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3rd Edition Written by Carolyn Rumery Betz and Patricia J. Howard Revised by Sandy Wickman and Laura Herman Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Training Manual (Secchi Disc Procedures) Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Training Manual (Secchi Disc Procedures)

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3rd EditionWritten by

Carolyn Rumery Betz and Patricia J. Howard

Revised bySandy Wickman and Laura Herman

Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring

Training Manual(Secchi Disc Procedures)

Wisconsin CitizenLake Monitoring

Training Manual(Secchi Disc Procedures)

(Formerly PUBL-WR-258 90)

The Secchi information in this manual was originally written byCarolyn Rumery Betz and Patricia J. Howard and has been revised.The Secchi information was previously released as publication numberPUBL-WR-251-90.

Mention of trade names and commercial products do not constituteendorsement of their use.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in itsemployment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If youhave any questions please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior,Washington, D.C. 20240.

This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc.)upon request. Please call Wisconsin Depart ment of Natural Resources, Bureau of ScienceServices, at 608-266-0531 for more information.

Front cover photos courtesy of Laura Herman, Robert Korth and theWisconsin Department of Natural Resources photo archives.

Back cover photos coutesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesphoto archives.

Acknowledgements The following individuals provided valuable assistance inthe development of this manual: Paul J. Anderson, RichardBetz, Paul Garrison, Doug Knauer, Richard Lathrop, RichardLillie, Dave Marshall, Celeste Moen, Neal O'Reilly, TimRasman, Dan Ryan, Bob Schucknecht, Mark Sesing, BuzzSorge, Jo Temte, Jim Vennie, Bob Wakeman, Carl Watras,Richard Wedepohl, Bob Young.

Information, review and direction has been provided by: TimAsplund, Dave Blumer, Heidi Bunk, Kay Coates, JennyDahms, Frank Fetter, Jennifer Filbert, Kevin Gauthier, SusanGraham, Martin P. A. Griffin, Maureen Janson, Deb Konkel,Michelle Lehner, Tiffiney Lyden, Charmaine Robaidek,Jay Schiefelbein, David Schmoller, Jane Swenson, ScottSzymanski, Scott Toshner, Lindsey Watch and Jennifer Wudi.

Edited by: R. Chris WelchDesigned by: Michelle E. Voss

Published by: Bureau of Science Services

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesPO Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707

2009

Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Training Manual

(Secchi Disc Procedures)

Written by Carolyn Rumery Betz and Patricia J. Howard

3rd EditionRevised by Sandy Wickman and Laura Herman

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

page ii

NNOTESNOTES

page iii

When questions arise please contact the appropriate Citizen Lake MonitoringNetwork coordinators listed below. You may also be able to find answers to yourquestions on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website athttp://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN by choosing the link for “Frequently AskedQuestions” on the left side of the page.

If you are interested in becoming a citizen lake monitoring volunteer, or havequestions about training, refresher courses, or other monitoring opportunities,please contact Laura Herman, Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Educator, at(715) 365-8998 (Rhinelander) or (715) 346-3989 (Stevens Point), or by [email protected].

For questions about the database, reporting data, awards, or annual reportsplease contact Jennifer Filbert at (608) 264-8533 or toll free at (888) 947-3282,or by email [email protected].

DOUGLAS

BAYFIELD

ASHLANDIRON

SAWYERWASHBURN

POLK

ST. CROIX

BARRON

CHIPPEWA

PEPIN

BUFFALO

MARATHON

ONIEDA

MENOMINEE

LINCOLN

OUTAGAMIE

WAUPACA

KEW

AUNE

E

MARINETTE

PORTAGE

WIN

NEBA

GO

WAUSHARA

WOOD

BROWN

BURNETT

RUSK

TAYLOR

PRICE

DUNN

PIERCE EAU CLAIRE

CLARK

SHAWANODOOR

SHEB

OYG

AN

FOND DU LAC

MAN

ITO

WO

C

CALU

MET

OZA

UKEE

WAS

HING

TON

JEFFERSON

DODGE

MIL

WAU

KEEWAUKESHA

RACINE

KENOSHA

WALWORTHROCKGREEN

IOWA

DANE

LAFAYETTE

COLUMBIA

VERNON

SAUK

GRANT

GREENLAKE

MAR

QUE

TTE

JUNEAU ADAMS

JACKSON

MONROE

LACROSSE

TREM

PEAL

EAU

RICHLAND

CRAWFORD

VILAS

FOREST FLORENCE

OCONTO

LANGLADE

SOUTH CENTRAL

WEST CENTRAL

NORTHERNREGION-WEST

NORTHEAST

SOUTHEAST

NORTHERNREGION-EAST

For questions about equipment, sampling procedures, or interpreting your waterquality data, please contact your regional coordinator. You can visit http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN for a current listing of Citizen Lake Monitoring Network coordinators or call the service center listed below and ask for your citizen monitoring network coordinator.

Location Phone NumberNorthern Region-West (715) 635-2101Northern Region-East (715) 365-8900Northeast Region (920) 662-5100West Central Region (715) 839-3700Southeast Region (414) 263-8500South Central Region (608) 275-3266

NNeed Answers to Your Questions?Need Answers to Your Questions?

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

page iv

CContentsContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

What Is Expected of Me? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2How is CLMN Data Used? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Sample Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The Citizen Lake Monitoring Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Goals of Citizen Lake Monitoring Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

What Types of Monitoring Can I Participate In?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Secchi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Water Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Native Aquatic Plant Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Additional Opportunities: Beyond Citizen Lake Monitoring Network . . . . . 14

Factors That Affect Water Clarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Suspended Sediments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Algae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Familiar Signs of Runoff Pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Water Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Mixing and Stratification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Water Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Wind Generated Waves, Sun Position and Cloud Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Motor Boat Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

PROCEDURESecchi (Water Quality) Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

What Equipment Will You Need? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23How Do You Prepare to Sample?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Sampling Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24On Lake Procedures: How to Use the Secchi Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

page v

Taking Care of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29By Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29How to Fill Out Your Field Data Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Understanding Your Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Lake Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Lake Georegions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33What Do My Secchi Readings Mean? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34What is Trophic State? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35The Natural Aging of Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Lake Summary Report Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Water Quality Report Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Secchi Reading and Light Penetration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41How Does My Lake Compare to Others? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41What if Your Data is Better Than Average? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41What if Your Data is Worse Than Average? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Record-Keeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Keeping a “Lake Log” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Appendix 1: Secchi Collection Summary Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Appendix 2: How to Report Data Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Appendix 3: Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Secchi Datasheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Ice Observation Report – “Ice On” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Ice Observation Report – “Ice Off” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Aquatic Invasives Presence/Absence Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Additional Resources and Literature Cited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

page vi

A lake

is the landscape’s

most beautiful and

expressive feature.

