U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
REPORT
ON
LYNN RESERVOIR
BOX ELJ3ER COUNTY
UTAH
EPA REGION VI11
WORKING PAPER No, &\5
CORVALLIS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY - CORVALLIS, OREGON
and
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING & SUPPORT LABORATORY - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
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REPORT
ON
LYNN RESERVOIR
BOX ELDER COUNTY
UTAH
EPA REGION VI11
WORKING PAPER No, 843
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
UTAH STATE DIVISION OF HEALTH
AND THE
UTAH NATIONAL GUARD
NOVENBER., 1977
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CONTENT
Page
Foreward i i
List of Utah Study Lakes and Reservoirs iv
Lake and Drainage ARea Map v
Sections
I. Introduction 1
II. Conclusions 1
III. Reservoir and Drainage Basin Characteristics 2
IV. Water Quality Summary 3
V. Appendices 7
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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.
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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
in the formulation of planning guidelines and policies by EPA
and to augment plans implementation by the states.'
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The staff of the National Eutrophication Survey (Office of
Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
expresses sincere appreciation to the Utah Department of Social
Services and the Utah Department of Natural Resources for pro-
fessional involvement, to the Utah National Guard for conducting
the tributary sampling phase of the Survey, and to those Utah
wastewater treatment plant operators who voluntarily provided
effluent samples and flow data.
The staffs of the Bureau of Water Quality of the Division
of Health and the Division of Wildlife Resources provided inval-
uable 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 Maurice L. Watts, the Adjutant General of Utah,
and Project Officer Lt. Colonel T. Ray Kingston, who directed, the
volunteer efforts of the Utah National Guardsmen, are also grate-
fully acknowledged for their assistance to the Survey.
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. iv
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
STUDY LAKES AND RESERVOIRS
STATE OF UTAH
NAME
Bear
Deer Creek
Echo
Fish
Flaming Gorge
Huntington
Joes Valley
Lower Bowns
Lynn
Minersville
Moon
Navajo
Newcastle
Otter Creek
Panguich
Pelican
Pineview
Piute
Porcupine
Powel1
Pruess
Sevier Bridge
Starvation
Steinaker
Tropic
Utah
Mil lard Bay
COUNTY
Rich, UT; Bear Lake, ID
Wasatch
Summi t
Sevier
Daggett, UT;
Sweetwater, WY
Emery
Emery
Garfield
Box Elder
Beaver
Duchesne
Kane
Iron
Piute
Garfield
Uintah
Weber
Piute
Cache
Garffeld, Kane, San
Juan, UT; Coconino, AZ
Mi Hard
Juab, Sanpete
Duchesne
Uintah
Garfield
Utah
Box Elder
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LYNN RESERVOIR
X Lake Sampling Site
Drainage Area Boundary
4 Km.
South Fork
Junction Creek
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LYNN RESERVOIR
STORET NO. 4905
I. INTRODUCTION
Lynn Reservoir was included in the National Eutrophication Survey
as a water body of interest to the Utah Bureau of Environmental Health.
Tributaries were not sampled, and this report primarily relates to the
reservoir sampling data.
II. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data indicate Lynn Reservoir is eutrophic. It ranked
twenty-fourth in overall trophic quality when the 27 Utah lakes
and reservoirs sampled in 1975 were compared using a combination
of six parameters*. Twenty-four of the water bodies had less
median total phosphorus, 25 had less median dissolved ortho-
phosphorus, 20 had less median inorganic nitrogen, 24 had less
mean chlorophyll a_, and 11 had greater mean Secchi disc trans-
parency. Some depression of dissolved oxygen with depth occurred
in August (4.6 mg/1 at 5.5 meters).
Survey limnologists observed an algal bloom in the reservoir
in September.
B. Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
The algal assay results indicate the reservoir was nitrogen
limited in September.
The reservoir data indicate nitrogen limitation all three
sampling times.
* See Appendix A.
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2
III. RESERVOIR AND DRAINAGE BASIN CHARACTERISTICS*
A. Morphometry: Unknown.
B. Precipitation*:
1. Year of sampling: 49.4 centimeters.
2. Mean annual: 44.7 centimeters.
t Table of metric equivalents—Appendix B.
