U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY WORKING PAPER SERIES REPORT ON MADISON LAKE BLUE EARTH COUNTY MINNESOTA EPA REGION V WORKING PAPER No, 108 PACIFIC NORTHWEST ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY An Associate Laboratory of the NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER - CORVALLIS, OREGON and NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 697.032 ------- REPORT ON MADISON LAKE BLUE EARTH COUNTY EPA REGION V WORKING PAPER No, 108 WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY AND THE MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD DECEMBER, 1974 ------- 1 CONTENTS Page Foreword ii List of Minnesota Study Lakes iv, v Lake and Drainage Area Map vi Sections I. Conclusions 1 II. Lake and Drainage Basin Characteristics 3 III. Lake Water Quality Summary 4 IV. Nutrient Loadings 9 V. Literature Reviewed 14 VI. Appendices 15 ------- •11 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 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 [ g303(e)], water quality criteria/standards review [ 3O3(c)], clean lakes [ 3l4(a,b)], and water quality monitoring [ lO6 and §305(b)] activities mandated by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. ------- 111 Beyond the single lake analysis, broader based correlations between nutrient concentrations (and loading) and trophic condi- tion are being made to advance the rationale and data base for refinement of nutrient water quality criteria for the Nation’s fresh water lakes. Likewise, multivariate evaluations for the relationships between land use, nutrient export, and trophic condition, by lake class or use, are being developed to assist 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 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for professional involvement and to the Minnesota National Guard for conducting the tributary sampling phase of the Survey. Grant J. Merritt, Director of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, John F. McGuire, Chief, and Joel G. Schilling, Biologist, of the Section of Surface and Groundwater, Division of Water Quality, provided invaluable lake documentation and counsel during the course of the Survey; and the staff of the Sectiqn of Municipal Works, Divi- sion of Water Quality, were most helpful in identifying point sources and soliciting municipal participation in the Survey. Major General Chester J. Moeglein, the Adjutant General of Minnesota, and Project Officer Major Adrian Beltrand, who directed the volunteer efforts of the Minnesota National Guardsmen, are also gratefully acknowledged for their assistance to the Survey. ------- iv NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY STUDY LAKES STATE OF MINNESOTA LAKE NAME COUNTY Albert Lea Freeborn Andrusia Beltrami Badger Polk Bartlett Koochiching Bear Freeborn Bemidji Beltrami Big Stearns Big Stone Big Stone, MN; Roberts, Grant, SD Birch Cass Blackduck Beltrami Blackhoof Crow Wing Budd Martin Buffalo Wright Calhoun Hennepin Caries Douglas Carrigan Wright Cass Beltrami, Cass Clearwater Wright, Stearns Cokato Wright Cranberry Crow Wing Darling Douglas Elbow St. Louis Embarass St. Louis Fall Lake Forest Washington Green Kandiyohi Gull Cass Heron Jackson Leech Cass Le Homme Dieu Douglas Lily Blue Earth Little Grant Lost St. Louis ------- V LAKE NAME COUNTY Madison Blue Earth Malmedal Pope Mashkenode St. Louis McQuade St. Louis Minnetonka Hennepin Minnewaska Pope Mud Itasca Nest Kandiyohi Pelican St. Louis Pepin Goodhue, Wabasha, MN; Pierce, Pepin, WI Rabbit Crow Wing Sakatah Le Sueur Shagawa St. Louis Silver McLeod Six Mile St. Louis Spring Washington, Dakota