It is earth’s eye;

looking into which

the beholder

measures the depth

of his own nature.

–Henry David Thoreau

A full glossary of highlightedterms is provided on page 46 of this manual.

LAKE ASSOCIATION • A voluntary organi-zation with a membership generally com-prised of those who own land on or near alake. The goals of lake associations usuallyinclude maintaining, protecting, and improv-ing the quality of a lake, its fisheries, and its watershed.

SECCHI DISC • A 20-cm (8-inch) diameterdisc painted white and black in alternatingquadrants. It is used to measure light trans-parency in lakes.

PHOSPHORUS • The major nutrient influ-encing plant and algal growth in more than80% of Wisconsin lakes. Soluble reactivephosphorus refers to the amount of phospho-rus in solution that is available to plants andalgae. Total phosphorus refers to the amountof phosphorus in solution (reactive) and inparticulate forms (non-reactive).

CHLOROPHYLL • Green pigment present inall plant life and necessary for photosynthesis.The amount of chlorophyll present in lakewater depends on the amount of algae and isused as a common indicator of water quality.

page 1

THANK YOU for joining the CitizenLake Monitoring Network (CLMN orNetwork). You are one of over a thousand citizen volunteers currently monitoring Wis -consin’s lakes. Over one million acres of Wisconsinis covered by water. Wisconsin’s 15,000 lakes contributesignificantly to the economy of individual communitiesand the state. In addition, these lakes offer diverserecreational opportunities and provide important habi-tat for fish, waterfowl, and other wildlife. The volunteermonitoring network provides an opportunity for citi-zens to take an active role in monitoring and helping tomaintain water quality. Through this volunteer net-work, you can learn about your lake and help theWisconsin Lakes Partnership gain a better understand-ing of our state’s lakes. More importantly, you can shareyour knowledge and the information you gather withyour lake association and other lake residents.

The partnering of concerned citizens and theWisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Wiscon -sin DNR) was initiated in 1986. In the Network’s firstyear, volunteers throughout the state monitored 129lakes. Since then, the Network has grown to include over1,200 volunteers monitoring more than 900 lakesstatewide! Some volunteers monitor more than one lakeand some larger lakes are monitored at more than onelocation. Many volunteers share monitoring responsibil-ities with a friend or a group of friends.

Since 1986, the partnership has grown to includevolunteers, the Wisconsin DNR, University of Wis -consin – Extension (UWEX), and Wisconsin Associationof Lakes (WAL). CLMN offers volunteers the opportu-nity to collect many types of data. The types of data youcollect will depend on what your concerns and interestsare, as well as the amount of time you wish to spendmonitoring. Secchi disc monitoring is the backbone ofCLMN and is the most common type of monitoring.Secchi volunteers collect water clarity information ontheir lakes throughout the open water season. After col-lecting Secchi data for one or more years, some volunteerschoose to get involved in other types of monitoring.Secchi volunteers may be asked by their Lakes Coor -dinator to collect chemistry data on their lake. Chemistryvolunteers collect phosphorus and chlorophyll samples

IntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

LINDA POHLOD

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

page 2

Children of a culture

born in a water-rich

environment, we have

never really learned how

important water is to us.

We understand it,

but we do not respect it.

–William Ashworth

What isWhat isExpected of Me?What isExpected of Me?

four times a year in addition to collecting Secchi data.This more extensive volunteer monitoring allowsWisconsin DNR lake managers to assess the nutrientenrichment state for their lakes. In addition, some vol-unteers also collect temperature and dissolved oxygen(DO) data for their lakes. Other types of monitoringactivities include aquatic invasive species monitoringand native aquatic plant monitoring. Ideally, all volun-teers will be able to find a level of involvement that suitstheir interests and abilities.

The partnership between the volunteer monitorsand the Wisconsin DNR has resulted in an extensivevolunteer monitoring database. Data collected by volunteers has been published in numerous reportsand is frequently used by limnologists (scientists whostudy lakes) and water resource planners for a variety ofpurposes. In addition, volunteer data is reported to theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on aregular basis.

What we need most from you is your time and yourkeen powers of observation! As a Secchi volunteer, youwill determine how the water clarity of your lake com-pares to similar lakes statewide and watch for long-term changes. The Network will provide all of theequipment that you will need to collect your data. Youmay be asked to participate in refresher sessions. Thesesessions provide an opportunity to meet other volun-teers and to ask Wisconsin DNR staff questions aboutmonitoring and lake issues as well as ensuring that allvolunteers are following CLMN monitoring protocols.

There are three things that may influence yourenjoyment when participating as a citizen volunteer: youroverall health, the type of boat you use, and whether ornot you have a sampling partner. While the samplingduties are not too physically demanding, you should be ingood overall health. A fishing-type boat or pontoon boatis ideal for sampling work and will be safer and morecomfortable than a canoe. A sampling partner will makeyour job safer, easier, and faster as one person can recorddata while the other collects samples.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN • A measure ofthe amount of oxygen gas dissolved in

water and available for use by micro -organisms and fish. Dissolved oxygen is

produced by aquatic plants and algae aspart of photosynthesis.

LAKE CLASSIFICATION • A way of plac-ing lakes into categories with manage-

ment strategies best suited to the types oflakes found in each category. For exam-ple, lakes can be classified to apply vary-

ing shoreland development standards.They can be grouped based on hydrol-

ogy, average depth, surface area, shore-line configuration, as well as, sensitivity to

pollutants and recreational use.

page 3

HOW IS CLMN DATA USED?

