CHEBOYGAN RIVER - MICHIGAN
WATER QUALITY DATA
1965 SURYET
Glean Water Series LHBO-20-A
U.i» OEPARTWENT OF THE INTERIOR
Water Pollution Control Administration
Greet Lukes Region
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Grsat Lakes National Program Office
GLNPO Library
CHEBOYGAN RIVER - MICHIGAN
WATER QUALITY DATA
1965 SURW
Clean Water Series LHBO-20-A
JANUARY 1969
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Federal Water Pollution.Control Administration
Great Lakes Region
Lake Huron Basin; Office
'U.S. Naval Air Station
Grosse He, Michigan 1*8138
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CHEBOYGAN RIVER - MICHIGAN
WATER QUALITY DATA
1965 SURVEY
Clean Water Series LHBO-20-A
JANUARY 1969
U.S. DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR
Federal Water Pollution.Control Administration
Great Lakes Region
Lake Huron Basin: Office
U»S. Naval Air Station
Grosse lie,, Michigan ^8138
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
gageJNo.:
INTRODUCTION o . o . <,....., . . . . . „ 0 „ » . o » » 1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION . o . . . o » „ . . . . o <, <, . . „ 6
Area Description "
Climate
Hydrology
WATER USE
Municipal
Industrial
Water-Related Recreation
Commercial Shipping
SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTES ....... .j^. 19
Municipal
Industrial
Federal
POPULATION AND WASTELOAD PROJECTIONS . . . . o o . . . . 23
WATER QUALITY DATA ...............-..•...'' 28
Chemistry and Microbiology
Biology
Radio chemistry
WATER GPALITT PROBLEMS ........... i ...... 58
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LIST OF TABLES
Table.No. Page No.
1 Flow Characteristics 11
2 Cheboygan River Basin Sampling Stations 12
3 Municipal Water Supplies 18
k Projected Water Use 18
5 Municipal Waste Treatment Plants 21
1965 Effluent Characteristics
6 Industrial Waste Characteristics 21
7 Inventory of Wastevater Disposal at 22
Federal Installations
8 Waste Flow Projections 25
9 BODj Projections 26
10 Water Quality Data - Cheboygan River Basin 35-39
11 Water Quality Data - Cheboygan Harbor kO~k3
12 Water Quality Data - Straits of Mackinac M-46
13 Water Quality Data - Mackinaw City kj
Ik Biological Data - Physical Observations kQ
15 Biological Data - Benthic Macroinvertebrates ^9-51
16 Biological Data - Phytoplankton 52-5^
IT Biological Data - Attached Algae and 55
Aquatic Vegetation
18 Water Quality Data - Radioactivity . 56
Cheboygan River
19 Water Quality Data - Radioactivity 57
ii
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No. FageJNOc
1 Drainage Basins of the Great Lakes 3
2 Lake Huron Basin k
3 Cheboygan River Basin 5
k Flow Duration Curve - Cheboygan River lA
near Cheboygan
5 ' Flow j'lixi'ation Ourve - Black River near 15
Cheboygan
6 Population and Municipal Waste Flow 27
Projections
iii
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INTRODUCTION
The water quality data contained in this report are the results
of field investigations and other studies conducted in 1965 and 1966 to
provide information for a water pollution control plan for the Lake
Huron Basin. The Lake Huron Basin Study is a part of the Great Lakes-
Illinois River Basins Project, directed by the Great Lakes Region,
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (FWPCA) and under
authority of Public Law 84-660 (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.).
Sec. 3. (a)' The Secretary shall, after careful investigation,
and in cooperation with other Federal agencies, with State
water pollution control agencies and interstate agencies, and
with the municipalities and industries involved, prepare or
develop comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the
pollution of interstate waters and tributaries thereof and
improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground
waters. In the development of such comprehensive programs due
regard shall be given to the improvements which are necessary
to conserve such waters for public water supplies, propagation
of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, recreational purposes,
and agricultural, industrial, and other legitimate uses. For
the purpose of this section, the Secretary is authorized to
make joint investigations with any such agencies of the con-
dition of any waters in any State or States, and of the
discharges of any sewage, industrial wastes, or substance
which may adversely affect such waters.
Total water quality planning begins in the headwaters of the
individual river basins and continues downstream through the major
tributaries to and including the Great Lakes. The extent and complex-
ity of the Great Lakes and tributaries are shown on Figures 1, 2,
and 3.
Water quality standards for interstate waters (Lake Huron) have
been adopted by the State of Michigan and approved by the Secretary
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of the Interior. Intrastate standards for Michigan are being implemented
by the Michigan Water Resources Commission. These standards will form
a basis for long-range plan for controlling pollution and maintaining
water quality for Lake Huron and its tributaries.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The principal agencies taking an active part in providing assistance
in the preparation of the report are as follows:
State Agencies - Michigan Water Resources Commission
Michigan Department of Public Health
Federal Agencies - U.S. Department of Commerce
Weather Bureau
Office of Business Economics
Bureau of Census
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
Geological Survey
For further information, contact the following:
Lake Huron Basin Office
Federal. Water Pollution Control Administration
U.S. Naval Air Station
Grosse lie, Michigan 48138
Michigan Water Resources Commission
Stevens T. Mason Building
Lansing, Michigan 48926
Michigan Department of Public Health
3500 N. Logan
Lansing, Michigan 48914
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DETROIT PROGRAM OFFICE
DRAINAGE BASINS OF THE
GREAT LAKES
) x"\ ONTARIO
.' / . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
\ J \ FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
X. GREAT LAKES REGION GROSSE ILE, MICHIGAN
\ SCALE IN MIL ES
I /L. t-i i—i t—i i =1 i [
v* > 30 0 50 IOO ISO 2OO
QUEBEC
MINNE SOTA
( WISCONSIN /
ILLINOIS
P C K -'v 5- Y L V A N I A
I N 0 I A iv A
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FIGURE 2
I. SAOINAW RIVER
Z. CASS RIVER
3. FLINT RIVER
4. SHIAWASSEE RIVER
6, TITTABAWAS3EE RIVER
6. MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES
TO SAGINAW BAY
7. MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES
TO LOWER LAKE HURON
6. AU SABLE RIVER
9. THUNDER BAY RIVER
10. CHEBOYGAN RIVER .
I I. ST MARYS RIVER AND
MICHIGAN UPPER PENINSULA
TRIBUTARIES TO LAKE HURON
12. MISSISSAGI RIVER
13. SPANISH RIVER
14. WANAPITEI RIVER
IB. FRENCH RIVER
16. MAGANATAWAN RIVER
17. MUSKOKA RIVER
18. SEVERN RIVER
19. SAUGEEN RIVER
20. MAITLAND RIVER
21. AU SABLE RIVER
I
SCA LC IN MILES
so
DETROIT PROGRAM OFFICE
LAKE HURON BASIN
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
GREAT LAKES REGION GROSSE I L E , MICHIGAN
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STftA/TS OF
— Municipal 6 Induitrial Wo»t» Outfall*
16-CHE MWRC Sampling Station*
USGS Gaging Station*
CHEBOYGAN RIVER BASIN
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Area Description
The Cheboygan River Basin, with, a drainage area of l.,590 square
miles, lies in the uppermost part of the Lower Peninsula,, It is comprised
of parts of Emmett, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Otsego, and
\
Montmorency Counties. The major city, Cheboygan, is a commercial fishing
port located in a year-round resort area» The basin is "bounded on the
southeast "by the Thunder Bay River Basin,? on the northeast by Lake Huron,,
and on all other boundaries by land adjacent to Lake Michigan..
The basin, an irregularly-shaped circle with a diameter of ho miles,,
has 23 percent of its surface area in lakes and swamps. Three of the
lakes - Mullett, Burt, and Black Lakes - are among the largest inland
lakes in the State, with surface areas of 16,630, 'l'7,120, and 10,130 acres*
The major tributaries - Maple, Sturgeon, Black, Rainy, and Pigeon
Rivers - join the main stem through one of the large inland lakes. The
main stem of the river is a short stretch of s±x miles between Mullett
Lake and Lake Huron. The 1,600 square miles which comprise the combined
watersheds of these several rivers have some of the most rugged topography
in lower Michigan. Relief within the basin is several hundred feet in
places. The highest hills are in the south and west- Moraine, outwash,
and lakebed deposits each account for about 30 percent of the basin and
the rest is till plain.
