U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
REPORT
ON
BIG LAKE
STEARNS COUNTY
MINNESOTA
REGION V
WORKING PAPER No,
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
BIG LAKE
STEARNS COUNTY
MINNESOTA
EPA REGION V
WORKING PAPER No,
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY
AND THE
MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD
JULY, 1975
-------
1
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 2
IV. Lake Water Quality Summary 3
V. Literature Reviewed 5
VI. Appendix 6
-------
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 [ 3O3(e)], water
quality criteria/standards review [ 3O3(c)], clean lakes [ 3l4(a,b)],
and water quality monitoring [ 1O6 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 and nutrient sources were
not sampled, and this report relates only to the data obtained
from lake sampling.
-------
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 database 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 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.
-------
iv
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
STUDY LAKES
STATE OF MINNESOTA
LAKE NAME COUNTY
Albert Lea Freeborn
Andrusia Beltramj
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
Carlos 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 Home 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
Walimark Chisago
White Bear Washington
Winona Douglas
Wolf Beltrami, Hubbard
Woodcock Kandlyohi
Zunibro Olmsteacl, Wabasha
-------
. I MINN.
Map Location
-------
BIG LAKE
STORET NO. 2708
I. INTRODUCTION
Big 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 relates only to the lake sampling data.
II. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data indicate Big Lake is eutrophic. Of the 80
Minnesota lakes sampled, 24 had less mean total phosphorus,
33 had less and one the same mean dissolved phosphorus, 51
had less mean inorganic nitrogen, 25 had less mean chlorophyll
a, and 22 had greater mean Secchi disc transparency. Dissolved
oxygen was depleted at 25 feet at both sampling stations in
July and essentially was depleted at 27 feet at station 1 in
August, 1972.
Survey limnologists observed an algal bloom in progress in
July, and blue-green algae were dominant in both phytoplankton
samples.
B. Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
Big Lake was not sampled in the fall, and no algal assay
sample was taken. However, the lake data indicate nitrogen
limitation in July (N/P ratio = 7/1) but phosphorus limitation
in August (N/P = 24/1).
-------
2
III. LAKE CHARACTERISTICS
A. Morphometry*:
1. Surface area: 403 acres.
2. Mean depth: 11.9 feet.
3. Maximum depth: 42 feet.
4. Volume: 4,796 acre-feet.
B. Precipitation**:
1. Year of sampling: 26.7 inches.
2. Mean annual: 23.8 inches.
* MN Dept. Nat. Resources lake survey map (1971); mean depth by random-
dot method.
** See Working Paper No. 1, “Survey Methods, 1972”.
-------
IV. LAKE WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Big Lake was sampled two 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 two or more 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 a similar sample was
collected for chlorophyll a_ analysis. The lake was not sampled in the
fall, and no sample was taken for algal assays. The maximum depth
sampled were 27 feet at station 1 and 25 feet at station 2.
The results obtained are presented in full in Appendix A, and are
summarized in the following table.
-------
4
A. Physical and chemical characteristics:
1st Sample
(07/02/72)
2nd Sample
(08/29/72)
14.0
0.0
320
7.3
159
0.020 -
0.009 -
0.030 -
0.020 -
76 -
12.8
0.4
330
7.1
156
0.016
0.010
0.050
0.080
54
- 22.3
- 10.4
- 420
- 8.4
- 240
0.250
0. 1 02
0. 100
2.480
72
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampling
Date
07/02/72
Dominant
Genera
1. Anabaena
2. Microcystis
3. Melosira
4. Oocystis
5. Chroococcus
Other genera
Number
per ml
1 ,537
1,121
850
488
398
1 ,682
6,076
1. Anabaena
2. Microcystis
3. Dinobryon
4. Fragilaria
5. Melosira
Other genera
1 ,628
1 ,031
416
289
271
705
Range
Parameter Mean
Temperature (Cent.) 18.7
Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) 4.8
Conductivity ( imhos) 348
pH (units) 7.8
Alkalinity (mg/i) 169
Total P (mg/i) 0.030
Dissolved P (mg/i) 0.012
NO 2 + N03 (mg/I) 0.040
Ammonia (mg/i) 0.040
Secchi disc (inches) 76
B. Biological characteristics:
Range
- 24.0
— 11.7
- 380
- 8.3
- 174
0.049
0.017
0.040
0.060
76
Mean
18.7
6.3
330
8.0
172
0.050
0.021
0.070
0.439
63
08/29/72
Total
Total
4,340
-------
5
V. LITERATURE REVIEWED
Anonymous, 1974. Wastewater disposal facilities inventory. MPCA,
Minneapolis.