All citizen volunteers receive an annual data summary report for their lake as wellas periodic statewide reports. Most volunteers share this information with otherlake residents who are interested in learning more about lake water quality.Lake groups, UWEX agents, and county land conservation offices use CLMNdata to support water quality projects such as shoreland restoration, lake classi-fication, shoreland zoning, and nutrient diversion projects as well as to studylakes and aquatic invasive species. All lake data is available to the public onthe Wisconsin DNR web site http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/reportsanddata.

Local and state offices use CLMN data to answer questions they receiveregarding macrophyte and water levels, property purchases, and algalblooms. Professionals and lay people use CLMN data in newsletter articlesand in presentations to lake associations.

Fish biologists and lake managers use volunteer data to • support general lake management decisions,• support lake planning and protection grants, • craft aquatic invasive species management decisions,• determine lake health, • look at winterkill or summer anoxic conditions,• supplement statewide long-term trend data to analyze

trends and issues and climate change, and• establish “baseline” data to look at water quality changes

and trends through time.

Wisconsin DNR researchers use CLMN data to correlate water clarityand water quality with loon use of a waterbody. Some waterbodies that historically were used by loons are no longer being used – researchers willlook at CLMN data to help determine why. Researchers will also use CLMNdata to further investigate climate change.

Volunteer data is provided to other organizations, the state legis-lature, and federal, tribal, and local agencies that in turn may usethis data to help determine funding for invasive species grants and programs.Every two years, lake data are included in Wisconsin’s Biennial Water QualityReport to Congress.

Volunteer data is also used by World Monitoring Day™, an interna-tional education and outreach program that builds public awareness andinvolvement in protecting water resources around the world by engagingcitizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies.

Volunteer data is incorporated into the Secchi Dip-In. The Secchi Dip-In is a demonstration of the potential of volunteer monitors to gather envi-ronmentally important information on our lakes, rivers, and estuaries. Theconcept of the Secchi Dip-In is simple: individuals in volunteer monitoringprograms take a transparency measurement on one day during the weekssurrounding Canada Day and July Fourth. Individuals monitor lakes, reser-voirs, estuaries, rivers, and streams. These transparency values are used toassess the transparency of volunteer-monitored waterbodies in the UnitedStates and Canada.

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

page 4

Sample Schedule

A typical year of volunteer monitoring may look something like this:

FebruaryAll current volunteers will receive an annual report summa-rizing last year’s lake data. Volunteers with access to theInternet can print out their own lake summary report fromthe CLMN website. Volunteers who do not have access to theInternet will receive a paper copy of last year’s lake summaryreport in the mail. At this time, some volunteers will alsoreceive awards for their service, including awards for moni-toring milestones such as years of service or number of secchireadings taken.

MarchSpring monitoring supplies will be mailed out to volunteers.Volunteers with Internet access can print off their own datasheets and find their remote sensing schedule. The annualWisconsin Lakes Convention is held in March or April.

April Volunteers begin monitoring as soon as the ice is off thelake. Secchi volunteers continue taking readings every 10 to 14 days throughout the open water season.

MayNew volunteers are trained.

JuneInvasive Species Awareness Month.

JulySecchi readings are taken in conjunction with satellite dates.Satellite path and satellite schedule can be found athttp://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/remotesensing/. Great American Dip In(http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/dipin).

AugustSecchi readings are taken in conjunction with satellite dates.

SeptemberSecchi readings are taken in conjunction with satellite dates.

OctoberVolunteers wrap up Secchi monitoring for the season.

NovemberVolunteers ensure that all data has been submitted toWisconsin DNR staff in the Madison office. If data hasbeen entered on the Internet you do not need to submit apaper copy. If data has been called in, volunteers shouldsubmit a paper copy so that observations can be entered into the database.

DecemberVolunteers send any comments or needs (such as repair needs)to their regional coordinator.

WHAT IS THE REMOTE SENSING PROGRAM?

The University of Wisconsin (UW) has

been successful in predicting water

clarity in lakes using satellite images.

Every year the Wisconsin DNR

receives this satellite data. Different

atmospheric conditions (e.g. cloud

cover) occur in each satellite photo, so

in order to predict water clarity for all

the lakes in any given satellite image,

the UW needs volunteer Secchi data

that correspond to the lakes in each

satellite photo. As a Secchi volunteer,

the Network will send you the dates

that satellite photos will be taken of

your lake. Try to obtain Secchi read-

ings on as many of these satellite

dates as you can. Just think, on a clear

satellite date, your Secchi reading

may translate into hundreds of other

readings; almost as if you’re monitor-

ing hundreds of lakes at one time!

Find out more about remote sensing

at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/

remotesensing/.

page 5

THE CITIZEN LAKE MONITORING NETWORK PARTNERSHIP

Volunteer citizen lake monitoring is a team effort with many players including citizen volunteers, Wisconsin DNR, UWEX and WAL.

The citizen volunteer is the most important player in the lake monitoring network.You know your lake on a day-to-day basis. You know the best spots to fish and what birds visitor nest on the lake. You know when the lake freezes over, when the ice goes out, and youknow your neighbors and friends who love and use the lake. You volunteer to participatebecause of your genuine concern for the lake and your desire to learn more about it. Collectingwater quality data is a step in the right direction to gaining a better understanding of your lake.

We depend on volunteers to share the information that they learn about their lakes withtheir Lake Association, Lake District, or other residents on the lake. You have the best accessto your neighbors. Many volunteers share their lake status report every year at annual meet-ings. Your lake summary report, graphs, and narrative will help you to prepare this report.Your CLMN regional coordinator or Wisconsin DNR lakes coordinator are available to assistyou if you need help providing this information to your lake group.

Another member of the partnership is the Wisconsin DNR CLMN RegionalCoordinator and local staff.

Local staff is located in one of the Wisconsin DNR regional offices around the state. As acitizen volunteer, you may already know them or have worked with them in the past. Ifyou have any questions about your lake and your monitoring duties, these are the firstpeople you should contact to help answer your questions.

Wisconsin DNR CLMN staff located in Madison.Staff help maintain and analyze the volunteer data, keep track of awards, producereports, and logistically keep the Network running smoothly. Volunteers can enter thedata they collect online at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/clmn. Volunteers without Internetaccess can phone in their data using the “Secchi line” at (888) 947-3282.