Indian River Basin, above the sampling station, includes Burt Lake
drainage and Sturgeon River drainage which enters Burt Lake a short
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distance above its outlet to Indian. River, the connecting waterway "between
Burt and Mullett Lakes. Much of this "basin is in State forest, with a
number of small communities throughout the area- Extensive development
exists along the shore of Burt Lake, principally in the form of summer
cottages, hotels, motels, and trailer parks, with year-round residences
on the increase.
The outlet from Mullett Lake contains runoff of the Cheboygan River
excluding the Black River system. The character of the drainage basin
is rapidly changing. The older vacation-area communities which developed
• •>.••' ' •
along the New York Central Railroad tracks on the western shore of Mullett
.Lake form a nucleus for the development of recreation and tourist industry
as well as year round home sites on the shores of the lakes and rivers.
The Cheboygan River at Cheboygan includes the drainage from the Black
River Basin. Much of the Black River drainage basin is in State forests -
Black Lake, Hardwood, and Thunder Bay River. Onaway, the second largest
community in the basin, with a population of 1,^00, is located near Stony
Creek, a tributary to Black Lake* As with Burt and Mullett Lakes, numerous
settlements have developed along the shore of Black Lake. These are
primarily recreation oriented developments, such as hotels, motels, summer
cottages, trailer parks and campgrounds. Much of the upper Black River
Basin is forest area with campgrounds, fishing sites, waterfowl areas,
and gravel pit developments. Cheboygan River is impounded by the Consumers
Power Company lock and dam.
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Downstream of the lock and dam, the character of the stream banks
changes radically from the former rural character to that of a city, with
numerous commercial and light industrial activities lining the banks.
These include marinas, lumber companies, oil and coal storage areas, and
docks.. A navigatioh channel and turning basin are maintained to a 21-foot
depth. The Cheboygan sevage treatment plant discharges to the lower reach
of the navigation channel.
The principal tributary in the area draining to Lake Huron between
the Mackinac Bridge and Cheboygan River Basin is Mill Creek. It receives
the outflow from Dingraan Marsh Flooding, an artificial impoundment in
Hardwood State Forest which forms the major portion of this area.
Mackinaw City, with a I960 population of 93^, is the only population
center. There are numerous motels, trailer parks, and pottages located
along US-23, the Lake Huron shoreline highway.
From the Cheboygan River Basin to the Thunder Bay area, the shoreline
area draining to Lake Huron is sparsely settled. The Ocqueoc River, with
a drainage area of 160 square miles, is the largest river basin. Black
Lake State Forest occupies much of the area. There are a number of small
settlements. Summer residences are increasing in number along the Lake
Huron shore.
Climate
The climate of the Cheboygan River is modified by the upper Great
Lakes which warm the air in winter and cool it in summer. This climate
is typical of the entire upper Great Lakes area, and can be described
as having a wide seasonal variation, many storms, and a relatively
8
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constant yearly precipitation distribution. In the winter, this pre-
cipitation is usually in the form of snow<> The mean yearly temperature
is ^3°F, while the mean winter and summer temperatures are 27°F and
59 F, respectively. There is an average yearly precipitation of 28
\ •
inches in the "basin. The growing season is 150 days.
Hydrology
The Cheboygan River Channel, 1^- miles in length from the mouth to
the Consumers. Power Company lock and dam, is maintained by Corps of
Engineers to a depth of 21 feet in the harbor and depth of 8|r feet to
the lock. The width varies from 200 to 60 feet. The lift of the lock
is about 13-^ feet. Water flow is controlled by the dam, and hydro-
electric power is produced for the local area.
Above the lock, the impounded Cheboygan River is wide and deep for
2§- miles to its junction with the Black River- Above this junction, the
river outside the channel is foul with stumps and snags for the remain-
ing 2|r miles to Mullett Lake.
The Cheboygan River is an integral part of the Inland Route,
connecting Lake Huron to Lakes Mullett, Burt, Crooked, and Pickerel. Four
connecting waterways - Cheboygan, Indian, Crooked Rivers, and Pickerel
/
Channel - a distance of 36 miles in length, run east and west across the
northern part of Michigan's lower peninsula to within a few miles of
Lake Michigan. This route may someday be extended from Conway via a
lock to Little Traverse Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan.
There are seven U.So Geological Survey (USGS) gaging stations in the
Cheboygan River Basin, of which two were utilized in this report-
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The first gaging station, Cheboygan_Riverjiear Cheboygan, has a
' - • • • i • ' .
drainage area of 865 square miles and is located 300 feet downstream
from Mullett Lake, 2| miles upstream from Black River, and 5 miles
south of Cheboygan. It has "been in operation from October 19^2 to
the present.
The second USGS gaging station is Black River near Cheboygan., It
is located 0.3 mile downstream from Black Lake, 5-3 miles upstream from
Alverno Dam, and 12.5 miles southeast of Cheboygan. It has been in
operation from October 19^2 to the present and, has a drainage area of
597 square miles.
The low flow average discharge for one, seven, and thirty con-
secutive days duration, with a recurrence interval of ten years, has
been calculated by use of Gumbel's logarithmic extremal probability
paper,. The stations used were Cheboygan River near Cheboygan and
I
Black River near Cheboygan„
The range of USGS recorded daily discharges and yields at these
gaging stations are shown on Table 1, along, with the computed drought
flows. Regulation to some extent occurs at both locations.
Figures h and 5 are flow duration curves for the Cheboygan River
near Cheboygan and the Black River near Cheboygan. The relatively
steep gradient of the Black River curve indicated the extreme variation
'''.'' ' ' ' . ' I
in flow of this, river. Sampling station locations are shown on Figure 3
and described in Table 2.
10
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TABLE 1. FLOW CHARACTERISTICS
Cheboygan River Basin
DSGS Records Computed Drought (low) flows*
Flow Yield Duration Flow *ield
(efs) (cfsm) (days) (cfs) (cfsm)
Cheboygan River near Chebojgairir
865 sq. «L.
M."V3ST USST
sq. mi.
Interval «af cmce ewiy tez& years for perioS HrihmnB; 2^500 %^ x
IfeSii Tfn» jriUW'Ti la aOl^^J- 7
Average %lo »^9T 30
120
250
15
72
•139
.289
• 393
.025
.067
,120
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TABLE 2, SAMPLING STATIONS
Chebbygan River Banin
River
Tributary
Station Mile Point Mae fcint
Y500
YJ510
Y515
Y520
Y550
.8
2.0
k.O
5.6
19.2
Y560 20.2
Y565
Y590
16-CHE
(MWRC)
20.0
1B.O
.25
Chelx>ygan Harbor
H523
H524
H525
H526
H527
H528
1,0, .3
5.5
Locatipji
W©st State Street bridge,
US -23; Ch©boygan
Lineoln Avenu© bridge in
Cheboygan
Orehard B©aeh
Slack River
M»33 toidfe, k Bdles upstream
from Chs'boygan
I-T5 ^ri^ge east of Indian River
on Indian River
Ui-gT fcriag© in Indian River
on Indian Riv@r
Ui?2T 'bridg© on the Sturgeon
Riv@r, iouth of Indian River
Figion liver, Mullett Lake
tributary, M-IS fcridge
ielmr @§mg@ treatment plant at
^,000' §ast §f Ohefeoygan Crib Light
^,000' n§rthw@st ef Sheboysan Crib Lt.
30' north of Crib Mght in Cheboygan
T;T00' ffOffl Crib
15 ,1*00* from Crib
ii, ^00' from Crib.
32
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TABLE 2. SAMPLING STATIONS (cont'd)
Cheboygan River Basin
Nearshore (cont.)
Mackinaw City
H500
H502
H518
Location
3,800" from Mackinaw City shoreline under
Mackinac Bridge
9,900" from Mackinaw City shoreline under
center of Mackinac Bridge
5,000' from Point St. Ignace shoreline
under Mackinae, Bridge
End of State Perry Dock, Mackinaw City
13
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If t <»
FLOW DURATION CURVE
CHEBOYGAN RIVER NEAR CHEBOYGAN
1943-1964
100.0
UJ
5
6
tr 3
UJ O
a
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FLOW DURATION CURVE
BLACK RIVER NEAR CHEBOY6AN
1944-1964
100
E
in
uj
_)
O
CO
cc
UJ
a
a
z
o
O
UJ
(fl
cc
UJ
a.
