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
&GPO 697.032
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REPORT
ON
MIDDLE LAKE
WALWORTH COM
WISCONSIN
EPA REGION V
WORKING PAPER No, 70
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
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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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 [ 314(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 Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources. Tributaries and nutrient sources
were not sampled, and 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
Del avan 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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MIDDLE LAKE
Lake Sampling Site
Urban Area
Location
Lauderdale
vi
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MIDDLE LAKE
STORET NO. 5569
I. INTRODUCTION
Middle 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 is concerned only with the
lake sampling data.
Middle Lake is located between Green Lake and Mill Lake in what is
known as the Lauderdale Chain; at one time the three lakes were separate,
but they now are broadly connected by shallow channels which were formed
when a ten-foot dam was constructed on the Honey Creek outlet of Mill
Lake (Poff, et al., 1969).
II. CONCLUSIONS
A. Trophic Condition:
Survey data and reports of others (Lueschow, et al., 1970;
Poff, et al., 1969) indicate Middle Lake is meso-eutrophic. Of
the 46 Wisconsin lakes sampled, one had less and one the same
mean total phosphorus, one had less and two the same mean dis-
solved phosphorus, 36 had less mean inorganic nitrogen, five had
less mean chlorophyll a, and three had greater Secchi disc trans-
parency. Dissolved oxygen was depleted at the 46—foot depth in
August, 1972.
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Middle Lake has had extensive weed—control activity
(Lueschow, et al., 1970).
B. Rate—Limiting Nutrient:
The results of the algal assays indicate Middle Lake was
phosphorus limited at the time the sample was taken (11/10/72).
The lake data indicate phosphorus limitation at the other
sampling times as well.
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III. LAKE CHARACTERISTICS
A. Lake Morphometry*:
1. Surface area: 259 acres.
2. Mean depth: 10.4 feet.
3. Maximum depth: 42 feet.
4. Volume: 2,701 acre-feet.
B. Precipitation**:
1. Year of sampling: 38.7 inches,
2. Mean annual: 30.7 inches.
* McElwie, 1972.
** See Working Paper No. 1, "Survey Methods, 1972".
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IV. LAKE WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
Middle 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 taken for chlorophyll a analysis. During the
last visit, a single five-gallon depth—integrated sample was collected
for algal assays. The maximum depth sampled was 46 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
(11/10/72)
Parameter Minimum Mean Median Maximum
Temperature (Cent.) 7.1 7.4 7.5 7.5
Dissolved oxygen (mg/i) 8.8 8.9 8.9 9.1
Conductivity ( i.mhos) 420 422 420 430
pH (units) 7.8 7.9 8.0 8.0
Alkalinity (mg/i) 191 195 195 199
Total P (mg/i) 0.011 0.012 0.013 0.014
Dissolved P (mg/i) 0.007 0.008 0.008 0.009
NO 2 + NO 3 (mg/i) 0.170 0.180 0.170 0.210
Ammonia rng/l) 0.290 0.307 0.310 0.320
ALL VALUES
Secchi disc (inches) 84 141 136 204
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B. Biological characteristics:
1. Phytoplankton -
Sampling Dominant Number
Date Genera per ml
06/22/72 1. Fragilaria 658
2. Oocystis 232
3. Gloeocapsa 188
4. Chroococcus 138
5. Achnanthes 130
Other genera 297
Total 1 ,643
08/19/72 1 . Chroococcus 2,278
2. Aphanothece 995
3. Flagellates 235
4. Dinobryon 181
5. Microcystis 54
Other genera 235
Total 3,978
11/10/72 1. Dinobryon 170
2. Microcystis 141
3. Flagellates 126
4. Asterionella 119
5. Fragilaria 61
Other genera 273
Total 890
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/l )
06/22/72 01 4.9
08/19/72 01 4.1
11/10/72 01 5.2
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Spike (ma/fl
Control
0.006
0.012
0.024
0.060
0.060
10.0 N
Filtered and
Maximum yield
( mg/i-dry wt. )
0.2
0.6
2.9
7.7
10.7
27.2
0.2
2.