By the conclusion of the sampling season you will receive an email or postcard remindingyou that reports about your lake are available online at the Wisconsin DNR website athttp://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/clmn. The reports summarize previous years’ data collected on yourlake. These reports include text, graphs, and pictures that help you understand how the datayou collected in the past year relates to your lake. The reports summarize previous years’data collected on your lake. In the future, web pages will be available that summarize thedata by region and from a statewide perspective. This will enable you to compare the datayou collected with data collected from other lakes in Wisconsin similar to yours.

The University of Wisconsin – Extension lakes staff in Stevens Point.The CLMN Statewide Coordinator is housed at UWEX. UWEX lakes staff ensure that trainers(Wisconsin DNR regional staff, outside agency trainers, and volunteer trainers) follow theNetwork’s protocols when volunteers are trained. This ensures statewide consistency in datacollected. UWEX staff write monitoring protocols; help to oversee the Quality Assurance/QualityControl portion of the Network; and order, build, and repair equipment for the Network.

All citizen volunteers will receive Lake Tides, a quarterly newsletter published by the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership.The newsletter can also be viewed online at http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/laketides/. Each issue ofLake Tides has several pages dedicated to topics of interest to CLMN volunteers. This news covers current devel-opments and maintains the volunteers’ connection to one another.

WAL provides a free E-lake letter. This publication has information on key lake issues, legislative activity affect-ing lakes, and upcoming lake events. The E-lake is delivered right to your email inbox! Occasional action alertskeep you informed of policy developments that may affect our lakes. To receive your free E-lake go tohttp://www.wisconsinlakes.org.

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

page 6

THE CLMN LAKE MONITORING NETWORK HAS TEN PRIMARY GOALS

1. Quality and Accessible Data. Following collection protocols will enable you to collect quality dataon your lake. Recording your Secchi disc readings and water chem-istry data carefully, regularly and according to procedures, will pro-vide valuable information about your lake. When you report yourdata to the Network, it is readily available through a database onthe Internet. The Wisconsin DNR relies on your data. Without yourhelp, very few lakes would be monitored.

2. Document Water Quality Changes Over Time. The Network’s aim is to document water quality changes over timeby summarizing the data that you collect and sharing that datawith other volunteers and organizations. This is particularly impor-tant for those lakes where little or no data exists. You will be col-lecting baseline data that cannot be captured again in the future;and that will be used for decades to come. You will be able to com-pare your lake to hundreds of others using the statewide SummaryReport. After several years of monitoring, your regional coordinatorcan work with you or your Lake Association to determine whetheror not your lake should receive more intensive monitoring or man-agement attention.

3. Educated and Informed Citizen Monitors. The Network’s goal is to help you learn more about basic limnology.By collecting, summarizing, and reviewing your data, you willincrease your understanding of your lake’s overall water quality andwill be able to share this information with your Lake Association orother lake residents. The information you collect can be used to helpmake decisions about your lake (e.g., use restrictions, watershedmanagement decisions, aquatic plant management, etc.).

4. Greater Number and Frequency of Lakes Monitored. The Wisconsin DNR relies on citizen volunteers for most of its data.In a given year, Wisconsin DNR staff can only get out to a limitednumber of lakes, and often only get to these lakes once a year oronce every five years. Your help allows many more lakes to bemonitored on a much more frequent basis.

5. Enhanced Participation in Statewide Network of Volunteer Monitors. The Network is exploring the possibility of forming a statewide net-work with other Wisconsin monitoring efforts, such as, LoonWatch,Water Action Volunteer Stream Monitoring, and others.

6. Quality Support. Support staff, located in Madison, are available to help you withdatabase or data reporting questions and questions regardingawards. Each region of the state has a regional coordinator who is in charge of training volunteers and answering questions aboutequipment and sampling procedures and can answer questionsabout annual reports.

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7. Reduced Administrative Overhead (state, community, and citizen). Volunteer help reduces the Wisconsin DNR’s operating costs andhelps streamline workflow. By having volunteers sample lakes thatneed to be monitored, the Wisconsin DNR saves time and moneyinvolved in having staff travel to those lakes in order to collect thedata. Those staff can in turn concentrate their efforts on otherlakes. It is a win-win situation. Additionally, it is the Network’s goalto keep monitoring and data reporting as simple and efficient aspossible for the citizen volunteer.

8. Engage Others in Support of the Network. The Network is supported through a partnership, not just theWisconsin DNR. The University of Wisconsin-Extension, WisconsinAssociation of Lakes, and private entities are engaged in providingsupport and services to the statewide network. Volunteers oftenserve as mentors or trainers for other volunteers.

9. Tie-in to National Lake Research and Monitoring. Data is often used for lake research. For example, volunteer datahas been used to successfully derive water clarity data on thousandsof lakes from satellite imagery. You can see the results of this effortand learn more about satellite imagery and water clarity athttp://lakesat.ssec.wisc.edu or http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/remotesensing/. Volunteers are also annual participants in the“Secchi Dip-in,” an international effort to monitor lakes. Visithttp://dipin.kent.edu online for more information.

10. Recognize and Appreciate Citizen Involvement. At the end of each monitoring season, the Network provides awardsto volunteers who have monitored for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, or vol-unteers who have taken 100 or 500 Secchi readings on their lake!

LIMNOLOGY • The study of inland lakes and waters. The study of the interactions of thebiological, chemical, and physical parameters of lakes and rivers.

WATERSHED • The area of land draining into a specific stream, river, lake or other bodyof water.

CAROL WATKINS, UW-EXTENSION, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES CENTER

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W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

WWhat Typesof MonitoringCan I Participate In?ticipate In?

What Typesof MonitoringCan I Participate In?If you have an interest in any of the following monitoring activities, pleasecontact your regional coordinator.

Secchi

Father Pietro Angelo Secchi was an astrophysicistand the scientific advisor to the Pope in Italy. Hewas asked by the head of the Papal Navy todevelop a way to measure transparency in theMediterranean Sea. Secchi used white discs tomeasure the clarity of water in the Mediterraneanin April of l865. The Secchi disc was adopted foruse by limnologists as a way to measure waterclarity and to set a numerical value to water qual-ity. Secchi discs come in various sizes and colorsand even the shape may be slightly differentdepending on use.