UJ
UJ
o
CD
O
o
10
O.I
0.01
\
\
\
-^
O.OI 0.09 O.I 0.2 0.5 12 9 10 20 30 40 90 60 TO BO 90 95 98 99
TIME IN PERCENT OF TOTAL PERIOD
99 6 99.9 99.99
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WATER USE
Municipal Water Supply
The Cheboygan River Basin had a population of 8,325 people served
by public water supply. The source of this supply is local wells,
with depths from 180 feet to 710 feet "below the surface„
Total municipal water use in the basin was 1.1* million gallons
per day (MOD). The 2020 projected use is expected to be around 5°3 M3D.
Table 3 lists the present water supplies and their sources„ In
Table k, the projected municipal water uses for 1990 and 2020 are
shown.
Industrial Water Supplg
The Charmin Paper Products Company was the only large industrial
water user in the basin. Approximately 1 MGD from the Cheboygan River,
to which only chlorine is added, was used for process water» The pro-
jected industrial water use (shown on Table h) does not assume that this
company will be the sole water user in 2020, but that other industries
will move into the basin and also use water directly from the river.
Water-Related Recreation
The Cheboygan River is used very heavily by pleasure boats
because it is the inland waterway system between Jiake Huron and the
inland lakes. There were approximately 3,000 boats registered in
1965 "by the residents of the basin, but many times this number visit
the area each summer. The lakes and rivers in the basin provide an
excellent supply of game fish. Fishing through the ice is very
16
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popular in this area, with hundreds of fishing shanties dotting the
ice each winter. Swimming, boating.and water skiing are popular water
uses during the summer months. A more detailed discussion of basin
recreation is contained in the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation publication
"Water-Oriented Outdoor Recreation Lake Huron Basin (1967)."
Commercial Shipping
The Cheboygan River Basin handled about .U% of the total,tonnage
of the Michigan contribution to the Lake Huron navigation picture„
During 1966 the total tonnage was 115,202 for the Cheboygan
Harbor and ^,553 for the Mackinac Harbor., Miscellaneous manufactured
products were the major commodities for the Mackinac Harbor and those
for the Cheboygan Harbor were as follows:
Commodity Tonnage
Gasoline 53,883
Limestone 20,158
Distillate Fuel Oil 19*703
Coal and Lignite 16,296
Kerosene 2,587
Slag 2,575
These two major harbors are maintained by public and private funds.
17
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TABLE -3-. 'MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES*
' Cheboygan River
Community
and.
Population (i960) Owngr
'Cheboygan. 5,859 municipal
Onaway 1,388 municipal
Mackinaw City 93^ municipal
wells in rock
3969-T099 deep
wells in' rock
225"-600" deep
wells in drift
182'-196° deep
Treatament
none
none
chlorination
TABLE IK PROJECTED WATER USE (MSB)
Cheboygan, River Basin
196
2020
Municipal*
Industrial
Total
__JUQ
' 2«4
7 06
• JJL.1
16 A
.^•Includes, water for small industries
18-
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SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTES
Municipal
The major source of municipal waste in the Cheboygan River Basin
is the community of Cheboygan with a primary municipal waste treatment
plant serving a population of 5*800* Cheboygan is served by a combined
storm and sanitary system that had an average flow of 1.26 MOD in 1965°
The effluent BOD varied from 38 to 120 mg/1, with an average value of
16 mg/1.
In the adjacent shoreline area, the community of Mackinaw City is
also a source of municipal waste,, A primary sewage treatment plant
serves 900 people, who contributed an average flow of 0.09 MGD in 1965.
Average efficiency was 32 percent BOD,, removal. Maximum values occurred
during the month of August» Average monthly flows for the summer months
were substantially higher - double those of the remaining months -
indicating the loading imposed by the summer tourist population. Other
probable sources of pollution in the Mackinaw City area include ferries
to Mackinac Island, numerous private craft, commercial navigation, storm
runoff, and the discharges of private systems.
Municipal waste treatment plant data and effluent characteristics
are shown in Table 5° The information is based on 19^5 records of the
Michigan Department of Public Health. Prior to January 1967, all plants
were required to practice disinfection from May 15 to September 15.
Since that date, continuous year-round disinfection is required by the
Department of Public Health regulation. Outfall locations are shown
in Figure 3.
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Industrial
The Cheboygan River Basin is essentially a one- industry basin;
this being the Charmin Paper Products Company in Cheboygan . Measure-
ments made during a 1965 industrial waste survey by the MWRC showed an
average flow of 0.95 MGDj BOD,. - 72 mg/1; suspended solids - ihO mg/1;
volatile suspended solids - 130 mg/1; and pH - J*k. Effluent quality
was similar to that of 196l, although the flow had decreased from the
196l level of Ic73 MGD. Treatment for this waste was vacuum filtration
and Save-all equipment . Estimated treatment efficiency was ho percent
removal. The outfall location is shown in Figure 3 and the industrial
waste data are listed in Table 6.
Federal Installations
There are five Federal installations in the Cheboygan River Basin
area. Four of these are light stations maintained and operated by the
U.S. Coast Guard: Martin Reef Light Station, Poe Reef Light Station,
Spectacle Reef Light Station, and Forty Mile Point Light Station,,
With the exception of Forty Mile Point Light Station which discharges
its sewage water into a septic tank and drainfield, the other three
installations, on the basis of limited information, discharge raw
sewage of human origin directly into interstate waters . The fifth
installation - Hammond Bay Biological Station - discharges its sewage
into a septic tank and drainfield. An inventory of waste water disposal
at these Federal installations is shown in Table 7.
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TABLE; 5. MUNICIPAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANTS
1965 Effluent Characteristics
Cheboygan River Basin
(including adjacent shoreline area)
Percent
Flow (MGD)
Vol.
m . SUSP. SUSp.
p° BOD5 (mg/l) Solo Sol.
Community '•
Cheboygan
Mackinaw City
Industry
Charmin Paper
Type Removal
Primary 31 ~
Primary 32
TABLE
Date
Prbducts Co. 1961
1965
Served A
vgo Max. ,Min.
F Avgc
5,800 Io26 1.88 0.7!* 5!* 76
' 900 0.90 0.13 o.cA 51 220
6. INDUSTRIAL WASTE CHARACTERISTICS
Cheboygan Riyer; Basin ,
Flow Suspended Vol. Suspo
(l«JD) Solids Solids
1°73
•95
i ii Q
1^4-0
120 '•
'130,
Max.1 Mine mg/l mg/l pH
120 38 71 ' ^6 7-9
3.50 130 100, 90 7=1
pJH .BOD.5
7.1 67
7.^ 72
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TABLE T. INVENTORY OF WASTEWATER DISPOSAL
AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
Cheboygan River Basin
Installation ,
(Municipality and County)
Martin Reef Light Station
(Cheboygan, Cheboygan Co.)
Poe Reef Light Station
(Cheboygan, Cheboygan Co.)
Spectacle Reef Light Station
(fheboygan, Cheboygan Co. )
Forty Mile Point Light Station
(Presque Isle Co.)
Hammond Bay Biological Station
(Millersburg, Presque Isle Co.)
Type/
Vdlume '
sanitary
280 GPD
sanitary
350 GPD
sanitary
300 GPD
sanitary
100 GPD
sanitary
100 GPD
Receiving
Waters
Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron •
ground
ground
Treatment
Provided
none
none
none
septic tanks.
drain field
septic tanks,
drain field
- • --- Remarks
Propose unmanning 1977
Propose unmanning 1977
Propose unmanning 19&9
Drainfield installed 19^ is
in satisfactory condition
Drainfield will be re-
placed.
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POPULATION AND WASTELOAD PEOJECTIONS
/ • '
Demographic studies were conducted by the Great Lakes-Illinois
River Basins Project, Chicago, for the Lake Huron Basin. Population
trends, on a national, regional, and county basis, were analyzed and
population projections were developed for the various areas of the
Lake Huron Basin. In 1960, approximately 1.2 million persons lived in
the Lake Huron Watershed - about} double the 1920 population.. By the
i
year 2020, it is estimated that the population of the watershed will
be approximately 3.2 million.