St. Croix Washington, MN; St. Croix, Pierce, WI St. Louis Bay St. Louis, MN; Douglas, WI Superior Bay St. Louis, MN; Douglas, WI Swan Itasca Trace Todd Trout Itasca Wagonga Kandiyohi Wailmark Chisago White Bear Washington Winona Douglas Wolf Beltrami, Hubbard Woodcock Kandiyohi Zumbro Olmstead, Wabasha ------- vi 2) 1 LAKE — — ( ( F rn C m C ro C I no 0• Map Location 9348’ I 44’12’ & MADISON LAKE 0 Tributary Sampling Site X Lake Sampling Site , 1 Direct Drainage Area Limits 0 -J .li. Scale ------- MADISON LAKE STORET NO. 2750 I. CONCLUSIONS A. Trophic Condition: Survey data show that Madison Lake is eutrophic. Of the 60 Minnesota lakes sampled in the fall of 1972, when essentially all were well—mixed, 25 had less mean total phosphorus, 23 had less mean dissolved phosphorus, and 49 had less mean inorganic nitrogen. Of the 80 Minnesota lakes sampled, 45 had less mean chlorophyll a, and 41 had greater Secchi disc transparency. Survey limnologists noted poor water quality conditions on all sampling visits. Algal blooms, suspended solids, and anaero- bic hypolimnetic conditions were observed. B. Rate—Limiting Nutrient: Results of the algal assay indicate that phosphorus was the limiting nutrient at the time the sample was collected. The lake data indicate phosphorus limitation during October and nitrogen limitation during July and August. C. Nutrient Controllability: 1. Point sources--During the sampling year, Madison Lake received a total phosphorus load at a rate about 1.6 times the rate proposed by Vollenweider (in press) as ildangerousu; i.e., a eutrophic rate (see page 13). ------- 2 The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has stipulated with the Village of Madison for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant which will discharge to the LeSueur River. When this facility becomes operational, the phosphorus loading rate of Madison Lake will be reduced to about 1.8 lbs/acre/yr or about 0.19 g/m 2 /yr. The reduced rate will be less than the eutrophic rate and should result in a significant improvement in the trophic condition of the lake. 2. Non-point sources-—It is estimated that non-point sources contributed about 56% of the total phosphorus load to Madison Lake during the sampling year. ------- II. LAKE AND DRAINAGE BASIN CHARACTERISTICS A. Lake Morphometry : 1. Surface area: 1,113 acres. 2. Mean depth: 13 feet. 3. Maximum depth: 59 feet. 4. Volume: 14,469 acre/feet. 5. Mean hydraulic retention time: 3.3 years. B. Tributary and Outlet: {See Appendix A for flow data) 1. Tributaries - Drainage area* Mean flow* No major tributaries Minor tributaries & 2 immediate drainage - 22.1 mi 6.1 cfs Total 22.1 mi2 6.1 cfs 2. Outlet - Unnamed stream (A-l} 23.8 mi2** 6.1 cfs C. Precipitation***: 1. Year of sampling: 28.7 inches. 2. Mean annual: 28.3 inches. t DNR lake survey map (1970); mean depth by random-dot method. * Drainage areas are accurate within ±5%; mean daily flows are accurate within ±10%; and ungaged flows are accurate within ±10 to 25% for drainage areas greater than 10 mi2. ** Includes area of lake. *** See Working Paper No. 1, "Survey Methods". ------- 4 III. LAKE WATER QUALITY SUMMARY Madison 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 usually from two or more depths at each sta- tion (see map, page vi). During each visit, a single depth-integrated (15 feet or near bottom 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 com- posited for algal assays. Also each time, a depth-integrated sample was collected from each of the stations for chlorophyll a analysis. The maximum depths sampled were 15 feet at station 1 and 31 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 