VLAWMO Annual Financial Report 2007

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VLAWMO would like to thank the volunteers for their vital role in the Citizens Lake Monitoring Program. The volunteers for 2007 were: Ron Auger (Birch Lake), Gretchen Artig-Swomley (Gem Lake), Jim and Sue Fox (Gilfillan Lake), Del Kuhlenkamp (Gilfillan Pond), Richard Hafdahl (Goose Lake East), Bernie Napolski (Goose Lake West), Shannon Stewart (Tamarack Lake), and Doug Fienfield (Wilkinson Lake). VLAWMO would also like to acknowledgement and thank the following agencies for their assistance with assuring the quality of water within the watershed: St. Paul Regional Water Service, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department ofNatural Resources, Ramsey County Limnology Lab. Definitions & Abbreviations Ammonia (NH3) — an inorganic form of nitrogen that is contained in fertilizers, septic system effluent, and animal wastes. It is also a product of bacterial decomposition of organic matter. NH3 becomes a concern if high levels of the un-ionized form are present. In this form NH3 can be toxic to aquatic organisms. The presence of un-ionized ammonia is a function of the NH3 concentration, pH, and temperature. Conversion of NH3 to NO2 by nitrification requires large quantities of oxygen which can kill aquatic organisms due to the lowered dissolved oxygen concentrations in water. Chlorophyll -a (Chl A) - Chl A is a green pigment in algae. Measuring Chl A concentration gives an indication of how abundant algae are in a waterbody. Colony Forming Units (CFU) — unit used in measuring the level of E. coli in a water sample. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - The concentration of molecular oxygen (02) dissolved in water. The DO level represents one of the most important measurements of water quality and is a critical indicator of a water body's ability to support healthy ecosystems. Levels above 5 mg/L are considered optimal, and most fish cannot survive for prolonged periods at levels below 3 mg/L. Microbial communities in water use oxygen to breakdown organic materials, such as manure, sewage and decomposing algae. Low levels of dissolved oxygen can be a sign that too much organic material is in a water body. Eutrophic — a water body that is high in nutrients and low oxygen content. A eutrophic lake is usually shallow, green, with limited oxygen in the bottom layer of water. Eutrophication — The aging process by which lakes are fertilized with nutrients. Natural eutrophication will gradually change the character of a lake. Human activities can accelerate the process. Hypereutrophic — A very nutrient -rich lake with murky water, frequent algal blooms and fish kills, foul odor, and rough fish Impaired Waters — The Clean Water Act requires states to publish, every two years, a list of streams and lakes that are not meeting their designated uses because of excess pollutants. The list, known as the 303(d) list, is based on violations of water quality standards. Mesotrophic — the classification between eutrophic and oligotrophic lakes. These lakes have moderately clear water, late -summer algal blooms, moderate macrophyte populations, and occasional fish kills.