The population center in the Cheboygan River Basin is Cheboygan,
with a population of 5>859 according to the I960 census figures. For
this report, the Cheboygan area was analyzed assuming that by 2020 the
area will be urbanized and served by water and sewer systems. For this
area, the 1965 population served by sewer systems was estimated to be
i ' -i
6,7^5 and projected to be 10,050 by 1990 and 13,250 by the year 2020.
Table 8 lists projected waste flows in MGD for the Cheboygan River
Basin,for the years 1965, 1990, and 2020.
Projections for BOD,, were based en ;present-day inventory information
obtained from the Michigan Water Resources Commission, Michigan Depart-
/ • .
ment of'Public Health, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Admin-
istration. Municipal and industrial water use growth rates and.BOD
production in terms of population were determined from studies on the
Lake Michigan. Basin and applied to the inventory data obtained for the
Cheboygan River Basin.
The results of these projections are shown on Table 9 and Figure 6.
The municipal BOD load for 1965 was calculated on the basis of, .17 «•
23
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pounds per day of BOD per person served, and the 1990 and 2020 load
factors, .18 and .20 pounds per day of BOD per person „ In 1965, for
example 2,573 pounds per day of BOD^ were produced in the area, of
vhich 36 percent were removed by treatment, with the remaining 1,
pounds of BOD,. /being discharged -to the river. By the year 2020, with
the same percentage of treatment, 22,^32 .pounds would reach the river.
•I
In order to show an improvement over present^ water quality, 95 percent
or more removal will "be necessary at that time,
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TABLE 8. WASTE FLOW PROJECTIONS (MOD)
Cheboygan, River Basin
*2§5, 1990 2020
Municipal
Residential 0.8 1.4 2,0
Industrial 0.6 1.5 3.2
Total Municipal T7¥ 2*9 5.2
Industrial (direct to river) 1.0 4.8 11.1
Total Industrial and Municipal 2«k T»7 l6-3
-------
TABLE 9. BOD PBDJECTIOWS
(Pounds per Day)
Cheboygan River Basin
(including adjacent shoreline areas)
Untreated BOD
Municipal .
Residential
Commercial
Total
Industrial
Total Untreated
1965
1990
1,805
513
16,318
20gO
2,650
1,150
3,Boo
32^600
36,1*00
Treated BODr
Municipal
Industrial
Total treated BODr
Percent
Removal
33. (present) 887
90 132
95 66
99 13
39 (present) 762
90 125
95 62
99 12
36 (present )l,
90 257
95 128
99 26
1,553
232
116
23
8,5^0
1,^00
700
10,093
1,632
816
163
380
190
38
19,886
3,260
1,630
326
22,1*32
3,61*0
1,820
361*
26
-------
lUURE 0
POPULATION AND MUNICIPAL
WASTE FLOW PROJECTIONS FOR THE
CHEBOYGAN RIVER BASIN
100,000
O
UJ
a:
UJ
z
o
a.
o
a
10,000
1,000 i'
I I III 1111
10
V
<
o
Or
LJ
a.
z
o
o
z
o
I960 1970 I960 1990 2000
YEARS
eoio
2020
I 1 I O I
2030
-------
WATER QUALITY DATA
Chemistry and Microbiology
Four Ibcations (Figure 3) were analyzed during 1965 by the Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration: Cheboygan River in Cheboygan
(Y500), Cheboygan River upstream from Cheboygan (Y520), the Indian River
in Indian River (Y56o), and Pigeon River near Afton (Y590). Stations
Y500, Y520, and Y560 vere sampled on a monthly basis from January through
November; whereas Y590? though sampled monthly, covered the period May
through September, with an additional sample being taken at the end of
November. In addition to the four FWPCA stations listed above, the
MWRC sampled at their station 16-CHE located on the. Cheboygan River in.
Cheboygan. Other sampling by the FWPCA in 1965 on a less frequent basis
was carried out at the Cheboygan Harbor range (H525, H526, H527, HJ?28),
the Straits of Mackinac range (H500, H502, H5C4) and a station located
near the dock area at Mackinaw City (H5l8). The locations of all stations
listed are shown in Figure 3«
Table 10 shows values of the various parameters at Stations Y500,
Y520, Y560, Y590, and MWRC station l6-CHEo Samples taken at Station
Y500, located at a point downstream of the Charmin Paper Products
Company's outfall and upstream of the Cheboygan sewage treatment plant,
showed only little seasonal variation, except for those of temperature
and bacterial densities - both of which rose during, the warm season.
As is to be expected, some increase in concentration of suspended solids
i ' \
occurred following periods of rainfall. A low DO value of 6.5 mg/1
(k6 percent saturation) was observed at that time. Average oxygen
28
-------
saturation at Y500 was 87 percent.
Samples taken from the Cheboygan River above Cheboygan (}520) shoved
no significant variation with the exception of the seasonally dependent
temperature, suspended solids which correlated with high river flows
(snowmelt and spring rainfall), and the bacterial indicators which rose
during the summer months. The water, asr the data indicated, was of ex-
cellent .quality and surpassed that of the Indian River upstream, espe-
cially with reference to bacterial indicators and chlorides. In part,
this may be due to the better quality of other tributaries such as the
Pigeon River. The effect of Mullett Lake, which acts as a natural treat-
i
ment system for non-conservative wastes such as bacteria, is beneficial.
Temperature data indicated that Burt and Mullett Lakes delayed the response
of the Cheboygan River to ambient air temperatures. For example, the
Cheboygan River below Mullett Lake was at a lower temperature for a
longer period into the summer than the Pigeon and Indian Rivers. ,In
winter the Cheboygan River was warmer than the tributaries were at the
end of November.
On the Indian River at station Y560, samples showed some increase in
chlorides, ammonia-nitrogen and suspended solids. In addition, some in-
crease of the fecal coliform to total coliform ratio occurred. •Burt
Lake impoundment would mask an immediate pollutional effect and,show only
conservative or long-term effects such as an ,increase in chloride concen-
tration. The minor bacterial contamination observed was probably of a
< '
local nature from the community of Indian River.
Water of excellent quality was observed at station Y590 on the
Pigeon River.
29
-------
The waters of Cheboygan Harbor between Cheboygan and Bois Blanc -
Island were found to be of excellent quality (Table ll)„ The stations
were located in the navigation channel less than one-half mile from the
breakwater at the mouth of the river„ Bacterial contamination from the
lower river has been reduced to acceptable levels at' this location.
Samples taken in the Straits of Mackinac (Table 12) showed the
water to be of excellent quality.
Data collected at station H5l8 near the dock area at MacMnaw
City (Table 13) did not indicate any pollutlonal levels„
On the basis of the data? it can be concluded that the water quality
of the Cheboygan River Basin was of excellent quality with only minor
exceptionso Although total and fecal coliform levels were elevated at
Indian River and at the mouth of the Cheboygan River, it did not indicate
gross contamination»
Biology
A series of four biological investigations of the Cheboygan River
Basin and the Straits of Mackinac were conducted from November 196^- to
November 1965° Twelve sampling stations were established within the
study area - three were located in Lake Huron near the mouth of the
Cheboygan River, three in the Straits of Mackinac, and six in the Che-
b'oygan River. Three elements of the biota were sampled; benthic fauna,
phytoplankton, and attached algae. Physical conditions such as bottom type,
secchi disc water transparencies, and aesthetic conditions of the surface
water and bottom were routinely notedo
The Cheboygan River had an average depth of thirteen feet and a
-------
predominately sand and gravel bottom (Table 1*0° River flow was fairly-
rapid, -with water color varying.from greenish to tea colored„ i Major
(
tributary rivers such as the Black, Indian, and Sturgeon Rivers were
i j • . '
about 10 feet deep, but they also had a predominately sand and gravel
bottom. The nearshore stations near the mouth of the Cheboygan River
had bottom sediments consisting of light clay, sand, and silt. Bottom
samples in the Straits of Mackinac revealed, a clay and rock bottom,,
Secchi disc transparencies were near the bottom at most river stations,
although slightly reduced in the City of Cheboygan <, The Straits of
1 ' I
Mackinac had the highest secchi disc transparencies - almost 20 feet«
The nearshore Lake Huron stations near Cheboygan had secchi disc trans-
parencies of over 10 feet.
