U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
REPORT
ON
OWASCOLAKE
OWUGACQUNIY
NEW YORK
EPA REGION II
WORKING PAPER No, 163
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
An Associate Laboratory of the
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER • CORVALLIS, OREGON
and
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
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REPORT
ON
OWASCOLAKE
CAYUGA COUNTY
NEW YORK
EPA REGION II
WORKING PAPER No, 163
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
AND THE
NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD
DECEMBER, 1974
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CONTENTS
Page
Foreword ii
List of New York Study Lakes iv
Lake and Drainage Area Map v
Sections
I. Introduction 1
II. Conclusions 1
III. Lake and Drainage Basin Characteristics 3
IV. Lake Water Quality Summary 4
V. Literature Reviewed 9
VI. Appendices 10
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£P_R.! W 0 R.D.
The National Eutrophication Survey was initiated in 1972 in
response to an Administration commitment to investigate the nation-
wide threat of accelerated eutrophication to fresh water 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.
* The lake discussed in this report was included in the National Eutrophica'
tion Survey as a lake of special interest to the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation. For this reason, tributaries and nutrient
sources were not sampled and this report relates only to data obtained
lake sampling.
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iii
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.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The staff of the National Eutrophication Survey (Office of
Research & Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency)
expresses sincere appreciation to the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation for professional involvement and
to the New York National Guard for conducting the tributary
sampling phase of the Survey.
Henry L. Diamond, Commissioner of the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation, and Leo J. Hetling, Director, and
Italo G. Carcich, Senior Sanitary Engineer, Environmental Quality
Research, Department of Environmental Conservation, provided
invaluable lake documentation and counsel during the Survey.
Major General John C. Baker, the Adjutant General of New York,
and Project Officer Lieutenant Colonel Fred Peters, who directed
the volunteer efforts of the New York National Guardsmen, are also
gratefully acknowledged for their assistance to the Survey.
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IV
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
STUDY LAKES
STATE OF NEW YORK
LAKE NAME
Allegheny Reservoir
Black
Canada!gua
Cannonsvilie
Carry Falls
Cassadaga
Cayuga
Champlain
Chautauqua
Conesus
Cross
Goodyear
Huntington
Keuka
Long
Lower St. Regis
Otter
Owasco
Raquette Pond
Round
Sacandaga Res.
Saratoga
Schroon
Seneca
Swan
Swinging Bridge Res,
COUNTY
Cattaraugas, NY; McLean,
Warren, PA
St. Lawrence
Ontario
Delaware
St. Lawrence
Chautauqua
Seneca, Tompkins
Clinton, Essex, NY; Addison,
Chittenden, Franklin, VT
Chautauqua
Livingston
Cayuga, Onondaga
Otsego
Sullivan
Ontario
Hami1 ton
Franklin
Cayuga
Cayuga
Franklin
Saratoga
Fulton, Saratoga
Saratoga
Essex, Warren
Seneca, Schyler, Yates
Sullivan
Sullivan
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OWASCO LAKE
X| lake jsamp/ina site
76°'IS
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OWASCO LAKE
STORE! NO. 3627
I. INTRODUCTION
Owasco Lake was Included 1n the National Eutrophication Survey
as a lake of special Interest to the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation. For this reason, tributaries and nu-
trient sources were not sampled, and this report relates only to
data obtained from lake sampling.
n. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data show that Owasco Lake is mesotrophlc. Of the
26 New York lakes sampled 1n the fall of 1972, when all essen-
tially were well-mixed, one had less mean total phosphorus,
four had less mean dissolved phosphorus, and 25 had less mean
Inorganic nitrogen. Inorganic nitrogen values were high com-
pared to phosphorus levels but this has been observed 1n other
Survey lakes with low levels of phosphorus, For all New York
data, ten pf the lakes had less mean chlorophyll a, and nine
hgd greater Secchi disc transparency.
Survey Hmnologlsts noted that the water was very clear on
all sampling dates, and no algal blooms were observed.
Reportedly, Owasco Lake appears to be undergoing fairly
rapid eutrophication (Ketelle and Uttormark, 1971),
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B. Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
The algal assay results show that Owasco Lake was phosphorus
limited at the time the sample was collected. Lake data show
that phosphorus was limiting at the other sampling times as well
(N/P ratios were greater than 143/1, and phosphorus limitation
would be expected).
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III. LAKE AND DRAINAGE BASIN CHARACTERISTICS
A. Lake Morphometry*:
1. Surface area: 6,592 acres.
2. Mean depth: 96 feet.
3. Maximum depth: 177 feet.
4. Volume: 633,104 acre/feet.
B. Precipitation:
1. Year of sampling: 52.8 inches.
2. Mean annual: 37.6 inches.
* Birge and Juday, 1914.
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IV. LAKE WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Owasco Lake was sampled three times during the open-water season
of 1972 by means of a pontoon-equipped Huey helicopter. Each time,
samples for physical and chemical parameters were collected from two
stations on the lake and from a number of depths at each station (see
map, page v). During each visit, a single depth-integrated 15 feet
to surface) sample was composited from the stations for phytoplankton
identification and enumeration; and during the last visit, a single
five-gallon depth-integrated sample was composited for algal assays.
Also each time, a depth-integrated sample was collected for chloro-
phyll a. analysis. The maximum depths sampled were 144 feet at sta-
tion 1 and 45 feet at station 2.
The results obtained are presented in full in Appendix B, and the
data for the fall sampling period, when the lake was essentially well-
mixed, are summarized below. Note, however, the Secchi disc summary
is based on all values.
For differences in the various parameters at the other sampling
times, refer to Appendix B.