A Secchi depth reading is intended to give ageneral picture of your lake’s water clarity. Thesampling is easy to do and does not requiresophisticated, high-maintenance equipment nordemand a background in science, chemistry, orengineering. One Secchi reading will not tell youa great deal about your lake but Secchi disc read-ings taken over a period of time will tell a storyabout your lake – is your water clarity improving,declining, or remaining the same?

Wisconsin CLMN uses a Secchi disc that is8 inches in diameter. The Secchi disc is black andwhite and weighted with a stainless steel plate.CLMN protocols must be followed closely sothat the data that you collect can be compared toother lakes. The Secchi disc is lowered into thewater on a marked rope until it just disappearsfrom view, that point is marked with a clothespinat the water’s surface. Volunteers then lower thedisc a couple of feet further into the water. Theythen slowly raise the disc until they can see itagain. That point is also marked with a clothes-pin. The average of these two measurements is

recorded. Doing the two measurements using the“clothespin method” allows the volunteer’s eyesto acclimate to looking in the water and gives amore accurate reading. Measuring the water clar-ity or transparency of lakes over time provides a“pulse” on the health of these lakes, and is a cru-cial record for long-range planning.

Water Chemistry

After one year of water clarity monitoring, youmay be eligible to participate in water chemistrymonitoring. Chemistry volunteers, in addition tomeasuring water clarity and temperature, collectwater samples for analysis for phosphorus andchlorophyll levels four times a year. Volunteercollected samples are sent to the State Labora -tory of Hygiene (SLOH) for analysis. The infor-mation volunteers collect when monitoring bothSecchi and water chemistry is used to determinethe trophic state of the lake. Training and equip-ment for chemistry monitoring are provided by theWisconsin DNR. Secchi volunteers who have par-ticipated in the Network for at least one samplingseason and are interested in becoming a chemistryvolunteer should contact their CLMN regionalcoordinator. The number of chemistry lakes thatare added each year is limited due to the cost ofequipment and the cost of sample analysis bySLOH. Because of budget limitations lakes are pri-oritized according to the need for information.

Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen

There are times when the lakes coordinator orfish biologist will ask to have volunteers collectdissolved oxygen and temperature informationon a lake. This request is usually triggered by cer-tain conditions such as oxygen depletion, thepresence of aquatic invasive species, or presenceof cold water fish species.

Volunteers collecting dissolved oxygen andtemperature profiles usually collect the informationat three-foot intervals from the surface of the laketo the bed of the lake. A van dorn water sampler isused to bring the water from the various depths upto the surface for testing. Volunteers living on deep

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lakes may be asked to collect a profile using five or tenfoot intervals. Your collection profile will be assigned byyour regional coordinator. This sample technique helpsto explain the dynamics of your lake. The purposebehind collecting profile data is to show how water char-acteristics can change with depth. In general, volunteerscollect the dissolved oxygen and temperature profile at itsdeepest point (the deep hole).

Dissolved oxygen information is collected usingthe Winkler titration method. This method is rathertime consuming and demands great attention to detailbut if done properly gives accurate results. If warranted,a lake group may apply for a small scale grant to pur-chase a dissolved oxygen meter.

Native Aquatic Plant Monitoring

Aquatic plants are a good indicator of lake health.Over time, the type of vegetation and size of plant bedsmay change and/or move in response to changes inwater quality and human activity. Aquatic plant mon-itoring is tailored to your abilities, interest, and timecommitment and can vary from lake to lake. Some vol-unteers choose to identify and map plant beds on thelake, keeping track of beds based on whether the plantsare submergent, emergent, or floating.

Other volunteers wish to have a more compre-hensive list of the aquatic plants that are present ontheir lake. They identify, collect, and press their lake’saquatic plants and map the plants’ location. All plantscollected by volunteers are verified by Wisconsin DNRstaff and a university plant taxonomist. Familiarizingyourself as to what aquatic vegetation is present in yourlake is a great way to monitor for the presence ofaquatic invasive species.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Monitoring

Citizen volunteer monitoring protocols for all AISlisted below can be found at http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/clmn/publications.asp. New speciesmay be added in the future.

Eurasian Water-milfoil (EWM) WatchAll volunteers are encouraged to monitor their lake forEurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). EWMis an aquatic plant that is not native to the United Statesand continues to populate many lakes through out

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF WATER QUALITYAs part of your Secchi data collection,the Network is interested in your opin-ion of the lake’s water quality whenyou are sampling. Using these observa-tions, a public opinion assessment ofwater clarity can be made. This infor-mation will help determine water qual-ity standards for lakes. There is no rightor wrong answer to these questionsand your answer can change through-out the summer or in subsequent years.Specifically, citizen volunteers will beasked to note the algal content of thewater. Is there so much algae that youwant to shower after swimming? Doyou not want to go swimming? In addi-tion to the Secchi disc readings that youmeasure, the Network is concernedwith your opinion of what constitutesgood or poor water quality.

The Network predicts that the publicopinion question will reveal that peopleliving in one area of the state will havesimilar perceptions of what they con-sider to be acceptable water clarity. TheNetwork hopes to share this informationwith other states in anticipation of creat-ing a regional map of public perceptionsof water clarity.

STATE LABORATORY OF HYGIENE • Thestate of Wisconsin’s public health and envi-ronmental laboratory.

TROPHIC STATE • The extent to which theprocess of eutrophication has occurred isreflected in a lake’s trophic classification orstate. The three major trophic states are oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic.

AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) •Refers to species of plant or animal that arenot native to a particular region into whichthey have moved or invaded. Zebra musselsand Eurasian water-milfoil are examples ofAIS. Wisconsin has a law that prohibitssomeone from placing a boat in the water if aquatic plants or zebra mussels areattached to the boat.

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Wisconsin. This plant can dominate lake habitats anddisplace native species. Watching for this non-nativeplant is not difficult. It involves inspecting shorelinesand water surfaces for plant fragments and checkingplant beds throughout the lake a few times during thesummer. Early identification of this non-native plantmakes it easier to control. Volunteers interested in participating in the EWM watch receive a packet containing a laminated plant scan for identification,information on how to report findings, and instructionson when and where to look for the plant. Informationon EWM can be found at http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/milfoil.htm.