Bottom-associated organisms found during the Cheboygan River
studies were moderate in number and diverse in structure at nearly all
( ' ' '
stations (Table 15). The average number of organisms found in the rivers
was 2^5/sq.ofto of bottom sampled* From 2 to 21 kinds of organisms were
noted at any one station, averaging 10 kinds per station,,
The lowest number of kinds (2) and'the highest percentage of,
1 "• i ,
pollution-tolerant sludgeworms (58 percent) was found in 1964 below
the Consumer Power Company lock and. dam at State Street in Cheboygan=
Immediately upstream at the Lincoln Avenue bridge, the lowest riumber
of kinds found was 11 and averaged almost I**-. However,many intolerant
organisms were also found at State Street and the populations were much
more diverse at later dates.
Tributary rivers showed healthy benthic population structures.
The marked population decrease in the Sturgeon River was' due to the
31
-------
actions of a spring flood on April 1^, 1965»
.. • ' i
Nearshore stations near the mouth of the Cheboygan River had
diverse benthos populations with many pollution-sensitive forms. The
' ' ' 'i ' ' ' " . , »
standing crop of'invertebrates in the Straits'of Mackinac was quite smallo
The Cheboygan River plankton algal populations were dominated by
diatoms and green flagellates , Blue-green algae, a common form in enriched
waters, were rare in the Cheboygan River Basin and the nearshore lake areas.
Algal population densities were relatively low, averaging 1,840/ml in the
mainstream and I,c40/ml in the tributaries (Table l6)» The bloom of green
flagellates at several Cheboygan River stations in the spring of 1965 was
1 i ' ' ' ' . i
the result of the heavy spring rains which washed them from backwater areas
into the rivers,
Kearshore phytoplankton populations near the mouth of the Cheboygan
River indicated no increase in algal production in this area. The Straits
of Mackinac had an average population of less than 4QO/ml, The lack of
nuisance algal species and the low phytoplankton standing crops in the
Cheboygan River Basin study area are characteristic-of ..unpolluted waters,
., ' , •' - ' ' ' I .',"..
Aquatic vascular plants were observed at all river station locations
(Table 17), Abundant growths were observed in the Consumers Power, Company
impoundment in Cheboygan, A more suitable'bottom and slightly increased
water transparencies in the impoundment area are probably responsible for
" i '
the greater development of 'aquatic plants here. Near the mouth of the
Cheboygan River, attached algae consisted of pollution tolerant blue-
greens, Spirogyra sp. and slime-producing diatoms', while; scrubby
Chara sp_. plants were present in the near shore areas of Lake Huron
I i ; ,
near Cheboygan Harbor.
-------
The Cheboygan River and its larger tributaries were in excellent
biological condition. Phytoplankton and benthic organism populations
appeared to be characteristic of clean unenriched waters. A local
degradation problem may exist periodically near the river mouth, however,
the water quality in the adjacent lake area seemed unaffected.
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry results, based on the 1965 sampling program for
the Cheboygan River Basin and adjacent shoreline areas5, are shown in
Tables 18 and 19. The results were listed in picocuries per liter
(pc/l) of water sample and were reported in terms of suspended,(non-
filtrable) and dissolved (filtrable) portions when filtered through
a 1.2 micromembrane filter for alpha and beta emitters. In most
cases, composites of 'tributary samples were analyzed rather than the
individual samples. Maximum activity levels on water samples of alpha
emitters were 1.0 pc/l dissolved and 0.3 pc/l suspended. Maximum
beta emitters measured 9-3 pc/l dissolved and 1.6 pc/l suspended^
Since the counting error was as high or higher or in the magnitude
of the activity, it was indicated that the activity was 0 or below
the sensitivity of the test* The data indicated no apparent radio-
activity problems.
33
-------
KEY FOR WATER QUALITY TABLES
Station-Location shown on Figure 3.
Chemical Parameters - all results in milligrams per liter (mg/l)
(exceptions noted).
Phosphate - reported as phosphate (P01|.).
Total Phosphate - includes ortho, poly, biological, and organic,
Total Soluble Phosphate- includes soluble ortho, soluble poly, and
soluble organic.
Vol. Susp. Solids - Volatile Suspended Solids.
Phenol - reported as micrograms per liter (jig/l)
pH - measure of hydrogen ion activity - acidic (0),
alkaline (1*0, neutral (7).
$ Saturation - reported as percent.
Total Iron - reported as micrograms per liter (jag/l).
Total Hardness - reported as Calcium Carbonate (
Conductivity - micromhos per centimeter (/anhos/cm)'.
Temperature - degrees centrigrade (°C).
Microbiolgoical Parameters - values obtained by membrane filter
technique, unless otherwise noted.
Median values shown in Average column
Total Coliform )
Fecal Coliform ) reported as organisms/100 ml
Fecal Streptococcus)
Total Plate Count - number of bacteria/ml.
Michigan Water Resources Commission reported values in terms of
. MEN/100 rol (most probable number/100 ml).
-------
TABLE 10V WEEK QUALITY "DATA
Cheboygan River" Basin - 1965 "
: iY500 Cheboygan River
(JO
VJl
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
Chlorides
Phenol
pH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
NS
7
5
9
9
10
7
10
10
10
10
8
IP
7
10
2
Avg.
9.6
2
.U
•15
.1
-
-
-
190
9
3
3
-
8.1
_
Lov
6.5
1
.05
.07
Col
<.01
^ 0^4-
^ 0^
170
0
0
2
<2
7.8
0
High
12 .1
3
.26
.36
.2
<.01
.08
.08
220
to
5
6
8
8.5
17
Parameters
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus 10
Total Plate Count
20°C
Total Plate Count
35°C
NS
10
7-
10
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
3
3
Avg.
8.0
87
200
5
1.9
te
15
16
160
270
270
20
21
Wo
2,100
Low
0.0
^6
<100
3
•5
38
n
2
120
230
38
2
<2
140
130
High
20.0
100
600
11
3.6
1|8
20
50
190
290
i,Uoo
k6o
110
1,1*00
2,200
-------
Table 10. WATER QUALJTY DATA .
Cheboygan River Basin - 1965 (cont.)
Y520 Cheboygan River
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Hitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
Chloride
Phenol
PH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
NS
7
5
10
10
10
7
10
9
10
10
.8
10
7
10
2
Avg.
10.9
1
.15
.20
-
-
-
-
190
5 .
1
3
=
8.2
0=
Lqw
9.4
1
^.05
.06
<.l
<.01
*C 0^4-
^ nli
170
0
0
2
<2
7*9
13
High
12.9
2
.28
.46
.1
< .01
.2
.2
£20
16
4
4
5
8.5
14
Parameters
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count
Total Plate Count
NS
10
7
10
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
3
3
Avg.
7.5
9T
-
6
1.9
41
15
13
160
280
55
2
5
180
98
Low
0.0
89
<100
3
°5
36
9
6
150
260
2
< 1
< 2
50
28
High
21.5
107
500
13
3 = 3
46
21
20
170
300
400
26
36
5,000
860
35°C
-------
TABLE 10. WATER QUALITY DATA
Chehoygan River Basin - 1965 (conto)
Y560 Indian River
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
Chlorides
Phenol (
pH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS
7
5
10
9
10
7
10
9
10
10
9
10
7
10
2
Avg.
10.3
1
.14
.16
-
-
-
-
190
5
3
5
CO
• 8o2
_
Low
9.0
1
.06
<.05
<.l
<.
-------
TABLE 10. WATER QUALITY DATA
Cheboygan River Basin - 1965 (cont.)
Y590 Pigeon River
Parameters
LO
CD
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
i
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol.'Susp« Solids
Chloride
Phenol
PH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
NS Avg^ '
0
0
1 .22
5
6
6
5 200
6 5
3 0
6 l
0
6 8,2
0
Low High
-
-
- _
<.! .2
II ^3
<.(* .3
ll«-0 220
2 8
0 1
1 2
8,0 8c3
« c-
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count.20°C 0
Total Plate Count 35°C 0
NS Avg.
6 l4cO
0
p ™
3 3
3
3 ^-6
3 15
4 11
1 170
6 280
0
o
o
Low
0.0
-
100
3
High
21.0
-
800
k
2
51
23
17
_
3^0
-
-
«
-------
TABLE 10. WATER QPALITY DATA
CheDoygan River Basin - 1965(cont.)
