U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
t^Jpi-^pr--j-
SlETiTE CikJi
YO/IIN3
i i
WORKING PAPER No, 8S1
CORVALLIS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY - CORVALLIS, OREGON
and
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING & SUPPORT LABORATORY - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
699-440
-------
REPORT
ON
SODA LAKE
SUBLETE OMY
WYOMING
EPA REGION VIII
WORKING PAPER No, 891
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
AND THE
WYOMING NATIONAL GUARD
SEPTEMBER, 1977
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Page
Foreword ii
List of Wyoming Lakes and Reservoirs iv
Lake and Drainage Area Map v
Sections
I. Introduction 1
II. Conclusions 1
III. Lake and Drainage Basin Characteristics 2
IV. 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.
-------
ill
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 Wyoming Department of Environ-
jnental Quality for professional involvement, to the Wyoming National
Guard for conducting the tributary sampling phase of the Survey,
and to those Wyoming wastewater treatment plant operators who
voluntarily provided effluent samples.
The staff of the Water Quality Division 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.
Brigadier General James L. Spence, The Adjutant General of
Wyoming, and Project Officer Colonel Donald L. Boyers who directed
the volunteer efforts of the Wyoming National Guardsmen, are also
gratefully acknowledged for their assistance to the Survey.
-------
NAME
Big Sandy
Boulder
Boysen
De Smet
Flaming Gorge
Fremont
Glendo
Keyhole
Ocean
Semi noe
Soda
Viva Naughton
Woodruff Narrows
Yellowtail
iv
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
STUDY RESERVOIRS
State of Wyoming
COUNTY
Sublette, Sweetwater
Sublette
Fremont
Johnson
Sweetwater, WY; Daggett, UT
Sublette
Converse, Platte
Crook
Fremont
Carbon
Sublette
Lincoln
Uinta
Bighorn, WY; Bighorn,
Carbon, MT
-------
42-50—
SODA LAKEi
X Lake Sampling Site
^ Drainage Area Boundary
o y$ iKm.
o W >W.
Scale
4249 —
1U9' 37'
100'33'
109' 35'
109 34
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SODA LAKE
STORE! NO. 5011
I. INTRODUCTION
Soda Lake was included in the National Eutrophication Survey as a
water body of interest to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
Tributaries and nutrient sources were not sampled, and this report relates
only to the lake sampling data.
II. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data indicate that Soda Lake is eutrophic. It ranked
ninth in overall trophic quality when the 14 Wyoming lakes and
reservoirs sampled in 1975 were compared using a combination of
six parameters*. Ten of the water bodies had less median total
phosphorus, seven had less and two had the same median orthophos-
phorus, none had less and four had the same median inorganic nitro-
gen, five had less mean chlorophyll a^ and four had greater mean
Secchi disc transparency. Depletion of hypolimnetic dissolved
oxygen occurred at both sampling stations in August and at station
1 in October.
B. Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
The algal assay results indicate the primary productivity of
Soda Lake was limited by nitrogen at the time the sample was col-
lected (10/20/75). The lake data indicate nitrogen limitation at
both sampling times.
* See Appendix A.
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III. LAKE AND DRAINAGE BASIN CHARACTERISTICS1"
A. Morphometry :
1. Surface area: 1.11 kilometers2.
2. Mean depth: Unknown.
3. Maximum depth: 67.1 meters.
4. Volume: Unknown.
B. Precipitation*:
1. Year of sampling: 25.7 centimeters.
2. Mean annual: 28.5 centimeters.
t Table of metric conversions—Appendix B.
tt Prior, 1974.
* See Working Paper No. 175, "...Survey Methods, 1973-1976".
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3
IV. WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Soda 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). During each
visit, a single depth-Integrated (4.6 m to surface) sample was composi-
ted from the stations for phytoplankton identification and enumeration;
and during the October 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 chloro-
phyll a_ analysis. The maximum depths sampled were 53.3 meters at
station 1 and 15.8 meters at station 2.
The sampling results are presented in full in Appendix C and are
summarized in the following table.