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A. Physical and chemical characteristics;
Parameter
Temperature (Cent.)
Dissolved oxygen (mg/1)
Conductivity (umhos)
pH (units)
Alkalinity (ma/1)
Total P (mg/1)
Dissolved P (mg/1)
N0? + N03 (mg/1)
Ammonia \mg/l)
FALL VALUES
(10/12/72)
Mean Median
Maximum
II 1 1 1 1 IIIMI"
5.8
8.2
260
7.8
f • w
100
0.007
0.005
0.100
0.020
12.2
9.1
266
8.1
105
0.008
0.005
0.820
0.024
13.5
9.2
260
8.2
105
0.008
0.005
0.900
0.020
14.0
9.4
280
8.3
109
0.010
0.007
1.080
0.050
ALL VALUES
Secchi disc (inches)
90
106
108
126
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B. Biological characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampling
Date
05/28/72
07/24/72
10/12/72
Dominant
Genera
1. Dinobryon
2. Rhaphidiopsis
3. Polycystis
4. Cyclotella
5. Navicula
Other genera
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1,
2.
3.
4.
5.
Total
Fragilaria
Dinobryon
Flagellates
Rhaphidiopsis
Synedra
Other genera
Total
Fragilaria
Melosira
Dinobryon
Flagellates
Polycystis
Other genera
Number
per ml
1,531
1,627
Total
2,651
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(Because^f Instrumentation problems during the 1972 sampling,
the following values may be in error by plus or minus 20 percent.)
Sampling
Date
05/28/72
07/24/72
10/12/72
Station
Number
01
02
01
02
01
02
Chlorophyll a
(ua/1 )
7.2
29.3
4.6
2r
.6
4.5
3.0
C. Limiting Nutrient Study:
1. Autoclaved, filtered, and nutrient spiked -
Ortho P Inorganic N Maximum yield
Spike (mg/1) Cone, (mg/1) Cone, (mg/1) (mq/l-dry wt.)
Control
0.010 P
0.020 P
0.050 P
0.050 P + 5.0 N
0.050 P + 10.0 N
10.0 N
2. Discussion -
The control yield of the assay alga, Selenastrum capri-
cornutum, indicates that the potential primary productivity
of Owasco Lake was low at the time the assay sample was
collected. Increasing yields with increasing levels of phos-
phorus, and the lack of increase in yield with the addition
0.005
0.015
0.025
0.055
0.055
0.055
0.005
1.026
1.026
1.026
1.026
6.026
11.026
11.026
0.2
1.4
5.5
17.1
11.6
12.6
0.1
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8
of only nitrogen, indicate that the lake was phosphorus
limited at the time the sample was collected. Lake data
at that time, as well as the other sampling times, indicate
that Owasco Lake is phosphorus limited (N/P ratios were
above 143/1).'
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LITERATURE REVIEWED
Blrge, Edward A., and Chancey Juday, 1914. A limnological study
of the Finger Lakes of New York. Bull. 32, U.S. Bur. Fish.
Ketelle, Martha J., and Paul D. Uttormark, 1971. Problem lakes of
the United States. EPA Water Poll. Contr. Res. Ser., Proj.
#16010 EHR.
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APPENDIX A
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
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STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 74/11/36
3
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STORE! RETRIEVAL DATE 74/11/26
362702
42 53 40.0 076 32 13.0
OWASCO LAKE
36 NEW YORK
DATE
FROM
TO
72/05/28
72/07/24
72/10/12
00010
TIME DEPTH WATER
OF TEMP
DAY FEET
11
11
11
14
14
14
14
14
09
09
09
09
09
09
17
17
17
00
00
00
00
00
05
05
05
05
05
05
0000
0010
0020
0000
0004
0015
0030
0045
0000
0004
0015
0022
0031
0040
CENT
14.
13.
13.
?3.
20.
14.
11.
14.
14.
13.
13.
14.
5
8
7
0
5
4
0
0
0
8
9
0
00300
DO
MG/L
11
11
11
9
. 7
a
q
9
9
9
9
9
.7
.8
.8
.0
.6
.2
.0
.3
.4
.4
.2
.2
11EPALES
00077
TRANSP
SECCHI
INCHES
90
IIP
108
00094
CNDUCTVY
FIELD
MICROMHO
315
310
315
?80
280
280
290
290
275
260
260
260
260
260
3
00400
PH
SU
8.30
8.30
8.30
8.50
8.50
8.00
8.00
8.00
7.90
8.00
8.10
8.20
8.20
8.25
00410
T ALK
CAC03
MG/L
116
114
114
112
112
107
105
107
103
100
101
106
102
100
2111202
0030
00630
N02&N03
N-TOTAL
MG/L
0.940
0.900
0.900
0.900
0.920
0.970
1.060
1.010
0.890
O.B90
0.890
0.880
0.890
0.880
FEET DEF
00610
NH3-N
TOTAL
MG/L
0.020
0.030
0.050
0.020
0.050
0.060
0.040
0.040
0.020
0.020
0.030
0.020
0.050
0.020
00665 00666
PHOS-TOT PHOS-DIS
MG/L P
0.012
0.013
0.011
0.012
0.014
0.013
0.011
0.015
0.009
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.009
MG/L P
0.006
0.003
0.003
0.010
0.006
0.006
0.006
0.006
0.006
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.006
32217
DATE TIME DEPTH CHLRPHYL
FROM OF A
TO DAY FEET UG/L
72/05/28 11 17 0000 29.3J
72/07/24 14 00 0000 2.6J
72/10/1? 09 05 0000 3.0J
J VALUE KNOWN TO BE IN ERROR
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