16-CHE (MWRC) '
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
u> : Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total SolubilJs Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
Chloride
Phenol
pH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
NS Avgo
10 11.6
7 2
8 • .00
0
9 .07
0
9 -
o
0
8 9
0
9 <1
o
10 8.2
0 •
Low High
8.1*- 13.2
1 3
.00 . .00
-
.07 .20
_
.00 oOO
_
~
5 11
.
0 2
ea ao
7.9 8A
„ „
Parameters
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform >
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count
20°C
Total Plate Count
35°C i
NS Avg.
10 7.0
10 9k
0
1 3°2
l .6
1 kO
1 11
1 12
1 1^5
9 300
7 2,300
0
0
0
0
Low High
0.0 23.0
85 iok
_
_
_
_
-
_
_
250 3^0
360 15,000
_
_
_
_
-------
TABLE 11. WATER QUALITY ,DATA
Cheboygan Harbor - 1965
H525
o
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Hitrogen
Nitrate Hitrogen
Hitrite Hitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
Chloride
Phenol
pH :
Chemical Oxygen Demand
HS = number of samples
HS
5
k
5
5
5
3
5
5
5
*
.5
5
3
5
2
Avg. Low
10.9 "9.5
2 1
olij- < .05
.13 .08
.1 <.i
-------
TABLE 11. .WATER QUALITY DATA
Cheboygan Harbor - 1965(cent.)
H526
Parameters NS_
Dissolved Oxygen 5
Biochemical. Oxygen Demand *f
Ammonia Nitrogen 5
Organic Nitrogen 5
Nitrate Nitrogen 5
Nitrite Nitrogen 3
Total Phosphate 5
Total Soluble Phosphate 5
Total Solids 5
Suspended Solids 5
Vol. Susp. Solids 5
Chloride 5
, Phenol 3
PH 5
Chemical Oxygen Demand 2
NS = number of samples
3
2
5
8.1
Low High
QoO 13.1
2
.21
.22
.2
Avgc
11.3 iQoO
21
.12 < .05
.llf ;09
.1 ol
- < .01 < .01
- .< o04 ' .9
- < .cA-
130 no
0 7
6
8
< 2
8oO
5
5
6
^
8o2
6
Temperature
Percent .Saturation
. Total ,Iron
Sodium
•Potassium
Calcium •
Ifegnesium
. Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Qolifbrm
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
i
Total Plate Count
20°C
Total Plate Count
35°C
NS Avg. Low High
5 11.0 5.0 16.5
5
5
h
k
5
k
5
5
5
5
3
2
U
If
101
200
If
2.3
29
10
IT
110
210
8
< 2
-
120
12
97
<100
If
lA
26
9
15 :
100
190
< 1
< 1
< 1
8
3
103
IfOO
5
2.7
32
11
20
130
220
27
If
<2
350
130
-------
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
*
Total Phosphate
'Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vbl= Susp. Solids
Chloride
Phenol
PH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
TABLE 11." WATER QUALITY DATA
Cheboygan Harbor - 1965 (cont.)
H52?
Parameters
NS
5
*
*
3
5
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
2
Avgo
11.3
1
.09
.15
.2
-
_
=>
130
3
3
5
3
8.1
c-
Low
9-9
1
.06
.12
.1
< .01
< oOlt
<,0k
120
0
0
5
<2
8.0
6
High
13.1
2
.15
.20
A
<.01
.2
.2
130
9
5
6
5
8.2
8
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count
20°C
Total Plate Count
35°C
NS
5
5
5
*
U
5
5
5
5
5
5
2
2
*
k
Avg^
10.0
100
200
k
2.2
29
10
20
110
200
1
-
-
18
ii
Low
3-0
96
<100
k
1A
26
9
15
98
190
<1
<1
<1
8
1
High
16.0
1C*
500
5
2o6
30
11
3^
120
220
2
<2
<2
- 0o-
.^
-------
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
5 Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
Chloride
Phenol
pH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
TABLE 11." WATER QUALITY DATA
Cheboygan Harbor - 1965 (cont.)
H528
Parameters
NS
5
4
4
5
5
3
4'
4
5
5
i
5
3
5
2
Avg°
11.4
1
.09
.10
.2^
-
.09
-
110
3
2
5
3
8.0
<=
Lov'
10.4
1
< .05
.06
.1
< .01
.04
-*.<*
100
0
0
3
<2
7^9
6
High
••v-vd&HB
12.8
2
.12*
.18
.4
< .01
.2*
.2*
120
9
4
6
4
8.1
7
Temperature .
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
i
Total Plate Count
20°C.
Total Plate Count
35°C
a - one value of .51 not used b - total phosphate
in computing data. phosphates of 3<
NS
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
4
5
5
5
2
2
4
4
Avg.
10.5
101
100
4
2.1
27
9
IT
98
190
<2
.
_
62
5
Lov
5.0
99
< 100
3
1.5
26
T
14
7^
160
<1
,<1
-------
TABLE 12. ~ WATER QUALITY DATA
Straits of Mackinac - 1965
Range 1 H500
-p-
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Orgaaic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp....Solids
Chloride
Phenol
PH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
NS
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
2
Avg.
11.3
2
.16
..18
.2
=,
-
-
130
2
x
6
-
8.1
«
Low
9.8
1
.08
.09
< .1
< .01
<.o^
< .ok
130
1
0
5
<2
8.0
5
High
13'. 2
3
.29
.30
.2
< .01
.2
.2
150
3
1
6
5
8A
6
Parameters
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count
. 20°C
Total Plate Count
35°C
s
5
5
5
3
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
2
4
1*
Avg.
9.5
98
300
k
2*3
29
10
20
120
210
< 2
< 1
-
32
2
Low
3.0
9k
100
k
.6
27
10
12
110
180
<1
<1
<1
6
1
High
15^5
102
500
1^
2o6
33
11
32
130
230
3
<2
<2
UO
ko
-------
TABLE 12. WATER QUALITY DATA
Straits of Mackinac -.1965 (conto)
Range' 1 H502
vn
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
i
Ammonia Nitrogen '
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids .
Suspended Solids
Voll.Suspo Solids ',
Chloride
Phenol
pH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
NS Ayg. Low High
5 11.2 9«8 13.1
5
5
*
5
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
2
1
.20
.18
.2
_
_
-
ikO
2
2
5
„
8.0 :
OB
1
.05
.11
.1
< oOl
^ 0^-
<.04
130
0
0
5
< 2
7«7
1^
2
•1*2
.22
.3 '
< .01
.2
-1
160
3
3
6
6
8.2
6
Parameters
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count
20°C
Total. Plate Count
35°C
NS
5
5
k
3
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
2
^
1^
Avg^
9*5
98
300
^
1.8
28
12
20
110
210
<2
1
-
i
31
13
Low
3*0
95
< 100
. U
«5
2^
9
10
96
170
<1
< 1
< 1
!
2
1
High
1^.5
101
500
5
2.7
31
19
to
130
230
25
<2
<2
7k
25
-------
TABLE 12. WATER QUALITY DATA
Straits of Mackinac - 1965 (conto)
Range 1
^Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vplo Susp» Solids
Chloride
Phenol
PH
. Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number .of samples
NS_
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
2
AIS^
11.2
1
.22
.12
.2
_
-
-
130
3
3
6
-
8.0
»
Low
10.0
1
< »05
< .05
.1
< .01
< ,0k
<.<*
130
1
1
5
<2
7=6
k
ig&
13.1
2
o53
.26
.2
< .01
.2
.1
1AO
>
4
6
3
8.3
7
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
!Pptassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Goliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count
20°C
Total Plate Count
35°C
NS
5
5
5
3
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
2
2
k
k
Avg.
9.5
98
200
k
1.8
29
10
IT
110
200
1
-
-
ko
3
Low
3»5
93
100
k
,6
26
8
12
92
170
<1
<1
<1
k
1
High
lfc.5
101
500
5
2.6
32
11
20
120
230
11
<2
<2
50
k
-------
TABLE 13. WATER QUALITY DATA
Mackinaw City - 1965
H518
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Ammonia Nitrogen
Organic Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrite Nitrogen
Total'Phosphate
Total Soluble Phosphate
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
Chloride
Phenol
pH
Chemical Oxygen Demand
NS = number of samples
NS
5,
5
if
3
5
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
2
Avgi.