Euhrychiopsis lecontei WatchEWM is a submerged aquatic plant that is not native tothe United States. Since it is not native to Wisconsin orto the United States, it has few natural predators.

Eurychiopsis lecontei, an aquatic water-milfoil weevil,is a water-milfoil specialist native to parts of the UnitedStates, including Wisconsin. This weevil feeds solely onwater-milfoil with northern water-milfoil (Myriophyllumsibiricum) being its primary native food base. The weevilshave also been found to eat EWM.

Volunteers are trained to look for the presence ofthe milfoil weevil on their lake. This weevil study is beingconducted to obtain a better understanding of the ecol-ogy of weevil populations and what types of water-mil-foil populations are susceptible to weevil damage. Earlyresearch done by the Wisconsin Cooperative FisheryResearch Unit showed weevil populations are negativelyaffected by high water temperatures, fish predation, cal-cium carbonate deposits, some nutrients and chemicals,and a lack of natural shoreline. Information on the mil-foil weevil can be found at http://fwcb.cfans.umn.edu/research/milfoil/milfoilbc.html.

Curly-leaf Pondweed WatchIn Wisconsin, curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogetoncrispus) usually completes its life cycle by June or July. Inmost lakes, the over summering bud (turion) breaks offfrom the plant, falls to the bottom of the lake, and liessubmerged and dormant during the late summermonths. Responding to the shortening day length andcooling water temperatures, turions put out roots in latesummer or early fall. The new plant continues to groweven under the ice of winter if snow depth is not greatand there is enough sunlight coming through the ice.

Eurasian Water-milfoil

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Aquatic weevil feeding on Eurasian water-milfoil.(Photo provided with permission by Cornell University

www.forestryimages.org).

© Used with permission by University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainesville).

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Volunteers are asked to check plant beds on calm, cleardays from ice off until mid-July. If volunteers find some-thing that may be curly-leaf pondweed, they are asked tocollect a sample and bring it to their CLMN regionalcoordinator for identification. Information on curly-leafpondweed can be found at http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/curlyleaf_pondweed.htm.

Purple Loosestrife Watch Another non-native species that volunteers are encour-aged to watch for is purple loosestrife. Purple loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria) is a beautiful but aggressive plantfrom Europe that can displace native wetland vegetation.Because this non-native flowering plant is often confusedwith native wetland plants (e.g., pickerel weed andsmartweed) volunteers are provided with materials tomake identification easier. Once familiar with the plant,monitoring involves watching shorelines and wetlands inJuly, looking for the characteristic bright magenta flow-ers of purple loosestrife. If new infestations are found, areport is sent to the DNR identifying its location.

Volunteers may be asked to control small, iso-lated infestations or new pioneering plants by cutting,pulling, or chemical treatment. Larger infestationsmay require large-scale chemical or biological controlefforts. In these cases, volunteers may be recruited torear and release Galerucella spp. beetles that feed onpurple loosestrife. Reporting forms and instructionsfor monitoring and control are provided. Informationon purple loosestrife can be found at http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/loosestrife.htm.

Hydrilla WatchHydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata ) is a submerged aquaticplant native to Asia and northern Australia. Hydrilla isa prolific, rapidly growing plant that has very effectivemeans of reproduction. In areas of North Americawhere hydrilla has been introduced it has formed densecanopies that shade out native vegetation and destroyfish and wildlife habitat. The plant has a tendency tocanopy out over the surface of the water which hasdetrimental impacts on fisheries and recreation, andcreates harsh conditions for other species by raisingpH, decreasing oxygen under the canopy mats, andincreasing water temperature.

In 2007, hydrilla was discovered in a man-madepond in Marinette County, Wisconsin. It is the onlyknown occurrence of the plant in Wisconsin. Because

Purple Loosestrife

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(D. Brenner photos provided with permission by Michigan SeaGrant www.miseagrant.umich.edu).

TURION • A specialized bud which consistsof condensed leaves and stems. This structureis most often an “over-wintering” structure,but in the case of curly-leaf pondweed is an“over-summering” structure. When the appro-priate water conditions are reached, theturion will sprout a new plant.

pH • The measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Neutral solutions are defined as having a pH of 7.0. Solutions which are known as acidic have a pH lower than 7. Solutions which are known as basic have a pH greater than 7.

Hydrilla

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(Photo by Vic Ramey, University of Florida/FAS Center forAquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.)

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Quagga Mussel

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(D. Brenner and Jeff Gunderson photos provided with permis-sion by Michigan Sea Grant www.miseagrant.umich.edu).

hydrilla can be easily confused with our native elodea(Elodea canadensis and Elodea nuttalli ) it can be easilyoverlooked if not careful. We are particularly interestedin recruiting volunteers who live on lakes nearMarinette County in the event that hydrilla moved toother waterbodies by the movement of either wildlifeor humans. For more information on hydrilla checkout http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/hydrilla.htm.

Zebra and Quagga Mussel Watch The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a non-nativespecies that has been recently introduced intoWisconsin’s lakes. Once in a lake, this mussel species (inWisconsin, many mussel species go by the commonname of “clam”) can spread rapidly and has the poten-tial to alter natural lake communities. The quagga mus-sel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) has been found inthe Great Lakes, but not in any inland lakes. Both mus-sels have a high rate of reproduction and are able toattach themselves to almost anything including docks,boats, rocks, sticks, plants, and even other mussels. Asa result, beautiful swimming areas can become a foulsmelling mess of broken and discarded shells. By watch-ing for these mussels, volunteers can help with ourunderstanding of these organisms and hopefully slowtheir spread. Volunteers complete shoreline surveys andperform brief inspections of docks, boats, and otherplaces where zebra and quagga mussels are likely to befound. Surveys are done on lakes several times duringthe open-water season. Volunteers may be asked to setup a substrate sampler on your lake at a designatedlocation. The data that you collect will be sent to theWisconsin DNR to track mussel presence. Informationon zebra and quagga mussels can be found athttp://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/animals.asp.

