State of the Lakes 2012 Im Richard Litts Wheres Jason? Agenda BRIEF - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

State of the Lakes 2012

I’m Richard Litts

Where’s Jason?

Agenda

• BRIEF LAKE FACTS
• SCIENCE LESSON
• NUTRIENT MONITORING
• STORM CHASING & SEDIMENTATION
• SEPTIC TANK ISSUES
• ALGAE /TOXIN MONITORING
• WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

Watershed 98 Sq Miles, 10 lakes South Tenmile North Tenmile Area (acres) 1129 830 Shoreline (miles) 23.2 19.8 Depth max(ft) Depth avg.(ft) 27 14.8 27 16.4

Land Use Agriculture/range Aviation Industrial forest Landing strip Mixed federal Mixed ag/range/small wood lot Mixed rural res/small wood lot Federal park Private park Recreational residencial Rural residencial Small wood lot State (forested) State industrial forest State park State prison Unknown forested Urban growth boundary County park Lakes

2 4 Miles

N

Land Use

Tenmile Lakes Watershed

Invasive Species

Algae Blooms

Agenda

• BRIEF LAKE FACTS
• SCIENCE LESSON
• NUTRIENT MONITORING
• STORM CHASING & SEDIMENTATION
• SEPTIC TANK ISSUES
• ALGAE /TOXIN MONITORING
• WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

Start with a Quick Science Lesson…

Three Main Concerns:

Septic System

Phosphorus attaches to dirt

Sediments in Our Lake

Fertilizer

Nitrogen + Phosphorus = “Nutrients”

When in high concentrations in

• ur lake, it

fertilizes the algae and causes algae blooms.

Why are we so interested in Nitrogen & Phosphorus?

Agenda

• BRIEF LAKE FACTS
• SCIENCE LESSON
• NUTRIENT MONITORING
• STORM CHASING & SEDIMENTATION
• SEPTIC TANK ISSUES
• ALGAE /TOXIN MONITORING
• WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

Storm Chasing is a winter water sampling project that allows us to measure the impact that storms have in flushing the watershed and transporting Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sediment from the forest and Ag lands of the watershed into the lake.

Storm Sampling Equipment

Takes water samples once every 4 hours for 4 days during large storms

Sediment = Phosphorus = Fertilizer

Three New Storm Chasing Sites for 2012

Johnson #1 Elliott Forest Boundary

Improved AG land

Johnson #2 Johnson #3

Unimproved AG land

Templeton Arm South Lake ~1.4 miles downstream from J3

Johnson Creek Sampling Sites

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) (Sediment) Results from Johnson Creek

Baseline Non-storm related winter flow

(Forest) (Improved Ag) (UN-Improved Ag)

Storm Results from Johnson Creek

Storm total rainfall 4.07 inches (Forest) (Improved AG) (Unimproved AG)

Storm Results from All 5 Sites

SEDIMENTATION

Remember: Sediment = Phosphorus

Secchi Depth to measure water clarity

Sedimentation Differences

Big Creek Arm

Murphy Creek Delta (Carlson Arm)

Secchi depth 1.5ft Secchi depth 11.5ft

Both photos taken March 22, 2012

Delta Building is also caused by sediments from upstream

Big Cr Delta Murphy Cr Delta (Carlson Arm)

Big Cr Arm Sedimentation

Coleman Arm Delta (Benson Cr)

2008 2011

Sediment accumulations of up to 22 inches deep

Johnson Cr Delta Building

(Templeton Arm)

2011

Survey marker cap on surface

Run off from forests and Ag land is the primary cause of the winter spikes in N and P.

Eutrophication

Summer Recreation

When You’re fertilizing the lawn, remember… You’re not just fertilizing the lawn

Vacation Home Use

Agenda

• BRIEF LAKE FACTS
• SCIENCE LESSON
• NUTRIENT MONITORING
• STORM CHASING & SEDIMENTATION
• SEPTIC TANK ISSUES
• ALGAE /TOXIN MONITORING
• WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

Pre-1974 Septic System Survey

Worked with county health department to inspect 26 lakefront homes in 2006 and 2007.

