Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

An Environmental Assessment Of Little Black Lake, Alan D. Steinman, Mary Ogdahl, Carl Ruetz

Scientific Technical Reports

A limnological survey was conducted of Little Black Lake and its tributaries during summer 2007 by researchers at the Annis Water Resources Institute of Grand Valley State University. Water quality, sediment composition, and phytoplankton, macrophyte, and fish abundance and composition were analyzed. In general, the water quality of both the inflows to, and Little Black Lake itself, was good. Nutrient concentrations occasionally exceeded existing guidelines, but no systemic problems were detected. Phosphorus concentrations did increase during stormflow conditions, but this is typical and concentrations were not considered excessive. One site in the lake had very high sediment phosphorus concentrations. Because …

Internal Phosphorus Loading In Spring Lake: Year 2, Dr. Alan Steinman, Dr. Rick Rediske, Mrs. Lori Nemeth

Scientific Technical Reports

Experimental and desktop studies were conducted during 2004 to better understand the factors affecting internal phosphorus (P) loading in Spring Lake, Michigan. A prior study in 2003 resulted in estimates that between 55 and 65% of the total phosphorus entering the water column of Spring Lake, on an annual basis, originated via internal loading from the sediments. The results from the current study indicated the following:

Phosphorus release rates were no different at alum concentrations of ≥ 15 mg alum/L compared to 24 mg/L. However, the higher alum concentration is likely to provide greater spatial coverage over the sediments in …

Internal Phosphorus Loading In Spring Lake: Year 1, Dr. Alan Steinman, Dr. Rick Rediske

Scientific Technical Reports

The rate of phosphorus release from sediments, and the degree to which alum reduces phosphorus release from sediments, was investigated in Spring Lake during the summer of 2003. Triplicate cores were sampled from 4 sites in the lake, and exposed to one of four treatments in the laboratory: 1) oxygen/alum; 2) oxygen/ no alum; 3) nitrogen/alum; or 4) nitrogen/no alum. Both soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total phosphorus (TP) release rates were virtually undetectable in the alum treatments (both with and without oxygen). Low, but detectable, release rates were measured in the oxygen/no alum treatment. The highest release rates were …

Preliminary Watershed Assessment: Mona Lake Watershed, Alan Steinman, Rick Rediske, Xuefeng Chu, Rod Denning, Lori Nemeth, Don Uzarski, Bopi Biddanda, Mark Luttenton

Scientific Technical Reports

The Mona Lake watershed, located in Muskegon and Newaygo Counties in west Michigan, is relatively small in area (~ 200 km2 or 48,000 acres), but faces a large number of environmental challenges. An ecological assessment of the watershed was conducted to provide a new baseline of information, in the hope that this effort would catalyze actions to improve the health of the watershed.

White River Watershed Preliminary Habitat Assessment, Richard Rediske, Matt Cooper, Don Uzarski, Rod Denning, Dr. Thomas M. Burton

Scientific Technical Reports

In this project, a preliminary assessment of habitats in the White River watershed was conducted. Land cover and land use were evaluated using available remote sensing data to provide an assessment of current conditions and an analysis of significant change over a 20 year period (1978 to 1992/1997/1998). Investigations of water and habitat quality were also conducted in White Lake, the drowned rivermouth wetland, and selected streams and wetlands in the tributaries and branches of the White River. The report includes significant findings and recommendations.

Preliminary Investigation Of The Extent Of Sediment Contamination In The Lower Grand River, Richard Rediske, Carissa Bertin, Jessica Blunt, Min Qi

Scientific Technical Reports

A preliminary investigation of the nature and extent of sediment contamination in the lower Grand River was performed. Three areas in the lower Grand River exceeded sediment quality guidelines for heavy metals and selected organic chemicals. The locations and parameters of concern are listed below:

Harbor Island (G20). Exceeds sediment PEL values for chromium, lead, nickel, and DDE in the top core section. Deeper core sections were extensively contaminated with heavy metals.

Spring Lake (G6). Exceeds sediment PEL values for chromium, lead, cadmium, nickel, and DDE.

Grand Haven (G12). Exceeds sediment PEL values for chromium and nickel. The sediments at …