C. Limiting Nutrient Study:
1. Autoclaved, filtered, and nutrient spiked -
Ortho P Inorganic N
___________ Conc. (mg/i) Conc. (mg/i )
0.007 0.416
P 0.013 0.416
P 0.019 0.416
P 0.031 0.416
P 0.067 0.416
P + 10.0 N 0.067 10.416
0.007 10.416
nutrient spiked -
Ortho P
___________ Conc. (ma/fl ___________
0.006
0.016
0.026
0.056
0.031
0.056
0.006
Inorganic N Maximum yield
Spike (mg/i ) —_________ Conc. (mg/i) ( mg/i-dry wt. )
Control 0.426 0.1
0.010 P 0.426 1.3
0.020 P 0.426 4.4
0.050 P 0.426 10.3
0.250 P + 0.5 N 0.926 5.6
0.050 P + 1.0 N 1.426 12.7
1.0 N 1.426 0.1
3. Discussion —
The control yield of the test alga, Selenastrum capri-
cornutum , in the autoclaved-filtered assay indicates the
potential primary productivity of Middle Lake was relatively
low at the time the sample was collected (11/10/72). Also,
the results of both assays indicate the lake was phosphorus
limited at that time. In each assay, yields increased with
increased levels of orthophosphorus, but no yield response
resulted when only nitrogen was added.
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The lake data indicate phosphorus limitation at the
other sampling times as well; i.e., mean N/P ratios were
greater than 40/1, and phosphorus limitation would be
expected.
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V. LITERATURE REVIEWED
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.
McElwie, William D., 1972. Personal communication (excerpts from
“A comprehensive plan for the Fox River watershed”). SE Wisc.
Reg. Planning Comm., Waukesha.
Poff, Ronald J., and C. W. Threinen, 1961. Surface water resources
of Walworth County. WI Cons. Dept., Madison.
Poff, Ronald, C. W. Threinen, Donald Mraz, Ronald Peining, Michael
Desparte, Brian Belonger, Wilbur Byam, Warren Churchill, and
D. John O’Donnell; 1969. The Lauderdale lakes, Walworth County;
an inventory with planning recommendations. 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
556901
42 46 30.0 088 34 00.0
MIDDLE LAKE
55 WISCONSIN
1IEPALES 2111202
5 0042 FEET DEPTH
00010 00300 00077 00094 00400 00410 00630 00610 00665 00666
DATE TIME DEPTH WATER DO TRANSP CNDUCTVY PH 1 ALK 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 SI) MG/I MG/L MG/L MG/L P MG/L P
72/06/22 16 40 oooo 21.8 9.8 84 335 8.60 188 0.060 0.090 0.011 0.009
16 40 0020 11.9 12.6 355 8.40 204 0.260 0.000 0.0 10 0.008
- 16 40 0034 6.3 6.0 410 7.60 245 0.330 0.300 0.011 0.008
72/08/19 17 50 0000 204 350 8.40 166 0.060 0.060 0.011 0.006
17 50 0004 27.2 9.1 345 8.40 166 0.060 0.070 0.010 0.006
17 50 0015 22.3 8.4 345 8.40 165 0.070 0.070 0.008 0.005
17 50 0022 16.3 10.2 380 8.00 212 0.190 0.110 0.008 0.005
17 50 0027 10.7 7.1 410 7.60 228 0.280 0.260 0.010 0.006
17 50 0035 7.9 0.8 440 7.30 240 0.200 0.620 0.012 0.006
17 50 0046 6.0 0.0 480 7.20 262 0.050 1.760 0.024 0.008
72/11/10 11 50 0000 136 430 8.00 191 0.170 0.320 0.011 0.007
11 50 0004 7.5 9.1 420 8.00 195 0.170 0.310 0.013 0.008
11 50 0015 7.5 8.9 420 8.00 193 0.170 0.310 0.013 0.009
11 50 0025 7.5 8.8 420 7.90 194 0.170 0.300 0.014 0.008
11 50 0038 7.4 8.8 420 7.80 198 0.190 0.290 0.012 0.008
11 50 0045 7.1 8.9 420 7.80 199 0.210 0.310 0.012 0.009
32217
DATE TIME DEPTH CHLRPMYL
FROM OF A
TO DAY FEET UG/L
72/06/22 16 40 0000 4.9J
72/08/19 17 50 0000 4.1J
72/11/10 11 50 0000 5.2J
3 VALUE KNOWN TO BE IN ERROR
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