Results of Tenmile Lakes Septic Survey

20% 2% 2% 9% 34% 33%

Apparent properly functioning systems. Sites with untreated gray water discharge. System failures with evidence of sewage discharge into lake or ground water. Bottomless tanks identified. Systems in need of repair (not including gray water). Owners with systems in need of repair.

Pre-1974 Septic Systems

There is no such law that allows “No Septic Grandfathered In ” All properties are required to have properly functioning septic systems. New law next year that requires septic systems to be inspected at the time of a sale or title transfer.

How Bad is it and What are the Consequences?

EPA Limit 190 EPA Limit 7.1

Tenmile Nutrient Summary Parameter USEPA NO2-+NO3- 20 (ug/L) TN 190 (ug/L) TP 7.1 (ug/L) Chlorophyll a 2.3 (ug/L) Tenmile Lakes (5.5yr avg.) 320-510 (ug/L) 785-1091 (ug/L) 36-44 (ug/L) 7-18 (ug/L)

Agenda

• BRIEF LAKE FACTS
• SCIENCE LESSON
• NUTRIENT MONITORING
• STORM CHASING & SEDIMENTATION
• SEPTIC TANK ISSUES
• ALGAE /TOXIN MONITORING
• WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

Algae Sampling Program

Algae Bloom Summer 2011 2012

Tenmile Canal Station Carlson 1

Station “Z”

Previous Years

Micrographs from Tenmile Lake Asterionella Dinobryon, Staurastrum, & Melosira Fragilaria Anabaena

2011 Health Advisories

Oregon Lakes Issuing Health Advisories in 2011

New Protocols For Determining Lake Advisories

• Guidelines will be based on toxin levels instead of

cell counts

• Better protection of public health because toxin levels

are the actual risk factor

• Probably result in fewer advisories of shorter duration

Toxin Alert Levels

1ug/L – Drinking water advisory Recreational Advisories

Pet Toxin Guidelines

2011 Potentially Toxic Algae Summary

 1ug/L – Drinking water advisory  8ug/L – Recreational advisory

1ug/L – Drinking water advisory 8ug/L – Recreational advisory How did 2011 compare to previous years?

Current Toxin Report for 2012

New ELISA Toxin Lab

Set up in conjunction with the Forest Service and South Slough Lab

Faster Results Less Cost

Subscribe to OHA’s email advisories

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ ORDHS/subscriber/new?topic_id=ORDHS_139 (You’ll be alerted to ALL lake advisories)

Check out our Website for the latest information

Oregon Health Division

Drinking water treatment guidance

• 1. Treatment systems should consist of sand filtration followed by chlorination, followed by

activated charcoal filtration. It is essential that sand filtration be done before disinfection to remove as many algal cells as possible without killing or rupturing them.

• 2. Chlorination systems should be capable of maintaining at least 1 ppm of chlorine residual

for at least 20 minutes contact time before the water enters the activated charcoal system.

• 3. The final step in the process should be effective activated charcoal treatment to remove

toxin remaining after the sand filtration and disinfection processes.

• 4. All treatment equipment used should meet NSF standard 53, and should be adequately

sized to treat the maximum amount of water that you use. Treatment equipment needs regular monitoring and servicing to assure that it functions properly.

• 5. Ideally all water entering your home should be treated as recommended. It is possible to

treat only water used in the kitchen, but this increases chances that animals or pets would inadvertently drink untreated water. As more monitoring is done and toxin levels are measured this advisory may be altered. The advisory is to remain in effect until specifically changed or lifted by county and state health

• fficials.

Contact Person: Laura Boswell (971) 673-0440

Alterative water sources

Agenda

• BRIEF LAKE FACTS
• SCIENCE LESSON
• NUTRIENT MONITORING
• STORM CHASING & SEDIMENTATION
• SEPTIC TANK ISSUES
• ALGAE /TOXIN MONITORING
• WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

Watershed Projects

• Fencing
• Bank Stabilization
• Bridges
• Riparian Zones
• Chlorine Monitoring
• Invasive Species Monitoring

Fencing

Bank Stabilization

Big Creek Johnson Cr Erosion Mating

Bridges

Monson #1 Before and After Monson #2 Before and After

Riparian Zones

(Land areas bordering streams or lakes)

Plum Gulch Riparian Planting 1999 and 2012

A special Thanks to the STEP volunteers and private landowners that helped make these projects possible.