11.2
.- 1
' .15
.13
.2
-
-
-
llfO
5
2
6
-
8.0
0
Low
9 = 7
1
.13
.05
cl
< .01
< .Oif
^ oQif
130
0
0
5
X2
.7.8
5
High
12.8
2
.18
.18
.2
< .01.
.1
.07
160
13
3
6
3
8.2
6
Temperature
Percent Saturation
Total Iron
Sodium
• Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coiiform
Fecal Coiiform
Fecal Streptococcus
Total Plate Count
200C
Total Plajte Count
' 35°C
NS_
5
5
5
4
If
5
5
5
5
5
5
2
2
If
If
Avg.
10.5
100
300
5
2.2
29
10
18
110
210
8
_
-
85
18
Low
5.0
97
100
If
l.lf
26
10
15
110
180
1
< 1
< 1
36
3
High
15.0
102
600
5
3.0
32
11
20
120
230
66
< 5
< 5
180
300
-------
00
TABLE lU. BIOLOGICAL DATA - PHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS
Cheboygan River Basin 196^-1965
Station
Average Depth
(ft.)
Average Secchi
Disc (ft,)'
Cheboygan Harbor
H525
H52^
H523
Cheboygan River
Y500
Y510
Y520
Black River
Y515
Indian River
Y550
Y560
Sturgeon River
10
22
13
19
10
13
7
8
7
.10
10
10
5
5
7
6
7
7
Bottom Types
clay, sand, silt', gravel, rock
clay, sand, silt, detritus
clay, sand, silt, gravel
sand, gravel, detritus, ooze
sand, gravel^ detritus, silt, cinders
sand, gravel, clay, rock
sand, gravel, silt, detritus
sand, gravel, rubble, rock
sand, gravel, rock, clay
sand, gravel, silt
Straits of Mackinac
H500
66
20
clay, rock
-------
TABLE 15. BIOLOGICAL DATA - BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES
Cheboygah River Basin 19614—1965
(org/sq..ft«)
Sludge- Blood- Sow
Snails
Fingernail May-
Caddis -
Station
Cheboygan
H525
H524
H523
Cheboygan
Y500
Y510
Date
Harbor
4/20/65
7/11/65
9/15/65
4/20/65
7/11/65
9/15/65
4/20/65
7/11/65
9/15/65
River
11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
9/15/65
i
11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
9/15/65
worms
*
22
*
273
9
189
22
=
24
178
82
165
48
9
5
16
9
worms
#
32
*
102
7
59
48
*
10
63
11
137
36
17
265
49
17
Bugs
*
2
-
6
X
X
•&
6
„
X
67
_
62
22
118
10
Pulm.
<
*
*
X
-
3
=
5
.
_
1
2
_
_
3
16.
Proso „
*
.„
' 8
3
-
15
*
2
3
1
-
_
-
«.
-
Clams
6 .
*
2
X
X .
9
#
X
.
1
X
-
<-
*
6
1
Scuds flies
*
29 2
* *
5 2
7
_ _
* *
48 5
.
*
1
-
,93 ,27
68 5
15
3 3
; flies Other**
3
*
1
-
2
*
4
.
(b)*(P)*
(cj*(d)*
x(t)
X(a)
X(c)x(e)
Ka)l(f)
2(a)X(p)
(f )*(p)*
X(c)l(a)
.
Total
101
-
399
19
257
101
_
105
24l
X(d)(g)*(h)*
X
X
6
18
3
1
X(p)X(i)
1B(J)
3(d)
2(a)(c)»
2(e)3(&)
1(2)1(1)
Ke)
97
390
86
217
390
211
63
(see footnotes at end of table)
-------
TABLE 15. BIOLOGICAL DATA - BENTHIC MAGROIHVERTEBMTES
. Cheboygan River Basin 1964-1965 (cont.)
(org/sq.oft.0
vn
O
Sludge- Blood- Sow
Station Date
worms
worms
Cheboygan River ( cont . )
Y520
11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
9/15/65.
9
2
22
24
25
24
80
37
Bugs
9
<_
»
73
Snails
Pulm=
1
«
-
3
Proso.
-
_
-
1
Fingernail
Clams
2
6
™
1
Scuds
56
1
43
50
May-
flies.
55
46
20
27
Caddis -
flies Other** Total
6
»
-
9
2(a)l(l) 167
l(a) 81
165
l(k)7(l) 237
l(g)3(m)
Black River
Y515
Indian
Y550
Y56o
11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
9/15/65
River
11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
4/19/65
7/10/65
9/14/65
11
6
22
-
10
3
29
287
6
22
34
112
65
69
2
179
26
197
71
172
332
117
30 .
354
.
„
6
-a
-
_
3
*
„
4
„
-
23
<_
30
24
14
23
-
6
98
78
6
8
-
-
16
29
32
44
43
9
20
13
34
6
115
332
13
26
43
6
6
7
»
-
1
3
_
-
2
4
-
6
-
-
6
16
=>
9
13
• _
_
_
-
-
l(c)l(g)7(l) 541
(c)*l(l)(h)*
l(k)3(f)Kp) 650
2(n) 164
l(l)3(o) 524
l(l)l(f)3(d) 216
. 279
3(k)l4(j) 113
9(k) 527
26(3) 167
56(j)l(k) 281
(see footnotes at end of table)
-------
TABLE 15. BIOLOGICAL DATA - - BENTHIC MACROIWVERTEBBATES
Cheboygan River Basin .1964-1965 (cont.)
(org/sq..ft.)
Station Date
Sludge- Blood- Sow
Snails
Sturgeon River
Y565 4/19/65
T/10/65
Straits of Maekinac
4
20
6
16
Fingernail ' May- Caddis-
yorms worms Bugs Pulm., Proso. Clams Scuds flies flies Other** Total
H500 9/14/65
X
3(J)
12
46
* Found only in qualitative samples
** Key: a. Ceratopogonidae e
"b. Tipulidae f
Co Hirudinea g«
d» Turbellaria h
X - less than one per square foot*
Nematoda
Hydracarina
Anisoptera
Corixidae
i o Elmidae
0. Doptera
ko Coleoptera
1. : Zygoptera
n=
o .
p o
Plecoptera
Decapoda
Hemiptera
Unionidae
-------
vn
ro
Station Date
Cheboygan Harbor
H525 7/7/65
H524 4/20/65
Cheboygan River
Y500 11/10/64
2/24/65
3/16/65
4/12/65
4/20/65,
6/8/65
7/7/65
7/11/65
10/10/65
11/30/65
Y510 11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
9/15/65
Y520 11/10/64
2/24/65;
3/16/65
4/12/65
4/19/65
5/8/65
7/7/65
7/10/65
10/19/65
11/30/65
Centric
Diatoms
130
l4o
40
40
100
80
40
150
440
710
48o
80
_
4o
570
340
- 130
. 80
80
20
40
40
690
1,550
6C
170
Pennate
Diatoms
150
no
200
40
no
4o
130
210
250
230
80
100
180
80
80
130
220
40
170
10
50
230
310
420
40
80'
Green
Coccoids
40
-
20
20
10
40
_
_
40
80
60
-
20
_
-
20
w
30
_
_
10
20
80
170
20
-
TABLE 16. BIOLOGICAL DATA - PHYTOPLANKTON
. Cheboygan River Basin 1964-1965
(avgono/ml)
Blue-Green Blue-Green
Coccoids Filamentous
20
20
20
40
10
20
60
60
80
4o
60
10
20
Green
Flag-
ellates
20
80
680
• 80
12,890
9,246 .
60
170
-
290
130
530
-
: -
-
1,410
no
6,430
10
90
60
170
130
-
Brown
Flag-
ellates
40
10
90
130
-
-
- ,
-
40
-
-
-
•-
-
20
130
°*
-
-
Total
380
340
1,050
180
230
13 , 050
9,410
570
900
1,020
990
370
770
220
650
530
1,760
260
"Vo
210
520
1,310
2,160
250
250
PredominE
Genera-*
(10$ or u
a,e,c
a, ri
e
n,e,b,k
a,e
n
n
e,a,o,n
a?n.fe
a,e
a,n
n,a,e,m
n,e
l.a
a
a,e
n
a,d.
n
•'
n,e,a
o,e
a,e
a
n,a
n,e,c
*see last page of table.
