U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
WORKING PAPER SERIES
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
An Associate Laboratory of the
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER - CORVALLIS, OREGON
and
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
•fcOPO 697.O32
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REPORT
ON
CRYSTAL LAKE
VILAS COUNTY
WISCONSIN
EPA REGION V
WORKING PAPER No, 66
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
AND THE
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD
JULY, 1975
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1
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword ii
List of Wisconsin Study Lakes iv, v
Lake and Drainage Area Map vi
Sect i ons
I. Introduction 1
II. Conclusions 1
III. Lake Characteristics 3
IV. Lake Water Quality Summary 4
V. Literature Reviewed 7
VI. Appendix 8
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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.
OBJECT IV ES
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 [ lO6 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 Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources. This report relates only to the
data obtained from lake sampling.
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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 Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources for professional involvement and to the
Wisconsin National Guard for conducting the tributary sampling
phase of the Survey.
Francis H. Schraufnagel, Acting Assistant Director, and Joseph
R. Ball of the Bureau of Water Quality, and Donald R. Winter, Lake
Rehabilitation Program, provided invaluable lake documentation and
counsel during the Survey. Central Office and District Office per-
sonnel of the Department of Natural Resources reviewed the prelim-
inary reports and provided critiques most useful in the preparation
of this Working Paper series.
Major General James J. Lison, Jr., the Adjutant General of
Wisconsin, and Project Officer CW-4 Donald D. Erickson, who directed
the volunteer efforts of the Wisconsin National Guardsmen, are also
gratefully acknowledged for their assistance to the Survey.
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iv
NATIONAL EUTROPHICATION SURVEY
STUDY LAKES
STATE OF WISCONSIN
LAKE NAME COUNTY
Altoona Eau Claire
Beaver Dam Barron
Beaver Dam Dodge
Big Eau Pleine Marathon
Browns Racine
Butte des Morts Winnebago
Butternut Price, Ashland
Castle Rock Flowage Juneau
Como Walworth
Crystal Vilas
Delavan Walworth
Eau Claire Eau Claire
Geneva Walworth
Grand Green Lake
Green Green Lake
Kegonsa Dane
Koshkonong Jefferson, Rock, Dane
Lac La Belle Waukesha
Middle Walworth
Nagawicka Waukesha
Oconomowoc Waukesha
Okauchee Waukesha
Petenwell Flowage Juneau
Pewaukee Waukesha
Pigeon Waupaca
Pine Waukesha
Poygan Winnebago, Waushara
Rock Jefferson
Rome Pond Jefferson, Waukesha
Round Waupaca
Shawano Shawano
Sinnissippi Dodge
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V
LAKE NAME COUNTY
Swan Columbia
Tainter Dunn
Tichigan Racine
Townline Oneida
Trout Vilas
Wapogassett Polk
Wausau Marathon
Willow Oneida
Winnebago Winnebago, Fond Du Lac,
Cal umet
Wisconsin Columbia
Wissota Chippewa
Yellow Burnett
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Little John
John Ji:
Løke
L2
CRYSTAL LAKE
Lake Sampling Site
TA L
x 01
Map Location
0
8936’30”
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CRYSTAL LAKE
STORET NO. 5571
I. INTRODUCTION
Crystal Lake was included in the National Eutrophication Survey as a
water body of interest to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
No wastewater treatment plants impact the lake, and there are no well-
defined tributaries. Therefore, this report only relates to the lake
sampling data.
II. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data and reports of others (Black, et al., 1963;
Lueschow, et al., 1970) indicate Crystal Lake is oligotrophic.
Of the 46 Wisconsin lakes sampled, none had less mean total
phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, inorganic nitrogen, and
chlorophyll a; and none of the lakes had greater mean Secchi
disc transparency. Though Survey phosphorus concentrations
were lower than the range of values found by the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (Schraufnagel, 1973; Lueschow,
et al., 1970), Crystal Lake “...has a history of scientific
study as an example of extreme infertility” (Black, et al.,
1963).
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B. Rate-Limiting Nutrient:
A loss of 72% of the inorganic nitrogen occurred in the
algal assay sample between the time of collection and the
beginning of the assay, and the results are not representative
of conditions in the lake at the time the sample was taken
(11/04/72).
The lake data indicate phosphorus limitation at all samp-
ling times; the N/P ratios were 14/1 or greater and phosphorus
limitation would be expected.
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III. LAKE CHARACTERISTICS
A. Morphometry*:
1. Surface area: 90 acres.
2. Mean depth: 27.0 feet.
3. Maximum depth: 69 feet.
4. Volume: 2,432 acre-feet.
B. Precipitation**:
1. Year of sampling: 43.3 inches.
2. Mean annual: 31.3 inches.
*Ball, 1973.
** See Working Paper No. 1, "Survey Methods, 1972".
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IV. LAKE WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Crystal 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 a
number of depths at a single station on the lake (See map, page vi).
During each visit, a single depth—integrated (15 feet to surface)
sample was collected for phytoplankton identification and enumeration,
and a similar sample was collected for chlorophyll a analysis. During
the last visit, a single five-gallon depth-integrated sample was taken
for algal assays. The maximum depth sampled was 70 feet.
