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 …

An Analysis Of Internal Phosphorus Loading In White Lake, Alan Steinman, Mary Ogdahl

Scientific Technical Reports

An analysis of internal phosphorus loading in White Lake, MI was conducted during the summer, 2006. Sediment cores were removed from 4 sites in White Lake and incubated in the laboratory under aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. Phosphorus flux from the sediments into the overlaying water column was measured over a 27-day period and compared to rates measured from sediment cores collected previously from Mona and Spring Lakes.

Internal phosphorus loading in White Lake sediments ranged from 1.55 to 7.78 mg TP/m2/d in anaerobic conditions and from -0.18 to 0.14 mg/m2/d in aerobic conditions. The negative value …

Internal Phosphorus Loading In Spring Lake Eight Months Following An Alum Treatment, Alan Steinman, Mary Ogdahl

Scientific Technical Reports

An analysis of internal phosphorus loading in Spring Lake, MI was conducted during August 2006, eight months following an alum treatment. Sediment cores were removed from 4 sites (that had been sampled previously in 2003 and 2004) and incubated in the laboratory under aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. Phosphorus flux from the sediments into the overlaying water column were measured over a 22-day period and compared to rates measured from sediment cores collected previously from these sites. Field measurements showed reduced soluble reactive and total phosphorus concentrations the summer following the alum application, but chlorophyll and irradiance …

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.

Mona Lake Watershed Resource Atlas, Annis Water Resources Institute

Scientific Technical Reports

Contains:

Mona Lake Watershed Reference Map

Transportation Map

Political Units Map

HydrographyMap

Subbasins Map

Aerial Photography Mosaic – Mona Lake Watershed Map

Total Property Tax Base Map

Digital Elevation Model Map

Land Use/Cover Type Definitions

Land Use and Cover Map - 1978

Land Use and Cover Map - 1997

Land Use and Cover Change Analysis

Percent Impervious by Subbasin Map

Wetlands Map

Presettlement Landscape Map

Population Density Map

Trout Streams and Lakes Map

Water Sources of Mona Lake Map

Groundwater Stream Base Flow Map

Natural Runoff Potential Map

Sheet and Rill Erosion Potential Map

Total Phosphorus Concentration Map

Bacterial Contamination …

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 …

Agricultural Water Quality Index Field Handout, Jeffrey Cooper, Richard Rediske, Melvin Northup, Mark Thogerson, Jonathan Van Denend

Scientific Technical Reports

The Agricultural Water Quality Index (AWQI) is an assessment tool designed for use in agroecosystems. Most existing environmental indices and assessment tools focus on the stream channel and/or riparian zone (the area between the channel and active land use). In contrast, the AWQI places an emphasis on land use and soil types that play a significant role in hydrologic cycles and water quality characteristics within the watershed.

The AWQI is designed to be used by agricultural technicians with limited experience in aquatic ecology; however, it does assume a reasonable background in soil characteristics. This index is intended for use during …

Agricultural Water Quality Index, Jeffrey Cooper, Richard Rediske, Melvin Northup, Mark Thogerson, Jonathan Van Denend

Scientific Technical Reports

The primary purpose of the Agricultural Water Quality Index (AWQI) is to provide the agricultural community with a practical technical method for conducting cost-effective water quality assessments of rivers and streams in agroecosystems. The protocols presented have been derived from extensive literature review and the results of field research in agroecosystems performed during the summer of 1997 by the authors of this index. This assessment tool is not intended to replace those already in use by state agencies or to be used without regional modifications.

Preliminary Investigation Of The Extent And Effects Of Sediment Contamination In White Lake Near Whitehall Leather Tannery, Richard Rediske, Gary Fahnenstiel, Tom Nalepa, Peter Meier, Claire Schelske

Scientific Technical Reports

By using a combination of chemistry, toxicological evaluation, ecological analysis, and radiodating, this investigation has defined the ecological effects and the nature and extent of sediment contamination in the Tannery Bay area of eastern White Lake. The sediments in Tannery Bay represent a source of chromium transport for most of the eastern basin of White Lake. The recent deposition of chromium contaminated sediments exceeding 500 mg/kg in down gradient locations shows that export processes are responsible for the movement of this material from Tannery Bay. Arsenic and mercury appear to be less mobile and are retained in the sediments of …