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A. SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL AMD
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS FO* SODA
STORET CUOE 5611
TEMP (C)
D1SS OXY (MG/L)
CNOCTVY (MC^OMoi
PH (STAND UNITS)
TOT ALK (MG/L)
TOT P (MG/L)
ORTriO P (MG/L)
N02»N03 (MG/L)
AMMONIA (MG/L)
KJEL N (MG/L)
INOHG N (MG/L)
TOTAL N (MG/L)
CHLRPYL A WG/L)
SECCHI (METERS)
RANGE
3.4 - 17.2
0.0 - 7.6
2230. - 3216.
9.4 - 9.5
19?0. - 2620.
0.037 - 0.308
0.003 - 0.259
0.020 - 0.020
0.020 - 0.460
1.800 - 4.300
0.040 - 0.4PO
1.H20 - 4.320
2.6 - 3.7
3.2 - 3.4
NG ( 8/28/75)
TES
MEAN
10.3
3.9
2720.
9.5
2214.
0.099
0.062
0.020
0.091
2.562
0.111
2.582
3.1
3.3
MEOIAN
11.5
6.0
2441.
9.5
2320.
0.062
0 .020
0.020
0.020
2.600
0.040
2.620
3.1
3.3
2ND SAMPLING (10/20/75) 3»U SAMPLING (»«/**/«•
2 SITES 0 SITES
KANGE
6.5
0.0
2269.
9.5
1540.
0.049
0.003
0.020
0.020
2.100
0.040
2. 120
7.8
2.4
- 12.0
8.4
- 3709.
9.6
- 2260.
- 0.317
- 0 . 290
- 0.040
- 0.500
- 4.400
- 0.540
- 4.420
8.2
2.4
MEAN
10.0
4.6
2636.
9.5
1981.
0.118
0.072
0.022
0.098
2.755
0.120
2. 776
8.0
2.4
MEDIAN KANGE MEAN MED
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0»020 wwwww — Owwvww w-ttwJ-
0.020 wwwww* — wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwft
2*400 «wwww» — wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
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d.O
2.4 »«»»*» .»»««»»«»«»«««i>««»«««
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B. Biological Characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampl i ng
Date
08/28/75
10/20/75
2. Chlorophyll a_ -
Sampling
Date
08/28/75
10/20/75
Dominant
Genera
1. Cyanophytan coccoid
colonies
2. Elakatothrix sp.
3. Aphanizomenon sja.
Total
1. Campy lodiscus sp.
2. Pediastrum S£.
3. Navicula sp.
Station
Number
1
2
1
2
Algal Units
per ml
221
85
17
323
trace
trace
trace
Chlorophyll a
(ug/1)
2.6
3.7
8.2
7.8
C. Limiting Nutrient Study:
1. Autoclaved, filtered, and nutrient spiked -
Ortho P
Cone, (mg/1)
Inorganic N
Cone, (mg/1)
Maximum yield
(mg/1-dry wt.)
0.035
0.085
0.085
0.035
0.215
0.215
1.215
1.215
6.8
7.1
31.9
17.7
Spike (mg/1)
Control
0.050 P
0.050 P + 1.0 N
1.0 N
2. Discussion -
The control yield of the assay alga, Selenastrum capri-
cornutum., indicates that the potential primary productivity
of Soda Lake was high at the time the assay sample was
collected (10/20/75). Also, the increase in yield when
only nitrogen was added indicates nitrogen limitation at
-------
6
that time.
The lake data Indicate nitrogen limitation both sampling
times (the mean inorganic nitrogen to orthophosphorus ratios
were less than two to one both times).
-------
V. LITERATURE REVIEWED
Prior, Roy E., 1974. Personal communication (lake morphometry).
WY Dept. of Env. Qual., Cheyenne.
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.
