
12.400
7.400
13.200
12.200
6.800
6.800
MEDlAtv
DISS ORTHC
0.043
0.011
0.045
0.027 .
0.064
0.040
0.020
0.006
-------
PERCENT OF LAKES WITH HIGHER VALUES (NUMBER OF LAKES WITH HIGHER VALUES)
LAKE
CODE LAKE NAME
410J BROtfNLEE RESERVOIR
4102 DIAMOND LAKE
4103 HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR
4104 HILLS CREEK RESERVOIR
4105 OWYHEE
4106 OXBOW RESERVOIR
4107 SUTTLE LAKE
4108 WALDO LAKE
MEDIAN
TOTAL P
14 I
86 i
43 «
57 <
0 (
29 (
71 <
100 <
U
65
3)
4)
0)
2)
5)
7)
MEDIAN
INORG
' 29 (
93 C
14 (
57 <
43 (
0 (
71 (
93 <
N
2J
6)
1)
4)
3)
0>
5)
6)
500-
MEAN SEC
43 (
71 (
29 (
14 (
0 <
57 (
86 (
100 (
3>
5)
2)
1)
0)
4>
6)
7)
MEAN
CHLORA
14 (
57 (
0 (
86 (
71 {
29 (
43 (
.100 (
1)
4)
0)
6)
5).
2>
3)
7)
15-
MIN
0 (
86 (
29 (
57 (
14 «
43 (
86 (
86 (
DO
0)
5)
21
4)
1)
35
5)
5)
MEDIAN
DISS ORTHO P
29 (
86 (
14 (
57 (
0 (
43 (
71 (
100 (
2)
6)
1)
4)
0)
3)
5)
7)
INDEX
NO
129
479
129
328
128
201
428
579
-------
LAKES RANKED BY INDEX NOS.
RANK LAKE CODE LAKE NAME
1 4108
2 4102
3 4107
4 4104
5 4106
6 4101
7 4103
8 4105
WALDO LAKE
DIAMOND LAKE
SUTTLE LAKE
HILLS CREEK RESERVOIR
OXBOW RESERVOIR
BROdNLEE RESERVOIR
HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR
OvJYHEE
INDEX NO
579
479
428
328
201
129
129
128
-------
APPENDIX B
CONVERSION FACTORS
-------
CONVERSION FACTORS
Hectares x 2.471 * acres
Kilometers x 0.6214 « miles
Sfeters x 3.281 - feet
-4
Cubic meters x 8.107 x 10 s acre/feet
Square kilometers x 0.3861 = square railes
£yb1c meters/sec x 35.315 = cubic feet/sec
testljueters K 0.3937 a inches
. «
4
tC11@grams x 2.205 * pounds
1110§raros/square kilometer x 5.711 » Ibs/square mile
-------
APPENDIX C
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
-------
STORE! RETRIEVAL DATE 7^/08/12
43 41 47.0 122 03 15.C 3
MALOO LAKE
41039 OREGON
131392
DATE
FROM
TO
75/07/16
75/10/30
DATE
FROM
TO
75/07/16
75/10/30
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
13 00 0000
13 00 0005
13 00 0015
13 00 0040
13 oo ooao
13 no 0120
13 00 0175
10 30 0000
10 10 0005
10 30 0020
10 30 0050
10 30 0090
10 30 0135
10 30 0175
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
13 00 0000
13 00 0005
13 00 0015
13 00 0040
13 00 0080
13 00 0120
13 00 0175
10 30 0000
10 30 0005
10 30 0020
10 30 0050
10 30 0090
10 30 0135
10 30 0175
C0010
WATER
TEMP
CENT
13.1
12.8
11.1
6.0
<».5
3.9
3.3
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
9.9
9.4
7.9
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.006
0.006
0.008
0.005
0.005
0.007
0.006
0.007
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.004
0.004
0.004
00300
DO
MG/L
9.
B.
9.
10.
10.
11.
10.
10.
9.
9.
9.
9.
10.
10.
32217
00077
TRflNSP
SECCH1
INCHES
0 600
6
e
4
0
0
2
0 600
6
e
6
6
2
6
00031
00094
CNDUCTVY
FIELD
MICHOMHO
6
6
6
6
6
6
4
IK
IK
IK
IK
IK
IK
IK
11EPALES 2111202
0999 FEET DEPTH CLASS 00
00400 00410 00610 00625
PH
SU
6.20
6.30
6.30
6.20
6.25
6.50
7.00
7.50
7.30
7.20
7.05
6.25
6.20
T ALK
CAC03
MG/L
10K
10K
10K
10K
10
10K
10
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
NH3-N TOT KJEL
TOTAL
MG/L
0.020
0.020
0.030
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
N
MG/L
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
00630
N02&N03
N-TOTAL
MG/L
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
00671
PHOS-OIS
URTHO
MG/L P
0.011K
0.012K
0.012K
0.011K
0.013K
0.011K
0.012K
0.002K
0.002K
0.002K
0.002K
0.002K
0.002K
0.002K
CHLRPHYL INCDT LT
A
UG/L
0.
0.
REMNING
PERCENT
2
4
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE
LESS THAN INDICATED
-------
STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 76/08/12
410802
43 Vf 12.0 122 02 18.0 3
WALDO LAKE
f!039 OREGON
131392
11EPALES
2111202
0999 FEET DEPTH CLASS
DATE
FROM
TO
75/07/16
75/10/31
DATE
FROM
TO
75/07/16
75/10/31
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
13 20 0000
13 20 0005
13 20 00 15-,
13 20 0040
13 20 '0090
13 ?0 0120
13 20 0175
10 05 0000
10 05 0005
10 05 0020
10 05 0050
10 05 0090
10 05 0135
10 05 0175
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET'
13 20 0000
13 20 0005
13 ?0 0015
13 ?0 0040
13 ?0 0090
13 20 0120
13 20 0175
10 05 0000
10 05 0005
10 05 0020
10 05 0050
10 05 0090
10 05 0135
10 05 0175
00010
WATER
TEMP
CENT *
12.8
12.1
11.5
6i3
4.4
3.8
3.6
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
9.1
8.6
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.005
0.005
0.005.
0.024
0.012
0.007
0.175
0.006
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.005
0.005
0.004
00300
DO
MG/L
8.2
8.8
9.2
10.4
8.6
10.8
10.6
9.6
9.4
9.6
9.6
9,4
10.4
10.6
32217
CHLRPHYL
A
UG/L
0.4
0.4
00077 00094
TRANSP CNDUCTVY
SECCHI FIELD
INCHES MICHOMHO
600 6
6
6
6
6
7
6
600 IK
IK
IK
IK
IK
IK
IK
00031
INCDT LT
REMNING
PERCENT
00400
PH
SU
6.20
6.15
6.10
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.20
7.30
7.80
7.30
7.10
6.90
6.80
6.70
00410
T ALK
CAC03
MG/L
10
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
10K
00610
NH3-N
TOTAL
MG/L
0.020
0.020K
0.020
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
00
00625
TOT KJEL
N
MG/L
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.900
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
0.200K
00630
N02&N03
N-TOTAL
MG/L
0.040
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
00671
PHOS-DIS
ORTHO
MG/L P
0.011K
0.012K
0.011K
0.010J
0.009J
0.009K
0.010
0.003
0.002K
0.002K
0.002
0.002K
0.002K
0.002K
K* VftLUr KNOWN TO BE LESS
THAN IMDICATED
j» VALUE KNOWN TO BE IN
------- |