* See Working Paper No. 175, "... Survey Methods, 1973-1976",
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3
IV. WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Lynn Reservoir was sampled three 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 two
or more depths at one station on the reservoir (see map, page v). Dur-
ing each visit, a single depth-integrated (4.6 m or near bottom to sur-
face) sample was collected for phytoplankton identification and enu-
meration, and a similar sample was taken for chlorophyll £ analysis.
During the last visit, a single 18,9-liter depth-integrated sample was
collected for algal assays. The maximum depth sampled was 5.5 meters.
The sampling results are presented in full in Appendix C and are
summarized in the following table.
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MP
ISS OXY (MG/L)
•IDCTVY (MCROMO)
: (STAND UNITS)
)T ALK (MG/L)
)T P (MG/L)
,'THO P (MG/L)
>2*N03 (MG/L)
(MG/L)
N (MG/L)
(MG/L)
>TAL N (MG/L)
!L«PYL A (U'VL)
CCnl (METERS)
A. SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL AND
1ST SAMPLING ( 5/15/75)
1 SITES
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS FO* LYNN RESERVOIR
STOHET CODE 4905
2ND SAMPLING ( 8/
1 SITES
5/75)
3HO SAMPLING ( 9/17/75)
1 SITES
«
7.5
«.?
193.
7.7
1 1?.
0.107
O.C42
0.340
0.050
0.600
0.390
0.940
3.0
Q.u
ANGt
- 11.5
8.8
- 234.
7.9
- 1«0.
- 0.140
- 0.058
- 0.400
- 0.080
- 0.600
- 0.460
- 1.000
3.0
0.4
MEAN
10.1
8.5
220.
7.8
135.
0.127
0.051
0.363
0.063
0.600
0.427
0.963
3.0
0.4
MEDIAN
11.3
8.4
233.
7.7
114.
0.135
0.052
0.350
0.060
0.600
0.430
0.950
3.0
0.4
RANGE
17.2
4.6
316.
8.0
143.
0.075
0.048
0.020
0.030
0.400
0.050
0.420
2.3
3.4
- 20.9
7.0
- 361.
8.4
- 181.
- 0.158
- 0.140
- 0.050
- 0.150
- 0.400
- 0.200
- 0.450
2.3
3.4
MEAN
19.4
6.2
332.
8.2
156.
0.107
0.080
0.030
0.073
0.400
0.103
0.430
2.3
3.4
MEDIAN
20.1
7.0
320.
8.3
144.
0.088
0.052
0.020
0.040
0.400
0.060
0.420
2.3
3.4
RANGE
12.7
7.0
468.
8.3
98.
0.094
0.012
0.020
0.0
0.400
0.070
0.420
113.5
2.5
- 12.8
8.2
- 470.
8.6
- 202.
- 0.234
- 0.057
- 0.030
- 0.040
- 0.400
- 0.070
- 0.430
- 113.5
2.5
MEAN
12.7
7.6
469.
8.4
150.
0.164
0.034
0.025
0.020
0.400
0.070
0.425
113.5
2.5
MEDIA!
12.7
7.6
469.
8.4
150.
0.164
0.034
0.025
0.020
0.400
0.070
0.425
113.5
2.5
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B. Biological characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
C.
Sampling
Date
05/15/75
08/05/75
09/17/75
2. Chlorophyll a^ -
Sampl1ng
Date
05/15/75
08/05/75
Dominant
Genera
1. Navicula sp.
2. Phormidium sp.
3. Pandorina~sp.
4. Cryptomonas sp.
5. Trachelomonas sp.
Other genera
Total
1. Melosira sp.
2. Schroederia sp.
Total
1. Aphanizomenon sp.
2. Synedra sp.
3. Diatoma sp.
4. Anabaena sp.
5. AsterioneTla sp_.
Other genera
Total
Station
Number
1
1
1
09/17/75
Limiting Nutrient Study:
1. Autoclaved, filtered, and nutrient spiked -
Spike (mg/1)
Control
0.050 P
0.050 P + 1.0 N
1.0 N
Ortho P
Cone, (mg/1)
Inorganic N
Cone, (mg/1)
Algal Units
per ml
239
159
106
80
27
132
743
386
15
401
7,130
4,045
548
548
480
2.058
14,809
Chlorophyll a
(yg/D
3.0
2.3
113.5
Maximum yield
(mg/1-dry wt.)