-------
VI. APPENDIX
APPENDIX A
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
-------
STORET PET IEVA DATE 74/1O/ 0
270801
45 25 07.0 094 34 20.0
BIG LAKE
27 MINNESOTA
IIEPALES 2111202
3 0022 FEET DEPTH
DATE
FQOM
TO
TI’IE I)F T’1
OF
DAY FEET
7?/07/0? 1 30 0000
18 10 0015
18 30 00?0
7?/08/?9 15 45 0000
15 45 0004
15 45 0IS
15 65 0 )?1
15 ‘ 5 0C 2 7
)01o
“ 1O0
CuC77
000Q s
00400
00410
00630
00610
00665
00666
wATE
DO
TkANSP
CNoucrvY
PH
1 ALK
NO2 NO3
N83—N
PHOS—TOT
PHOS—DIS
T ’ P
SrCCHI
FIELD
CACO3
N—TOTAL
TOTAL
‘FNT
/L
INCI- ES
MIC OMHO
SD
MG/L
MG/L
MG/I
MG/L P
MG/L P
11.7
76
120
8.30
173
0.040
0.060
0.020
0.009
P.3
370
7.40
C’.!
1.4
72
330
363
8.40
4.42
171
159
156
0.040
0.050
0.060
0.040
0.090
0.080
0.049
0.019
0.016
0.017
0.010
0.011
345
p.90
163
0.050
0.100
0.017
0.012
8•
360
7.40
177
0.100
0.520
0.035
0.016
u.6
4?0
7.10
240
0.060
2.480
0.250
0.107
24.0
14..)
27.3
19.5
3 2j
CHI. -‘PHYL
?..
1) .‘J
DATE
F e ON
TO
TIME D TH
OF
DAY FEET
7?107/0? 18 30 0 jO0
7?/ )H/29 15 (.5 ()C’.)
J V. ()F KNOv I TO ‘ E I ‘I
-------
STORET PETPIF ’4I r)ATE 74/1C /30
D TF
F P0 .1
TO
TIMF DEPTH
OF
DAY FEET
3’’l 7
C P PH YL
A
Ut /L
6. ij
270802
45 25 40.0 094 35 06.0
I’ LAKE
27 MINNESOTA
I IEPALES 2111202
00 9 FEET
3
DEPTH
0i} J
i C 300
) 0077
000Q4
00400
00410
00630
00610
00665
00666
DATE
TPIE
DEPTH
AT P
N)
t1 Jc,P
CtJDUCTVY
PH
1 ALK
NO2 NO3
NH3—N
P 1-lOS—TOT
PHOS—DIS
FROM
OF
TEtA
SECCHI
FIEL,)
CACO3
N—TOTAL
TOTAL
TO
DAY
FEFT
CENT
1 46/L
1NCH S
MICPOMHO
SU
MG/L
MG/L
IIG/L
NG/L P
MG/L P
72/07/02
18 56 0000
?‘..u
IC.0
76
320
8.10
174
0.030
0.040
0.029
0.012
18 55 0025
1’.5
.O
380
7.30
159
0.030
0.020
0.024
0.013
7?/OR/?Q
16 05 0000
54
338
8.35
164
0.060
0.080
0.021
0.012
1 - 05 0004
70.’
a..?
335
8.30
160
0.080
0.080
0.021
0.011
16 05 000Q
f,.H
340
8.00
158
0.080
0.080
0.023
0.011
72/07/0? 1 5 0000
7?/0M/?’ 16 05 000’)
j VALUE K’ OW J TO r3E [ ‘I POr
------- |