Rusty Crayfish WatchRusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) are native to streamsin the Ohio River basin states of Ohio, Kentucky,Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee. These crayfish are notnative to Wisconsin and were likely introduced toWisconsin waters by anglers who used them as live bait.Rusties eat about four times the amount of food nativecrayfish eat and will eat small fish, insects, fish eggs, andaquatic plants. They displace native crayfish and destroyaquatic plant beds by uprooting plants. Fewer plant bedsreduce the amount of cover available to fish and can

ZEBRA MUSSEL • A tiny bottom-dwellingmollusk native to Europe.

result in algal blooms. Rusty crayfish are consideredmessy eaters. They often only eat small pieces of whatthey pick, allowing the remainder to float away. If rustycrayfish are eating EWM, they can spread fragments ofthe plants. Training is available to CLMN volunteers tolook for the presence of rusty crayfish in their lake.Information on rusty crayfish can be found athttp://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/rustycrayfish.

Spiny Waterflea Watch Spiny waterfleas (Bythotrephes longimanus) and fish hookwaterfleas (Cercopagis sp.) are small crustaceans distantlyrelated to shrimp. They can move long distances by float-ing on water currents and can actively swim to “hunt”prey. Both species of waterflea entered the Great Lakes inship ballast water from Europe. The spiny waterfleaarrived in the 1980s, followed in the 1990s by the fishhook waterflea. One or both of the species are nowfound in all of the Great Lakes. Spiny waterfleas havebeen found in some inland lakes in Wisconsin.

Both species tend to gather in masses on fishinglines and downrigger cables so anglers may be the firstto discover a new infestation. For more information onspiny water flea and fish hook waterflea check outhttp://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/animals.asp.

Chinese and Banded Mystery Snail MonitoringThere are three species of mystery snails in Wisconsin.Only one of these species, the brown mystery snail(Campeloma decisum) is native to Wisconsin. TheChinese mystery snail (Bellamya chinensis) is native toAsia. The banded mystery snail (Viviparus georgianus)is native to southeastern United States. The UWCenter for Limnology is assembling information onthe number of lakes that these non-native snails arefound on and researching the effects of these snails onthe lake community. Information on Chinese mysterysnails can be found at http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/chinese_mystery_snail.pdf.

Freshwater Jellyfish Watch The freshwater jellyfish found in Wisconsin are one ofseveral species of Craspedacusta native to China. Twospecies (C. sowerbii and C. sinensis) live in the YangtzeRiver. The freshwater jellyfish are not true jellyfish – theybelong to the class Hydrozoa which includes the com-mon hydra. Freshwater jellyfish were first reported inNorth America as early as 1884. Sightings in Wisconsindate to 1969.

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Banded Mystery Snail (left), Brown MysterySnail which is native to Wisconsin (center), andChinese Mystery Snail (right).

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The biology of the freshwater jellyfish is com-plicated. The appearance of the jellyfish isdescribed as sporadic and unpredictable. Often, jel-lyfish will appear in a body of water in large num-bers even though they were never reported therebefore. The following year they may be absent andmay not reappear until several years later. It is alsopossible for the jellyfish to appear once and neverappear in that body of water again. In Wisconsin,jellyfish usually appear during dry and hot sum-mers. More information on freshwater jellyfish canbe found at http://www.jellyfish.iup.edu.

New Zealand Mud Snail WatchNew Zealand mud snails (Potamopyrgus antipo-darum) are small (1/8 inch) snails that have brownor black cone shaped shells with five (usually butcan have up to eight) whorls. They are native toNew Zealand but have become an invasivespecies in Australia, Europe, and North America.In the United States they are a threat to troutstreams in the western part of the country. Theyhave been found in the Duluth Harbor, on LakeSuperior, and in 2008 were discovered in LakeMichigan. New Zealand mud snails have beenfound in all of the Great Lakes with the exceptionof Lake Huron.

In their native habitat, the snails pose noproblem because of a trematode parasite whichsterilizes many snails, keeping the population toa manageable size. However, they have becomean invasive pest species elsewhere in the world inthe absence of these parasites.

Although they are small, they have the abil-ity to reproduce rapidly and mass in high densi-ties. Mudsnails are able to withstand desiccation,a variety of temperature regimes, and are so smallthat they can inadvertently be moved from onewater body to another by anglers, boaters, andrecreational users. More information on NewZealand mud snails can be found at http://seagrant.wisc.edu/ais.

Additional Opportunities: Beyond CLMN

LoonWatchIn 1978, the Sigurd Olson EnvironmentalInstitute began a loon conservation program in

Wisconsin. Later a similar program in Minnesotawas started. In 1988, these two loon programswere combined into one program known asLoonWatch. It is estimated that the 20,000 loonsin the Upper Great Lakes States of Minnesota,Wisconsin, and Michigan comprise nearly three-quarters of the loon population outside of Alaska.Although LoonWatch is not specifically part ofCLMN, we encourage volunteers to get involvedin this very worthwhile program. If you are inter-ested in volunteering to help monitor these pre-cious birds please contact the Sigurd OlsonEnvironmental Institute at (715) 682-1220 orvia email at [email protected]. Moreinformation on this program can be found athttp://www.northland.edu/soei/loonwatch.asp.

Secchi TrainersCLMN is seeking trainers to train volunteers inSecchi monitoring. At present, Wisconsin DNRand UWEX staff does not have the time availableto train all of the volunteers interested in Secchimonitoring. Trainers are necessary to keep upwith the training demands. Secchi trainers mayhost Secchi training sessions for volunteers ortrain on a one-on-one basis. Training sessionsmay be co-hosted by trainers and WisconsinDNR staff where the trainer sets up the work-shop and the Wisconsin DNR staff conduct thetraining session. If trainers are comfortable withhosting their own workshops and teaching vol-unteers how to collect Secchi data, these trainerspresent monitoring protocols, distribute manualsand equipment to volunteers, and assist volun-teers in data entry. Trainers may be asked to helphost Quality Assurance/Quality Control work-shops. If you are interested in becoming a Secchitrainer, contact Laura Herman, CLMN Educatorat (715) 365-8998 (Rhinelander) or email [email protected].