0.135
0.185
0.185
0.135
0.328
0.328
1.328
1.328
12.4
12.0
37.0
29.4
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6
2. Discussion -
The control yield of the assay alga, Selenastrum capri-
cornutum, indicates that the potential primary productivity
of Uynn Reservoir was very high at the time the sample was
collected (09/17/76). Also, the significant increase in
yield when only nitrogen was added, and the lack of yield
response when phosphorus alone was added, indicate the reser-
voir was nitrogen limited at that time.
The reservoir data indicate nitrogen limitation all three
sampling times; i.e., the mean inorganic nitrogen to ortho-
phosphorus ratios were 8 to 1 in May, 1 to 1 in August, and
2 to 1 in September.
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V. APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
LAKE RANKINGS
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LA
-------
PERCENT OF LAKES WITH HIGHER VALUES (NUMBER OF LAKES WITH HIGHER VALUES)
LAKE
CODE LAKE NAME
o<;oa LAKE POWELL
4901 SEAR LAKE
4902 LOWER BOWN'S RESERVOIR
4903 DEER CREEK RESERVOIR
4904 E.CHO RESERVOIR
4905 LYNN RESERVOIR
4906 FISH LAKE
4907 HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVO
4908 JOE'S VALLEY RESERVOIR
4909 MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR
4910 MOON LAKE
4911 NAVAJO LAKE
4912 NEWCASTLE RESERVOIR
4913 OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR
4914 PAN«UITCH LAKE
4915 PELICAN LAKE
4916 PINEVIEW RESERVOIR
4917 PIUTE RESERVOIR
4913 PORCUPINE RESERVOIR
4919 PRUESS RESERVOIR (GARRIS
4920 SEVIER BRIDGE RESERVOIR
4921 STARVATION RESERVOIR
4922 STEINAKER RESERVOIR
4923 TROPIC RESERVOIR
4924 UTAH LAKE
4925 WILLARO BAY RESERVOIR
5605 FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR
MEDIAN
TOTAL P
96 < 25)
90 ( 23)
46 ( I?)
42- <> 11)
31 ( 8)
8'C 2)
62 ( 16)
77 < 20)
81 ( 21)
0 ( 0)
100 t 26)
69 ( 18)
23 < 6)
15 ( 4)
12 ( 3)
37 1 9)
50 ( 13)
27 ( 7)
58- ( 15)
19 ( 5)
54 < 14)
73 ( 19)
85 ( 22)
65 < 17)
4 ( 1)
37 < 9)
90 ( 23)
MEDIAN
INORG N
4
87
87
19
27
23
65
• 65
58
44
87
87
87
87
65
54
15
31
38
35
8
87
87
50
12
44
0
< D
( 19)
( 19)
( 5)
( 7)
( 6)
( 16)
( 16)
< 15)
( 11)
< 19)
( 19)
( 19)
( 19)
< 16)
( 14)
< 4)
( 6)
( 10)
( 9)
< 2)
( 19)
( 19)
( 13)
( 3)
( ID
( 0)
500-
MEAN SEC
•81
96
85
42
19
58
100
69
62
27
73
77
46
15
50
35
38
8
31
0
23
65
88
54
4
12
92
( 21)
( 25)
< 22)
( 11).
( 5)
( IS)
< 26)
< 18)
( 16)
< 7) '
( 19)
( 20)
( 12)
< 4)
( 13)
( 9)
( 10)
( 2)
( 8)
< 0).
( 6)
( 17)
< 23)
( 14)
< 1)
( 3)
( 24)
MEAN
CKLORA
73 (
100 (
65 (
35 (
50 (
8 (
23 <
92 <
85 <
12 <
77 (
88 !
27 (
31 (
4 (
54 (
58 (
15 <
38 (
69 (
19 (
62 (
96 (
46 (
0 (
42 C
81 (
19)
26)
17)
' 9)
13)
2>
6)
24)
22)
3)
20)
23)
7)
8)
1)
14)
15)
4)
10)
18)
5)
16)
25)
12)
0)
ID
21)
15-
MIN 00
15 (
77 (
73 (
6 (
12 (
62 (
62 (
96 (
46 (
85 (
69 (
100 (
19 (
54 <
8 (
90 (
4 (
38 (
33 (
81 (
33 (
23 (
27 (
90 <
42 (
50 (
62 (
4)
20)
19)
0)
3)
IS)
15)
25)
12)
22)
18)
26)
5)
14)
2)
23)
1)
10)
8)
21)
8)
6)
7)
23)
11)
13)
15)
MEDIAN
OISS ORTHO P
42 <
90 (
SO (
58 <
13 (
4 (
79 <
69 (
96 (
0 (
100 (
85 (
27 (
8 (
23 (
73 <
58 (
46 (
19 (
37 <
37 <
79 (
65 (
58 (
13 (
31 (
90 <
11)
23)
13)
14)
3)
1)
20)
18)
25)
0)
26)
22)
7)
2)
6)
19)
14)
12)
5)
9)
9)
20)
17)
14)
3)
8)
23)
INDEX
NO
311
540
406
196
152
163
391
463
428
168
506
506
229
210
162
343
223
165
217
241
174
389
448
363
75
216
415
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b RANKED BY INDEX NOS.