essentially was 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. ------- 5 A. Physical and chemical characteristics: FALL VALUES (10/29/72) Parameter Minimum Mean Median Maximum Temperature (Cent.) 6.1 6.7 7.0 7.0 Dissolved oxygen (mg/i) 10.4 10.8 10.8 11.3 Conductivity (pnihos) 310 321 320 330 pH (units) 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.2 Alkalinity (mg/i) 131 132 131 134 Total P (mg/i) 0.036 0.047 0.045 0.058 Dissolved P (mg/i) 0.016 0.022 0.022 0.026 NO + NO (mg/i) 0.170 0.180 0.180 0.190 Am onia mg/1) 0.750 0.789 0.800 0.830 ALL VALUES Secchi disc (inches) 27 34 32 46 ------- 6 B. Biological characteristics: 1 . Phytoplankton - Sampling Dominant Number Date Genera per ml 07/01/72 1. Lyngbya 7,444 2. Anabaena 4,060 3. Flagellates 2,782 4. Microcystis 677 5. Raphidiopsis 602 Other genera 4,435 Total 20,000 08/30/72 1. Lyngbya 6,113 2. Dictyosphaerium 1,623 3. Merismopedia 1,358 4. Flagellates 1,207 5. Anabaena 566 Other genera 2,605 Total 13,472 10/24/72 1 . Anabaena 5,075 2. Chroococcus 1 ,357 3. Synedra 704 4. Cryptomonas 653 5. Kirchneriella 502 Other genera 2,965 Total 11,256 ------- 7 2. Chlorophyll a - (Because of instrumentation problems during the the following values may be in error by plus or 07/01/72 08/30/72 01 02 10/29/72 01 02 Spike (mg/i ) Ortho P Conc. (mg/i ) Inorganic N Conc. (mg/i ) Maximum yield ( mg/i-dry wt. ) Sampling Station Chlorophyll Date Number (pg/l) 1972 sampling, minus 20 percent.) 01 02 a 61 .4 33 . 3 19.8 13.8 27.2 29.3 C. Limiting Nutrient Study: 1. Autoclaved, filtered, and nutrient spiked - Control 0.005 0.010 0 .020 0.050 0.050 10.0 N P P P P P + 10.0 N 0.020 0.750 3.8 0.025 0.750 6.4 0.030 0.750 8.0 0.040 0.750 11.7 0.070 0.750 17.6 0.070 10.750 24.0 0.020 10.750 3.1 ------- 8 2. Discussion — The control yield of the assay alga, Selenastrum capri- cornutum , indicates that the potential primary productivity of Madison Lake was somewhat high at the time the sample was collected. Also, the increased yields with increased levels of phosphorus indicate phosphorus limitation at that time (note the addition of only nitrogen did not result in a significantly different yield than that of the control). However, the lake data indicate nitrogen limitation during July and August (N/P ratios were 12/1 and 11/1, respectively, and nitrogen limitation would be expected). ------- 9 IV. NUTRIENT LOADINGS (See Appendix C for data) For the determination of nutrient loadings, the Minnesota National Guard collected monthly near-surface grab samples from the tributary site indicated on the map (page vi). Sampling was begun in October, 1972, and was completed in August, 1973. Through an interagency agreement, stream flow estimates for the year of sampling and a “normalized” or average year were provided by the Minne- sota District Office of the U.S. Geological Survey for the tributary sites nearest the lake. In this report, the outlet nutrient loads were determined by using a modification of a U.S. Geological Survey computer program for calculating stream loadings*. Nutrient loadings for unsampled “minor tributaries and immediate drainage” (“ZZ” of U.S.G.S.) were estimated by using the nutrient loads, in lbs/mi 2 /year, in a tributary to nearby Lily Lake at station B—i and multiplying by the ZZ area in mi 2 . The nutrient loads of the Village of Madison Lake were estimated at 2.5 lbs P and 7.5 lbs N/capita/year. The Madison Lake Creamery loads were calculated on water use (20,000 gal/month; Miller, 1961) and typical creamery wastewater nutrient concentrations (50 mg/l P and 70 mg/l N; Boydston, 1973). * See Working Paper No. 1. ------- 10 