-------
TABLE I6o BIOLOGICAL DATA - PHYTOPLANKTON
Cheboygan River Basin 1964-1965 (cont.)
(avg.no/ml)
Centric Pennate
Station Date Diatoms Diatoms
Black River
Y515 11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
9/15/65
Indian River
^ Y550 11/10/64
V19/65
9/10/65
Y560 2/24/65
3/16/65
V19/65
5/11/65
6/8/65
7/7/65
7/10/65
9AV65
10/14/65
70
20
80
40
350
80
920
to
4o
230
340
130
380
h6o
170
150
110
100
100
80
150
130
270
40
90
OB
46o
100
100
230
80
20
Green Blue' -Green
Coccoids Coccoids
_
60
-
-
70
_
80
20
_
.
-
-
60
130
=
80
•
90
20
20
.
=,
4o
09
20
=>
40
-
40
130
130
60
Green Brown
Blue -Green Flag- Flag-
Filamentous ellates ellates
20 680 20
80
100 40
20 100
64o
3,280
-
80
20
20 520 20
40 20
40 20
150
4o 4o '
80
Predominant
Genera*
Total (10$ or more)
990 n
260 g
340 a,g,n
260 n,a,e
1,210 n,a
3,490 n
1,310 a,c
180 n,a
170 a
790 ! n,a
900 a,e,c,d
PQO a n P
C-_^7 v CL y L& 5 C
730 a,n,e
950 a5j>C
460 a,i
390 a,e
(footnotes on next page)
-------
TABLE I6o BIOLOGICAL DATA - PHYTOPLAHKTOK
Cheboygan River Basin 196^-1965 (cont.)
(avgo no/ml)
VJl
Blue- Green Brown
Centric Pennate Green Green Blue-Green Flag- Flag-
Station Date Diatoms Diatoms Cpccpids Coccoids Filamentous ellates ellates Total
Sturgeon River
Y565 11/10/6U to
V19/65
7/10/65 20
9/1V65 20
Straits of Mackinac
H500 7/7/65 60
H502 7/7/65 230
H50l»- 7/7/65 to
* Centric Diatoms ___
a, Cyclotella-Stephanodiscus b . Diatoma ,
Co Uavicula
do Kitzschia
e» Synedra
f» Tabellaria
go Unidentified
330
250 -
270 20
170 - -
170
270 to
150 20
Pennate Diatoms Green Coccoids
1,520
7,270
1^0
to
-
20
=
Blue -Green
1,890
7,520
350
20 250
230
60 620
210
Filamentous
Predominant
Genera*
(10$ or-more)
Actinastrum !<, Oscillatoria
i» Coelsphaerium m0 Phormidium
j« Gomphosphaeria
k. Oocystis Green Flagellates
n« Unidentified
Brovn Flagellates
Oo Dinobryon
n
n
f,e
-------
TABLE IT. BIOLOGICAL DATA - ATTACHED ALGAE AND AQUATIC VEGETATION
Cheboygan River Basin 1964-1965 ,
Station
Date
Vegetation Types
Cheboygan Harbor
H525 9/l$/65 Cbara sp_o
H524 7/11/65 Chara sp_o
H523 4/20/65 Chara s£»
Cheboygan River
Y500
Y510
Y520
10/6/64
n/io/64
4/20/65
10/6/64
n/io/64
4/11/65
10/6/64
9/15/65
Blue-green algae on pilings
Mougeotia s£»,, Spirogyra SJD „ <,
Gomphonema S£«, slime on bottom
Dense growths of Vallisneria sp», Anaeharis
i -111 r •• i •! i in r •! MI i: i no n 11111 111 crp^r^- - LUH:MD» i..i i :i i i~——n-r-
and filamentous greens
o, Vallisneria S»
sp_-
Draparnaldia sp_»
Vallisneria sp_«
Ceratophy3Jaim sr
Anacharis
Chara
Black River
Y515 10/6/64
11/10/64
4/19/65
7/10/65
Indian River
Y550
Y560
10/6/64
7/10/65
10/6/64
7/10/65
9/14/65
Extensive rooted aquatic plants } predominately
Chara sp_» and Typha latifoliaa Anacharis sp_o
Chara sp_. , Vallisneria s£»
9/15/65 Chara sp_
ara sp_. , asnera
Chara sp_« ,, Vallisneria s£«
« , yallisneria s£» , Anacharis sp_<, ,
yllum s£o
_
Chara sp« , » , _<, ,
Ceratophyllum s£o
Chara sp_o , Vallisneria sp_= , Myriophylum s£<,
Typha latifolia, some attached algae
Sparganium sp»
Vallisneria s£»
Many kinds of rooted aquatics in moderate numbers
Potamogeton s_£», Vallisneria sp_»,
some green filamentous algae
55
-------
TABLE 18. WATER" QUALITY DATA - RADIOACTIVITY
. Cheboygan River '-. 1965
Y500 Y520 Y560 Y590
Parameter
Dissolved
ALPHA
Error
BETA
Error
NS
3
3
3
3
Avg.
0.37
0,9
6.3
1.9
Low
< 0.05
0.9
3.7
1.8
High
1.00
0.9
8.3
1.9
NS Avg.
3
3
3
3
< 0.05
0.8
4.6
1.8
Low High
< 0.05 < 0.05
0.2 1.1
3.2 6.7
1.5 2.0
NS Avg. Low High
3
3
3
3
< 0.05 < 0.05
0.8 0.5
5.3 3.7
1.6 1.4
< 0.05
1.0
6.4
1.7
NS Avg. Low High
2
2
2
P _
< 0.05
0.4
l.l
1.5
< 0.05
1.3
2.1
1.6
Suspended
j, ALPHA 3 o.io 05 <0.05
Error 3 0.9 0.7 l.l 3 0.9 0.8 i.o 3 0.8 0«7 0.9 2 - 0.8 0.9
Notes Y500> Y520 - results from 3 samples composited from 6
Y560 - results from 3 samples composited from 7
Y590 - results from 2 samples composited from 5
-------
TABLE 19= WATER QUALITY DATA - RADIOACTIVITY
Cheboygan Harbor -
H525
H526
H527
H528
VJ1
-0
Parameter
Dissolved
ALPHA
Error
BETA
Error
Suspended
ALPHA
Error
BETA
Error
!§_ Avgo
1 <0,05
1 0.8
1 9-3
1 2,0
1 <0o05
1 0.1
1^0.05
1 1.0
_JLow High NS_ Avg^ Lov High
- 2 <0o05<0c05
- 2 - OA' 0.6
2 - 1.9 7.1
2 - 1.3 1.6
2 - < Oo05< 0.05
2 - 0.2 0.3
2 - ^0 = 05 1.10
- 2 0»8 0»9
ITS Avgo
P —
2
2 ~
2
P ™
2
2 ••
p «
Low High ^_
<0,05<0,05 2
OA 0<,6 2
2o8 3«7 2
1.3 lA 2
<0c05 <0o05 2
Oo3 o<,3 2
0=7 1.3 2
Oc9 Oo9 2
Ave_»_ Lov High
<0o05
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WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
Inhere are a number of potential problem areas in the basin. One of
these is the problem of coliform densities in excess of the acceptable
limits in the Cheboygan River near the mouthj fecal coliform and fecal
streptococci densities at Indian River„ Accompanying these indicator
organisms are nutrients„ With the summer resident population increasing
every year, this problem could very easily increase to have a serious
economic impact on the basin. ' Tied intimately to this problem is the
effect of flow variation. During the summer months,, river flow is
lowest, whereas lake levels are highest resulting in lowered stream
velocity and, consequently, longer flushing times in the lower reach
of the river. The resulting more complete oxidation of wastes would
create a greater depletion of dissolved oxygen„
At the mouth of the Cheboygan River is a primary municipal waste
i
treatment plant and an industrial waste treatment plant (Charmin Paper
Products Company). These are the major sources of pollution in the
basin.. In addition to increased nutrient and bacteria levels, water
quality degradation is indicated by lowered dissolved oxygen con-
centrations and increased phenols, as well as a population of pollution-
tolerant organismso
The effect of the primary treatment plant at Mackinaw City, located
in the adjacent shoreline area, is localized and visible due to the small
quantity of waste flow in proportion to the large volume of Lake Huron
waters.
Accelerated degradation can be expected if positive preventive action
is not takeno
58
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