Invasive Species Monitoring

What we hope to never see…

Zebra and Quagga mussels

• r the New Zealand Mud Snail

Once these species are established, it is nearly impossible to get rid of them.

Boat Spray-off Station

• Construction will start this Fall
• Located at the Tenmile Lakes County Park and

boat launch in Lakeside

• 1st in Oregon
• 2 lanes will accommodate both incoming and out

going boat washes at the same time

• No charge to the public
• Power washer dislodges any attached species
• New law will make it illegal to flush boat motors

in lake. $129 fine.

Spray-off Station Design

E n t e r

Aquatic Plant Invaders

Egeria densa

Parrot Feather Non-native Water Lily (White Flower)

Clear Invasive Species From Around Your House Or On Your Road Too

Canal Dredging

What YOU can do to help…

 Join Tenmile Lakefront Owners Association (TLOA)

and be an active and helpful member. Recruit your

• neighbors. We need to do this together. There is

power in numbers.

 Inspect your septic system every 5 years and make

any necessary repairs

 Encourage your neighbors to do the same. Help

them to understand why it’s important. (Nutrients cause algae blooms & help the lake weeds to grow faster, and sewage pollutes the water with bacteria.)

What You can do to help…

 Clean up after your pet and bury waste uphill away from

lake or put in garbage can.

 Use toilets on the lake and encourage kids to do the same.

Going to the bathroom in the wrong place creates problems…

 Let your summer guests/renters know the rules.  If you own a house in town, don’t fertilize your lawn. If you

do, follow directions carefully so you don’t over-fertilize which will wash off and end up in the lake.

What You can do to help…

 Don’t pour oil or other solvents onto ground or down storm

drains - they go straight to the lake.

 Use herbicides sparingly or not at all and use natural ones.

(see handout for ideas)

State Land 12.21 ft

50 ft If you own lakefront property, the law requires you to maintain the Riparian Zone.

What You can do to help…

 No sandy beaches (It’s probably not even your

property - ODSL)

 Don’t cut down plants unless they are invasive

• species. They are your best defense against

nutrient run-off from your property.

 Don’t fertilize!  No fires or yard debris piles in the riparian zone

What You can do to help…

 If you cut the grass, bag it and get it up the hill

away from the water. (try to keep all dead plant material out of the lake; it is basically just more fertilizer.)

What You can do to help…

 Try to leave the landscaping of your whole yard

as natural as possible:

 Create a natural, woody, lake environment

with native plants instead of planting a lawn.

What You can do to help…

 Invasive Species

 Use rake to pull Egeria. Remove from water’s edge

and compost on higher ground. Pull white water lily pads & parrot feather too. Best done in late summer.

 Do a special project like pulling up all the Scotch

broom or tansy ragwort around your house or along your road.

 Use boat wash station.  Don’t flush boat motors in the lake after being on

the ocean. Many invasive species can live in both saltwater & freshwater.

A Success Story

 Lake Washington

 In 1950, an eight-inch Secchi disk was visible

from the surface of Lake Washington at a depth

• f 12 feet. By 1966, the lake had become so

polluted that the disk could not be seen more than two feet below the surface. Two years later, after Metro closed the last plant discharging into the lake, the disk was visible at a depth of nine feet, and by 1993 it could often be seen at nearly 25 feet.

Thank You

TLOA OWEB ODEQ Milo Crumrine ODFW Ringo’s Lakeside Marina PCINW Internet BLM

• Dr. Jacob Kann ODSL

Project Site Landowners Osprey Point Resort Lakeside Lions Eel/ Tenmile STEP Lakeside McKays Jeff Fletcher City of Lakeside North Lake Resort Zacch Johnson Frank Gray