A. Waste Sources: 1. Known municipalt - Pop. Mean Receiving Name Served Treatment Flow (mgd) Water Madison 587 none* 0.059** Madison Lake 2. Known industrial*** - Mean Receiving Name Product Treatment Flow (mgd) Water Madison Lake butter none 0.001 Madison Lake Creamery t Anonymous, 1974. * Partial collection system but no treatment; septic tank effluent and raw sewage are discharged to Lake Madison. ** Estimated at 100 gal/capita/day. *** Miller, 1961. ------- 11 B. Annual Total Phosphorus Loading - Average Year: 1. Inputs — lbsP/ %of Source yr total a. Tributaries (non-point load) — None - b. Minor tributaries & immediate drainage (non-point load) - 1,790 50.8 c. Known municipal STP’s - None - d. Septic tanks, Madison Lake - 1,470 41.6 e. Known industrial — Madison Lake Creamery 100 2.8 f. Direct precipitation* - 170 4.8 Total 3,530 100.0 2. Outputs - Lake outlet - Unnamed Stream (A—i) 850 3. Net annual P accumulation — 2,680 pounds * See Working Paper No. 1. ------- 12 C. Annual Total Nitrogen Loading - Average Year: 1. Inputs — lbsN/ %of Source yr total a. Tributaries (non-point load) - None b. Minor tributaries & immediate drainage (non-point load) - 95,600 86.2 c. Known municipal SIP’s - None d. Septic tanks, Madison Lake - 4,400 4.0 e. Known industrial - Madison Lake Creamery 140 0.1 f. Direct precipitation* — 10,720 9.7 Total 110,860 100.0 2. Outputs - Lake outlet - Unnamed Stream (A-i) 42,670 3. Net annual N accumulation - 68,190 pounds * See Working Paper No. 1. ------- 13 D. Yearly Loading Rates: In the following table, the existing phosphorus loading rates are compared to those proposed by Vollenweider (in press). Essentially, his “dangerous” rate is the rate at which the receiving waters would become eutrophic or remain eutrophic; his “permissible” rate is that which would result in the receiving water remaining oligotrophic or becoming oligotrophic if nior- phometry permitted. A mesotrophic rate would be considered one between “dangerous” and “permissible”. Total Phosphorus Total Nitrogen Units Total Accumulated Total Accumulated lbs/acr /yr 3.2 2.4 99.6 61.3 grams/rn /yr 0.36 0.27 11.2 6.9 Volle weider loading rates for phosphorus (g/m /yr) based on mean depth and mean hydraulic retention time of Madison Lake: “Dangerous” (eutrophic rate) 0.22 “Permissible” (oligotrophic rate) 0.11 ------- 14 V. LITERATURE REVIEWED Anonymous, 1974. Wastewater disposal facilities inventory. MPCA, Minneapolis. Boydston, James R., 1973. Personal communication (typical nutrient concentrations in milk-processing waste waters). Waste Treatment Branch, PNERL-EPA, Corvallis, Oregon. Brott, Bruce W., and Edwin A. Smith, 1970. Report on proposed wastewater treatment works for the Village of Madison Lake. MPCA, Minneapolis. Miller, Richard D., 1961. Report on investigation of Madison Lake, Jamestown and LeRoy Townships, Blue Earth County. MN Dept. of Health, Minneapolis. Schilling, Joel, 1974. Personal communication (lake map, Madison Lake wastewater treatment facility). MPCA, Minneapolis. Vollenweider, Richard A., (in press). Input-output models. Schweiz A. Hydrol. ------- 15 VII. APPENDICES APPENDIX A TRIBUTARY FLOW DATA ------- TRIBUTARY FLOW INFORMATION FOR MINNESOTA 3/18/74 LAKE CODE 2750 MADISON LAKE TOTAL DRAINAGE AREA OF LAKE 23.R0 SUB—DRAINAGE NORMALIZED FLOWS TRIBUTARY AREA JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC MEAN 2750A1 23.80 0.29 0.56 3.53 24.10 12.00 14.70 6.47 4.08 2.33 2.54 2.03 0.72 6.11 2750ZZ 23.80 0.32 0.61 3.79 23.80 11.80 14.80 6.42 3.98 2,33 2.48 1.97 0,75 6.08 SUMMARY TOTAL DRAINAGE AREA OF LAKE = 23.80 TOTAL FLOW IN = 73.05 SUM OF SUB—DRAINAGE AREAS = 23.80 TOTAL FLOW OUT = 73.35 MEAN MONTHLY FLOWS AND DAILY FLOWS TRIBUTARY MONTH YEAR MEAN FLOW DAY FLOW DAY FLOW DAY FLOW 2750A1 10 72 2.50 15 1.50 11 72 5.74 5 13.00 12 72 1.34 4 2.30 1 73 1.54 13 0.60 2 73 2.23 4 2.60 3 73 14.00 3 7.60 4 73 9.88 14 8.30 5 73 14.00 28 9.40 6 73 4.41 7 73 0.60 25 0.56 8 73 0.33 29 0.20 9 73 0.30 2750ZZ 10 72 2.45 15 1.40 11 72 5.57 5 13.00 12 72 1.40 4 2.40 1 73 1.70 12 0.60 ? 