U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
REPORT
ON
FALL LAKE
LAKE COM
MINNESOTA
EPA REGION V
WORKING PAPER No, 116
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
FALLLAIC
LAKE COM
MINNESOTA
EPA REGION V
WORKING PAPER No, 116
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY
AND THE
MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD
JULY, 1975
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I
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword ii
List of Minnesota Study Lakes iv, v
Lake and Drainage Area Map vi
Sections
I. Introduction 1
II. Conclusions 1
III. Lake Characteristics 3
IV. Lake Water Quality Sumary 4
V. Literature Reviewed 8
VI. Appendix 9
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ii
FOREWORD
The National Eutrophication Survey was initiated In 1972 in
response to an Administration cornnitnient 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 [ 3O3(e)], water
quality criteria/standards review [ 3O3(c)], clean lakes [ 314(a,b)],
and water quality monitoring [ g106 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
Eutrophication Survey as a water body of interest to the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency. Tributaries were not sampled, and this
report relates only to the data obtained from 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 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. McGujre, 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 Section 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.
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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 Bel trami
Blackhoof Crow Wing
Budd Martin
Buffalo Wright
Calhoun Hennepin
Carlos Douglas
Carrigan Wright
Cass Beltrami, Cass
Cleat-water Wright, Stearns
Cokato Wright
Cranberry Crow Wing
Darling Douglas
Elbow St. Louis
Embarass St. Louis
Fall Lake
Forest Washington
Green Kandlyohi
Gull Cass
Heron Jackson
Leech Cass
Le Homme Dieu Douglas
Lily Blue Earth
Little Grant
Lost St. Louis
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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
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INN.
Map Location
o 1 x
9148’
9146’
-4-
A-
FALL LAKE
Lake Samplinci Site
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FALL LAKE
STORET NO. 2730
I. INTRODUCTION
Fall Lake was included in the National Eutrophication Survey as
a water body of interest to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Tributaries were not sampled, and nutrient sources were not evaluated.
Therefore, this report only relates to the lake sampling data.
II. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data and observations indicate Fall Lake is mesotro-
phic. Of the 60 Minnesota lakes sampled in the fall when essen-
tially all were well-mixed, seven had less mean total phosphorus,
eight had less mean dissolved phosphorus, and 13 had less mean
inorganic nitrogen. For all samplings of the 60 lakes, 12 had
less mean chlorophyll a, and 22 had greater mean Secchi disc
transparency. Essentially no depression of dissolved oxygen with
depth occurred at any sampling time.
Phytoplankton numbers were quite low, and diatoms were domi-
nant in all samples. No problem aquatic plants or algal blooms
were observed by Survey limnologists.
B. Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
A loss of over 20% of the inorganic nitrogen occurred in the
algal assay sample between the time of collection and the beginning
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2
of the assay, and the results are not representative of conditions
in the lake at the time the sample was taken (10/22/72).
The lake data indicate nitrogen limitation at all sampling
times; i.e., the mean N/P ratios were 11/1 or less, and nitrogen
limitation would be expected.
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3
III. LAKE CHARACTERISTICS
A. Morphometry*:
1. Surface area: 2,173 acres.
2. Mean depth: 13.0 feet.
3. Maximum depth: 32 feet.
4. Volume: 28,249 acre-feet.
B. Precipitation**:
1. Year of sampling: 37.1 inches.
2. Mean annual: 36.7 inches.
* MN Dept. of Conservation lake survey map; mean depth by random-dot
method.
** See Working Paper No. 1, “Survey Methods, 1972”.
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4
IV. LAKE WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Fall 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 (three in July) and from a number of depths at each station (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 composited 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 17 feet at station 1, 18 feet at station 2, and 18 feet at
station 3.
The results obtained are presented in full in Appendix A, and the
data for the fall sampling period, when the lake essentially was well—
mixed, are summarized in the following table. 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 A.
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A. Physical and chemical characteristics:
Parameter Minimum
Temperature (Cent.) 4.6
Dissolved oxygen (mq/1) 10.8
Conductivity (ymhos) 50
pH (units) 7.0
Alkalinity (mg/1) 15
Total P (mg/1) 0.018
Dissolved P (mg/1) 0.011
N02 + NO? (mg/1) 0.060
Ammonia (mg/1) 0.050
FALL VALUES
(10/22/72)
Mean Median
Maximum
5.0
11.0
51
7.0
17
0.021
0.014
0.069
0.051
5.2
11.0
50
7.0
17
0.020
0.012
0.070
0.050
5.2
11.0
55
7.1
18
0.025
0.021
0.070
0.060
ALL VALUES
Secchi disc (inches) 48
62
63
72
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6
B. Biological characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampling Dominant Number
Date Genera per ml
07/08/72 1. Melosira 633
2. Tabellaria 271
3. Fragilaria 192
4. Anabaena 170
5. Asterionella 90
I Other genera 384
Total 1 ,740
09/07/72 1. Melosira 434
2. Lyngbya 325
3. Kirchneriella 144
4. Tabeillaria 144
5. Dinobryon 132
Other genera 676
Total 1 ,855
10/22/72 1. Melosira 1,340
2. Flagellates 361
3. Dinobryon 361
4. Fragilaria 256
5. Asterionella 136
Other genera 618
Total 3,072
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7
2. Chlorophyll a —
(Because of instrumentation problems during the 1972 samplIng,
the following values may be in error by plus or minus 20 percent.)