-------
VI. APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
LAKE RANKINGS
-------
LA
-------
or LAKES *ITI HIGHER VALUES »NUMBER OF LAKES »ITH HIGHER VALUES)
LAKE
CODE
S601
5602
5603
5604
5605
5606
5607
5608
5609
5610
5611
5612
5613
5614
LAKE NAME
BIG SAMDY RESERVOIR
BOULDER LAKE
dOYSEN RESERVOIK
LAKE OE SMET
FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR
FREMONT LAKE
GLENOO RESERVOIR
KEY HOLE RESERVOIR
OCEAN LAKE
SEMINOLE RESERVOIR
SODA LAKE
VIVA NAUGHTON RESERVOIR
KOOOPUFF NARROWS RESERVO
YELLOWTAIL RESERVOIR
MEDMN
TOTAL P
0 <
92 t
46 <
54 (
85 (
100 (
31 (
69 (
38 (
62 (
?3 (
15 <
8 <
77 (
0)
12)
6)
7)
11)
13)
4)
9)
5)
8)
3)
2)
1)
10)
MEDIAN
INOPG N
54 (
92 <
23 <
73 (
0 *
73 (
8 <
6? 1
92 (
31 1
92 i
39 i
46 i
15 i
71
11)
1 3)
I 9)
: 0)
[ 9)
t 1)
I 8)
I 11)
I 4)
t ID
I 5)
I 6)
t 2)
500-
MEAN SEC
0 <
92 (
23 <
62 <
77 <
100 <
31 (
38 1
B 1
46 1
69 1
54 1
15 1
85 1
0)
12)
: 3>
: «>
: io>
: 13)
: 4>
[ 5)
: i)
I 6)
! 9)
I 7)
t 2)
[ 11)
MEAN
77 (
100 (
46 (
15 (
54 <
8b (
23 (
31 (
38 (
92 <
62 (
0 (
8 (
69 (
10)
13)
0)
2)
7)
11)
3)
4)
5)
12)
8)
0)
i>
9)
15-
MIN DO
77 <
92 (
8 (
69 (
46 (
100 1
38 1
15 1
85 (
54 1
0 1
27 1
27 1
62 1
10)
12)
1>
; 9)
6)
; 13)
; 5)
I 2)
[ 11)
I 7)
I 0)
I 3)
1 3)
I 8)
MEDIAN
DISS OkTHO P
d (
92 <
42 <
62 (
85 (
100 (
42 (
69 (
77 (
54 (
31 (
0 (
15 (
23 (
1)
12)
5)
8)
11)
13)
5)
9>
10)
7)
4)
0)
2)
3)
INOEX
NO
216
560
14%
335
347
558
173
284
338
339
277
134
119
331
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LAKES RANKED 6Y INDEA NOS.
LAKE CODE LAKE NAME INDEX NO
1 5602 80ULDER LAKt 560
2 5606 FREMONT LAKE 558
3 5605 FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR 3*7
* 5610 SEMINOLE RESERVOIR 339
5 5609 OCEAN LAKE 338
6 5604 LAKE OE SMET 335
7 561* YELLOWTAIL RESERVOIR 331
8 5608 KEY HOLE RESERVOIR ?84
9 5611 SODA LAKE 277
10 5601 BIG SANDY RESERVOIR 216
11 5603 BOYSEN RESERVOIR 188
12 5607 GLENOO RESERVOIR 173
13 5612 VIVA NAUGHTON RESERVOIR 13*
1* 5613 KOOORUFF NARROWS RESERVO 119
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APPENDIX B
CONVERSION FACTORS
-------
CONVERSION FACTORS
Hectares x 2.471 - 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 s cubic feet/sec
Centimeters x 0.3937 = inches
«
Kilograms x 2.205 = pounds
Kilograms/square kilometer x 5.711 e Ibs/square mile
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APPENDIX C
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
-------
STOfttT RETRIEVAL DATE 76/09/39
56110?