73 2.43 4 2.20 3 73 15.10 3 8.20 4 73 9.76 14 8.20 5 73 13.80 28 9.20 6 73 4.44 7 73 0.64 25 0,60 8 73 0.32 89 0.22 9 73 0.30 ------- APPENDIX B PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA ------- ST’)P T PETPTEVAL 1)ATF 74/1 /40 ?7500 1 44 11 48.0 093 48 00.0 MAI)ISON LA cE 27 MINNESOTA F r O’i TO 04 TE F P O’l T’) TIME: OE T-1 OF flaY FEET 0 i0 1 ATFR IF MP CF ‘1T 003 0 09071 no IRa ”sP SF CC I MG/L INCHES 00094 C NP() C T V Y FIELI) MICROMHO 00630 NO?&N03 N-TOTAL MG/ L 00610 NH3-N TOT AL MG/L 7?/0 7/01 7?/ OM/30 7?/ 1 0/? 06 40 0000 10 10 0000 0 15 0000 61 •4J 19. 3J 27 • T1”E flEDTr$ OF DAY FEET 7?/07/0l 06 4Q 3000 72/09/10 10 10 0009 10 10 0004 10 10 0015 7?/10/2 Oh 15 0000 0 IS 0004 08 15 0010 2111202 0005 FEET I 1EPALES 3 00400 00410 T AL c CACO3 5 ( 1 MG/L 8.30 126 8.75 125 8.75 125 125 8.20 134 8.20 134 8.20 133 I 0 • 4 1.0 11.3 11.3 27 300 27 ?75 279 280 44 330 330 320 DEPTH 00665 00666 PHOS-TOT PHOS—DIS MG/L P MC,/L P 74 • 0 77 • 9 19.? 6.2 J I 1 ( 1L Pr4YL A (JC,/L 0.100 0.060 0 • 060 0 • 080 0 • 170 O • 170 0.190 0.080 0.080 0.080 0.520 0 • 750 0 • 750 0.760 0.102 0.041 0.0 50 0.052 0.036 0.044 0.051 0.0 25 0.0 17 0.017 0.0 20 0.017 0.0 22 0.021 J V ’LUF I’ NOv4N TO HE IN E’ W ------- STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 74/10/30 DATE FROM TO TIME DEPTH OF DAY FEET 32217 CHLRPHYL A UG/L 275002 44 11 06.0 093 48 20.0 LAKE MADISON 27 MIN SOTA 7?/07f01 72/08/30 7 2/I 0/2Q 06 55 0000 10 25 0000 08 35 0000 33.3J 13.RJ 29.3J I1EPALES 2111202 3 0021 FEET DEPTH DATE TIME DEPTH WATER DO TRANSP CNDUCTVY PH T ALX NO2 .NO3 NH3—N PHOS—TOT PHOS—DIS FROM OF TEMP SECCHI FIELD CACO3 N—TOTAL TOTAL TO DAY FEET CENT MG/L INCHES MICROMHO SU MG/L MG/L MG/L MG/L P MG/L P 72/07/01 06 55 0000 23.0 9.4 27 300 8.50 124 0.080 0.080 0.070 0.021 06 55 0020 20.0 0.3 340 7.60 139 0.150 0.280 0.058 0.017 72/08/30 10 25 0000 36 270 8.65 10 25 0004 22.2 9.8 280 8.68 10 25 0015 19.7 2.4 285 7.50 126 0.060 0.420 0.038 0.018 10 25 0022 19.1 0.6 300 7.50 129 0.060 0.700 0.039 0.017 10 25 0031 17.8 0.2 335 7.20 147 0.170 0.030 0.239 0.122 72/10/29 04 35 0000 40 320 8.20 131 0.180 0.800 0.040 0.016 04 35 0004 7.0 10.8 310 8.20 131 0.180 0.820 0.054 0.026 08 35 0015 7.0 10,4 310 8.10 131 0.190 0.830 0.058 0.026 08 35 0024 7.0 10.4 325 8.10 131 0.180 J VALUE kNOWN TO BE IN ERROR ------- APPENDIX C TRIBUTARY DATA ------- STOPFT T TF VAL DAT- 74/l(’/10 2150A 1 LS2750A1 44 10 30.0 093 49 00.0 UNNAMED STPEAM IS MANi ATO EAST 0/MADISON L4 E. r4Ri)G 1.5 MI S OF CITY OF MADISON LAKE I IE?ALES 2111204 4 0000 FEET DEPTH u 7 5 OOe ’I O 00S7 1 00h ’5 OAIF TI W DFPTM N(i? NO3 T1 T KJEL NJH3—N PHOS—DIS PHOS—TOt FQQM OF N—TOTAL N ToT t OPTHO TO DAY F T MC,/L i(./ 1G/L M(/L P M&/L P 7?/I0/lS 14 5 ).1- 0 ?.v O O (.410 0.010 0.0 0 7?/I1/0S 10 flU ).‘ 1O .9Ofl “i.(’1 0.008 0.07? 7?/ 12/04 0.1-” 0.Y40 0.39? 0.020 0.037 71/ 01/I l 15 ( 0 0. F i .4flO ).755 0.005K 0.035 73/0?/04 14 00 O.33 ?.3 ’0 j.7S0 0.00 0.055 71/03/03 4.40” ?.40 0. 0 0.014 0.052 73/03/?3 (H 30 1. Ah ’) 4.q OU 1 ).005K 0.022 0.1L+0 71/04/1” 4. O0 u. 30 0. O1Y 0.09 5 71/05/? ’ (..P , 0 C .)tDfl .330 0.023 u.0 0 73/c)7/25 IR 4S 3.0 1 0K ?.‘ o ‘.C33 0.010 0.0 5 73/ ( H/2 iS 30 o.oii’ c 2•7 j 3.04R 0.U?R 0.151) K VALUE KNO N TO E LESS THAN INDICATED ------- |