RANK LAKE CODE LAKE NAME INDEX NO
1 4901 SEAR LAKE 540
2 4911 NAVAJO LAKE 506
3 4910 MOON LAKE 506
4 4907 HUNTINGTCN NORTH RESERVO 468
5 4922 STEINAKER RESERVOIR 448
6 4908 JOE'S VALLEY RESERVOIR 428
7 5605 FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR 415
8 4902 LOtt/ER 60WN«S RESERVOIR 406
9 4906 FISH LAKE 391
10 4921 STARVATION RESERVOIR 389
11 4923 TROPIC RESERVOIR 363
12 4915 PELICAN LAKE 343
13 0408 LAKE POWELL 311
14 4919 PRUESS RESERVOIR (GARRIS 241
IS 4912 NEWCASTLE RESERVOIR 229
16 4516 PINEVIEW RESERVOIR 223
17 4918 PORCUPINE RESERVOIR 217
18 4925 WILLARO BAY RESERVOIR 216
19 4913 OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR 210
20 4903 DEER CREEK RESERVOIR 196
21 4920 SEVIER BRIDGE RESERVOIR 174
22 4909 MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR 168
23 4917 PIUTE RESERVOIR 165
24 4905 LYNN RESERVOIR 163
25 4914 PANQUITCH LAKE 162
26 490* ECHO RESERVOIR 152
27 4924 UTAH LAKE 75
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APPENDIX B
CONVERSION FACTORS
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CONVERSION FACTORS
Hectares x 2.471 s acres.
Kilometers x 0.6214 = miles
Meters x 3.281 » feet •
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
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APPENDIX C
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
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STORET RETRIEVAL OATF 7f/0e/12
490501
41 50 52.0 113 43 30.0 3
LVNN RESERVOIR
49003 UTAH
150791
11EPALES
2111202
0022 FEET DEPTH CLASS
DATE
FROM
TO
75/05/15
75/08/05
75/09/17
DATE
FROM
TO
75/05/15
75/08/05
75/09/17
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
10 40 0000
10 40 0005
10 40 0018
11 10 0000
11 10 0005
11 10 0018
10 45 0000
10 45 .0005
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
10 40 0000
10 40 0005
10 40 0018
11 10 0000
11 10 0005
11 10 0018
10 45 0000
10 45 0005
00010
WATER
TEMP
CENT
11.3
11.5
7.5
20.9
20.1
17.2
12.7
12.8
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.107
0.135
0.140
0.075
0.088
0.158
0.094
0.234
00300
00
MG/L
8.2
8.8
8.4
7.0
7.0
4.6
7.0
8.2
32217
CHLRPHYL
A
JG/L
3.0
2.3
113.5
00077
TRANSP
SECCHI
INCHES
15
132
100
00031
INCDT LT
REMNING
PERCENT
00094
CNDUCTVY
FIELD
MICROMHO
233
234
193
316
320
361
470
468
00400
PH
SO
7.70
7.90
7.70
8.40
8.30
8.00
8.30
8.60
00410
T ALK
CAC03
MG/L
114
112
180
143
144
181
98
202
00610
NH3-N
TOTAL
MG/L
0.080
0.050
0.060
0.030
0.040
0.150
0.040
O.OOOR
00
00625
TOT KJEL
N
MG/L
0.600
0.600
0.600
0.400
0.400
0.400
0.400
0.400
00630
N02&N03
N-TOTAL
MG/L
0.350
0.340
0.400
0.020
0.020K
0.050
0.030
0.020K
00671
PHOS-DIS
ORTHO
MG/L P
0.042
0.052
0.058
0.048
0.052
0.140
0.012
0.057
K VALUE KNOwi>4 TO BE
LESS THAN INDICATED
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