42 *9 33.0 109 36 17.0 3
SODA LAKE
56035
llEPAuES
0056 FEET
DEPTH
3111202
CLASS 00
OATE
FROM
TO
75/08/28
75/10/20
DATE
FROM
TO
75/08/28
75/10/20
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
11 25 0000
11 ?5 0005
11 25 0025
11 25 0035
11 ?5 0052
04 15 0000
09 15 0005
09 15 0020
09 15 0040
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
11 25 0000
11 25 0005
11 25 0025
11 25 0035
11 ?5 0052
09 15 0000
09 15 0005
09 15 0020
09 15 0040
00010
WATER
TEMP
CENT
17.2
17.2
11.5
5.9
4.5
12.0
12.0
11.9
9.7
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.037
0.040
0.062
0.101
0.127
0.053
0.053
0.064
0.167
00300
DO
MG/L
7.0
6.8
6.0
1.6
0.3
8.4
8.2
8.1
1.4
32217
CHLRPHYL
A
UG/L
3.7
7.8
00077
TRANSP
SECCHI
INCHES
126
96
00031
INCDT LT
REMNING
PERCENT
00094
CNOUCTVY
FIELD
MICROMriO
3216
3210
2230
2441
2338
2707
2503
2591
2335
00400
PH
SU
9.40
9.5*
9.50
9.4S
9.4O
9.60
9.60
. 9.60t
9.50
00410
T ALK
CAC03
MG/L
1940
1980
2080
2620
2320
1810
1840
2160
2020
OOblO
NH3-N
TOTAL
MG/L
0.040
0.020
0.020
0.210
0.460
0.030
0.020
0.020
0.180
00b25
TOT KJEL
N
MG/L
00630 OOb/1
N02&N03 HnOS-OIS
rt-TOTAL ORTriO
MG/L MG/L P
.700
.600
.700
.800
.800
.100
.200
.400
.000
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.02UK
0.020K
0.02UK
0.020K
0.020
0.006
0.005
0.050
0.099
0.009
0.005
a.004
0.045
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE
LESS THAN INDICATED
-------
STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 76/09/89
561101
<»? 50 12.0 10* 35 56.0 3
SODA LAKE
56035 WYOMING
11EPALES 2111202
0999 FEET DEPTH CLASS 00
DATE
FROM
TO
75/08/28
75/10/20
DATE
FROM
TO
75/08/28
75/1C/20
TIME
OF
DAY
10 50
10 SO
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
TIME
OF
DAY
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
10 50
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
09 45
DEPTH
FEET
0000
0005
0011
0025
0050
0090
0130
0170
0000
0005
0020
0045
0085
0130
0175
DEPTH
FEET
0000
0005
0011
0025
0050
0090
0130
0170
0000
0005
0020
0045
0085
0130
0175
00010
WATER
TEMP
CENT
17.1
17.1
16. a
11.8
5.1
3.4
3.4
3.5
12.0
12.0
11.9
B.4
6.6
6.5
6.5
00665
PHOS-TOT
MG/L P
0.039
C.040
0.040
0.044
0.096
0.136
0.214
0.308
0.053
0.049
0,057
0.112
0.151
0.218
0.317
00300 00077 00094
DO TRANSP CNOUCTVY
SECCHI FIELD
MG/L INCHES MICROMHO
7.2 132
7.6
7.4
6.8
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.4 96
8.3
7.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
32217 00031
CHLRPHYL INCOT LT
A REMNING
UG/L PERCENT
2.6
8.2
3206
3207
3187
2884
2375
2325
2354
2391
3709
2269
2340
00400 00410
PH T ALK
CAC03
SU
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
.45
.40
.55
.55
.55
.50
.50;
.50
.50
MG/L
1920
2320
2400
2340
2380
2000
2020
2460
1760
2100
I860
2260
1540
2240
2200
00610 00625
NH3-N TOT KJEL
TOTAL IM
MG/L
0
0
0
0
C
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.020
.020
.020
.020
.290
.020K
.020K
.020K
.030
.020
.020
.220
.500
.020K
.020K
MG/L
1.800
2.000
2.100
2.200
2.300
2.200
2.600
4.300
2.300
2.300
2.200
2.600
3.000
3.800
4.400
00630 00671
N02*.N03 PHOS-OIS
N-TUTAL ORTHO
MG/L MG/L P
U.020
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.020K
0.02CK
0.020K
0.040
0.020K
0.020K
0.003
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.067
0.112
0.179
0.259
0.005
0.004
0.003
0.065
0.102
0.265
0.290
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE
LESS THAN INDICATED
------- |