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 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 A.
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A. Physical and chemical characteristics:
FALL VALUES
(11/04/ 72)
Parameter Minimum Mean Median Maximum
Temperature (Cent.) 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4
Dissolved oxygen (mg/i) 10.6 10.7 10.7 11.0
Conductivity (iimhos) <50 <50 <50 <50
pH (units) 6.2 6.4 6.4 6.6
Alkalinity (mg/i) <10 <10 <10 <10
Total P (mg/i) 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.008
Dissolved P (mg/i) 0.004 0.005 0.005 0.006
NO 2 + N0 (mg/i) 0.020 0.021 0.020 0.030
Ammonia ‘(mg/l) 0.040 0.047 0.050 0.060
ALL VALUES
Secchi disc (inches) 264 316 324 360
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B. Biological characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampling Dominant Number
Date Genera per ml
06/25/72 1. Schroederia 392
2. Dinobryon 54
3. Navicula 39
4. Flagellates 27
5. Cryptomonas 27
Other genera 112
Total 651
08/23/72 1. Kirchneriella 1,294
2. Chroococcus 398
3. Flagellates 239
4. Raphidiopsis 202
5. Merismopedia 181
Other genera 267
Total 2,581
11/04/72 1. Dinobryon 297
2. Microcystis 169
3. Schroederia 46
4. Cryptomonas 22
Other genera 100
Total 634
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 ( ug/l )
06/25/72 01 0.7
08/23/72 01 1.2
11/04/72 01 2.6
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V. LITERATURE REVIEWED
Ball, Joseph R., 1973. Personal communication (lake morphometry).
WI Dept. Nat. Resources, Madison.
Black, John J., Lloyd M. Andrews, and C. W. Threinen, 1963. Surface
water resources of Vilas County. WI Cons. Dept., Madison.
Lueschow, Lloyd A., James M. Helm, Donald R. Winter, and Gary W.
Karl; 1970. Trophic nature of selected Wisconsin lakes. Trans.
Wisc. Acad. Sci., Arts & Ltrs., vol. 58, pp. 237-264.
Schraufnagel, Francis H., 1973. Personal communication (review of
preliminary report on Crystal Lake). WI Dept. Nat. Resources,
Madison.
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VI. Appendix
APPENDIX A
PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL DATA
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STORET RETRIEVAL DATE 74/09/30
557101
46 00 00.0 089 36 30.0
CRYSTAL LAKE
55 WISCONSIN
L1EPALES 2111202
5 0075 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 PI4OS-TOT PHOS—DIS
FROM OF TEMP SECCHI FIELD CACO3 N—TOTAL TOTAL
TO DAY FEET CENT MG/L INCHES MICROMMO SU MG/L MG/L MG/L UGIL P MOlt. P
72/06/25 14 20 0000 17.0 9.2 360 50K 6.90 10K 0.040 0.040 0.005 0.005
14 20 0015 17.0 6.1 50K 7.30 lOX 0.030 0.040 0.005 0.004
14 20 0025 17.0 6.2 50K 7.50 lOX 0.030 0.050 0.006 0.008
- 14 20 0070 7.0 11.0 10K 0.050 0.060 0.013 0.008
72/OA/23 11 35 0000 324 50K 6.30 lOX 0.040 0.050 0.007 0.007
II 35 0004 20.9 8.6 50K 6.20 10K 0.030 0.040 0.008 0.004
11 35 0015 20.8 9.1 50K 6.40 10K 0.030 0.060 0.007 0.007
II 35 0022 20.3 10.1 50K 6.30 10K 0.030 0.060 0.006 0.004
1) 35 0032 16.4 12.5 50K 6.40 10K 0.020 0.050 0.006 0.005
11 35 11.8 12.0 50K 6.00 10K 0.020 0.050 0.007 0.004
11 35 0C52 . 9.8 9.1 50K 5.10 10K 0.020 0.070 0.008 0.005
II 35 0O ,.’ 9.4 7.3 50K 5.55 10K 0.030 0.120 0.012 0.004
72/11/04 12 45 o OO 264 50K 6.50 10K 0.020 0.050 0.007 0.005
1? 45 0C.O •.4 11.0 50K 6.20 10K 0.020 0.040 0.006 0.004
12 45 0 ’ .4 10.8 50K 6.40 10K 0.020 0.040 0.007 0.005
I 45 o.4 10.8 50K 6.50 10K 0.020 0.050 0.008 0.005
12 45 0O 6.4 10.7 50K 6.40 10K 0.020 0.050 0.008 0.005
12 45 0O 6.4 10.7 50K 6.60 10K 0.020 0.060 0.007 0.006
12 45 0049 6.4 10.6 50K 6.60 10K 0.020 0.050 0.007 0.006
12 45 (359 6.4 10.6 SOX 6.20 10K 0.030 0.060 0.007 0.006
32217
DATE TIME DEPTH CHLRPHYL
FROM OF A
TO DAY FEET UG/L
72/06/25 14 20 0000 0.7J
77/08/23 II 35 0000 I.2J
72/11/04 12 45 0000 2.AJ
c VALUE “JOw4N 10 t LESS
T-1\N P0IC TE)
J V LU cNuw’J ) I
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