Sampling Station Chlorophyll a
Date Number ( pg/i )
07/08/72 01 5.9
02 6.2
03 14.8
09/07/72 01 6.5
02 4.9
10/22/72 01 7.0
02 5.0
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8
V. LITERATURE REVIEWED
Schilling, Joel, 1974. Personal communication (compendium of infor-
mation on Minnesota lakes). MPCA, Minneapolis.
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9
VI. APPENDIX
APPENDIX A
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
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STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 74/10/30
273001
47 56 10.0 091 46 38.0
FALL LAI(E
27 MINNESOTA
1 1EPALES
3
2111212
0017 FEET DEPTH
DATE
FROM
TO
TIME DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
32217
C HLRP H V L
A
UG/L
7.6
6.8
6. 1
8.3
7.8
11.0
11.0
60
60
48
000)0
00300
00077
00094
00400
00410
00630
00610
00665
00666
DATE
TIME
DEPTH
WATER
00
TRANSP
CNDUCTVY
PH
T ALI<
N02&N03
NH3—N
PHOS—TOT
PHOS—DIS
FROM
OF
TEMP
SECCHI
FIELD
CACO3
N—TOTAL
TOTAL
TO
DAY
FEET
CENT
MG/L
INCHES
MICROMHO
SO
MG/L
MG/ I
MG/L
MG/I P
MG/I P
72/07/08
09 55 0000
20.5
0.040
0.019
0.011
09 55 0012
19.8
0.030
0.026
0.010
09 55 0017
19.3
0.200
0.033
0.013
72/09/07
13 30 0000
0.070
0.025
0.010
13 30 0004
17.2
0.060
0.024
0.012
13 30 0015
16.6
0.070
0.027
0.016
72/10/22
09 00 0000
0.050
0.019
0.011
09 00 0004
4.6
0.050
0.025
0.016
09 00 0016
4.6
0.060
0.021
0.012
50 K
50K
50K
60
55
58
50
50
50
6.70
6.70
6.80
7.00
7.00
7.00
7.00
7.05
7.05
11 0.030
12 0.020
13 0.030
12 0.020
15 0.030
15 0.030
15 0.060
16 0.070
15 0.070
72/07/08
09
55
0000
5.9J
72/09/07
13
30
0000
6. SJ
72/10/22
09
00
0000
7.OJ
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE LESS
THAN INDICATED
J VALUE KNOWN TO BE IN ERROR
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STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 74/10/30
273002
47 56 30.0 091 45 00.0
FALL LAKE
27 MINNESOTA
11EPALES 2111202
4 0010 FEET DEPTH
00010 00300 00077 00094 00400 00410 00630 00610 00665 00666
DATE TIME DEPTH WATER DO TRANSP CNDUCTVY PH T ALK N02&N03 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/I MG/I MG/I P MG/I P
72/07/08 10 25 0000 20.8 8.0 66 50K 7.10 11 0.020 0.140 0.016 0.009
10 25 0010 20.7 9.8 50K 6.80 11 0.020 0.050 0.021 0.010
72/09/07 13 55 0000 72 58 7.10 16 0.030 0.080 0.018 0.011
13 55 0004 17.2 8.2 55 7.10 13 0.040 0.080 0.016 0.009
13 55 0015 17.1 7.9 55 7.00 13 0.040 0.080 0.016 0.009
72/10/22 09 25 0000 50K 7.00 17 0.070 0.050 0.020 0.012
09 25 0004 5.2 11.0 50K 7.00 18 0.070 0.050 0.020 0.014
09 25 0012 5.2 10.8 50K 7.05 18 0.070 0.050 0.023 0.021
09 ?5 0018 5.2 11.0 55 7.10 17 0.070 0.050 0.018 0.011
32217
DATE TIME DEPTH CHLRPHYL
FROM OF A
TO DAY FEET LJG/L
7?/07/0A 10 25 0000 6.2J
72/09/07 13 55 0000 4.9J
72/10/22 09 25 0000 5.OJ
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE LESS
THAN INDICATED
J VALUE KNOv1N TO E IN ERROR
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STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 74/10/30
273003
47 50 00.0 091 40 00.0
FALL LAKE
27075 MINNESOTA
11EPALES 2111202
0018 FEET DEPTH
00010 00300 00077 000Q4 00400 00410 00630 00610 00665 00666
DATE TIME DEPTH WATER DO TRANSP CNDUCTVY PH T ALK N026N03 NP 3—N PIIOS—TOT PHOS—DIS
FROM OF TEMP SECCHI FIELD CACO3 N—TOTAL TOTAL
TO DAY FEET CENT MG/L INCHES MICRONHO SU MG/L MG/L MG/L MG/L P MG/L P
7?/07/08 10 50 0000 21.8 8.0 66 50K 6.90 12 0.040 0.080 0.014 0.009
10 50 0012 20.6 6.4 50K 6.80 14 0.030 0.060 0.019 0.010
10 50 0018 19.8 10.6 50K 6.70 13 0.030 0.060 0.019 0.009
32217
DATE TIME DEPTH CHLRPHYL
FROM OF A
TO DAY FEET IJG/L
72/07/08 10 50 0000 14.8J
K VALUE KNOWN TO BE LESS
THAN INDICATED
J VALUE KNOWN TO BE IN ERROR
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