Clean Boats, Clean WatersVolunteers can be a valuable tool tolake managers in helping to stop thespread of invasive species across thestate. Volunteers are trained to organ-ize and conduct watercraft inspections at the boatlandings in their communities. Trained volunteers

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then educate boaters on how and where invasive speciesare most likely to hitch a ride into water bodies. By per-forming boat and trailer checks, distributing informa-tional brochures, and collecting and reporting suspectspecimens, volunteers can make a difference in helpingto prevent the spread of invasive species. If you areinterested in participating in the Clean Boats, CleanWaters program, contact Erin Henegar at (715) 346-4978 or by email at [email protected]. Moreinformation on this program can be found athttp://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CBCW/.

Water Action Volunteer Stream MonitoringWater Action Volunteers is a statewide program forWisconsin citizens who want to learn about and improvethe overall quality of Wisconsin’s streams and rivers. Thisprogram currently offers informational materials andsupport for citizen stream monitoring, as well as, stormdrain stenciling, river cleanups, and other action-orientedwater resource protection projects. If you are interested inlearning how Water Action Volunteers can help yourstream or river, contact Kris Stepenuck at (608) 265-3887 or by email at [email protected] information on this program can be found athttp://watermonitoring.uwex.edu/wav/.

Wisconsin NatureMapping This exciting wildlife survey providesfun for everyone. Observe wildlife inthe field and note its location on amap. Then go to the interactive websitehttp://www.wisnatmap.org and enteryour observations. Any one can view the data, and yourcontributions will help resource agencies with theirplanning and management decisions. WisconsinNatureMapping is an outreach program that allowsschool children, citizens, community groups, and othercity, county, and state organizations to collect wildlife-related information and share it with others. This pro-gram also provides an opportunity for students andvolunteers to perform field studies that contribute toWisconsin’s various biological databases. More infor-mation on Wisconsin NatureMapping can be found athttp://www.wisnatmap.com.

HELP STOP THE SPREADOF INVASIVE SPECIESWisconsin law prohibits launching a boat or placing a trailer or boatequipment in navigable waters if ithas aquatic plants or zebra musselsattached (check county regulationsfor additional restrictions). The mainway Eurasian water-milfoil is movedbetween water bodies is by smallfragments transported on recre-ational equipment. It is commonlytransported by boats, trailers, baitbuckets, live wells, and fishing equip-ment. To help prevent the spread ofEurasian water-milfoil and otherinvasive species, please take the following steps.

❑✓ Inspect and remove any visible mud, plants, fish or animals beforetransporting.

❑✓ Drain water from equipment (e.g.,boat, motor, trailer, live wells, etc.)before transporting.

❑✓ Dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash.

❑✓ Ensure that all boat landings onyour lake are posted with Eurasianwater-milfoil signs that describe theplant and instruct boaters to removeall plant fragments from their boatsand trailers before launching.

❑✓ Rinse boat and equipment with hotor high pressure water and dry forat least five days.

❑✓ Learn to easily recognize Eurasianwater-milfoil. Monitor boat landings,marinas, and inlets on a regularbasis for the first sign of an inva-sion. Report new sightings to yournearest Wisconsin DNR office.

❑✓ Work with your local lake associationto develop an aquatic plant manage-ment program for your lake includingcontingency plans in case Eurasianwater-milfoil is found in the lake.

❑✓ Help others understand the benefitsof native plants and use discretionin their control.

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ALGAE • Small aquatic plants containingchlorophyll and without roots that occur

as single cell or multi-celled colonies.Algae form the base of the food chain in an

aquatic environment.

WATERSHED • The area of land draininginto a specific stream, river, lake, or other

body of water.

RUNOFF • Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the ground surface

and into streams or lakes.

PHYTOPLANKTON • Very small free-floatingaquatic plants, such as one-celled algae. Their

abundance, as measured by the amount ofchlorophyll a in a water sample, is commonly

used to classify the trophic status of a lake.

ZOOPLANKTON • Plankton that is made upof microscopic animals, for example, proto-

zoa, that eat algae. These suspended planktonare an important component of the lake foodchain and ecosystem. For many fish and crus-taceans, they are the primary source of food.

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Factors that AffectFactors that AffectWater ClarityFactors that AffectWater ClarityWater clarity is a measure of the amount of particles inthe water, or the extent to which light can travel throughthe water. There are many ways to express water clarity,including Secchi disc depth, turbidity, color, suspendedsolids, or light extinction. Chlorophyll-a, collected bywater chemistry volunteers, is a measurement of theamount of algae that is in the water.

Water clarity is important for a number of reasons.It affects the depth to which aquatic plants can grow,dissolved oxygen content, and water temperature. Fishand loons and other wildlife depend on good water clar-ity to find food. Water clarity is often used as a measureof trophic status, or an indicator of ecosystem health.Water clarity is important aesthetically and can affectproperty values and recreational use of a water body(Tim Asplund, March 2000).

Suspended sediments, algal growth, runoff, shore-line erosion, wind mixing of the lake bottom, and tan-nic and humic acids from wetlands can all affect waterclarity. Water clarity often fluctuates seasonally and canbe affected by storms, wind, normal cycles in food webs,and rough fish such as carp, suckers, and bullheads.

Suspended Sediments

Sediment may enter the lake from a river or stream.Sediment may also come from land use activities in thewatershed including erosion from cropland andrunoff from barnyards, construction sites, and citystreets. In a shallow lake, sediment from the lake bot-tom can be suspended throughout the water columnduring heavy winds. Additionally, certain fish species(e.g., carp) may stir up bottom sediments and makethe lake appear muddy. A lake with a lot of suspendedsediment will appear cloudy, muddy, or brown. As aresult, the Secchi disc may disappear from view withina few feet of the water’s surface.

Algae

Phytoplankton (a type of free-floating algae) is a vitalpart of the food chain in aquatic systems. They providethe food base for zooplankton (microscopic animals)

Secchi disc.

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ALGAENutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, come fromsediments, manure, pet wastes, improperly maintainedseptic systems, and misapplication of fertilizers onlawns or farm fields. Phosphorus contributes to theeutrophication (over-fertilization) of lakes. This leads to an increase in aquatic macrophyte and algae growth.Excess aquatic macrophytes and algae are harmful tofish and make a lake less attractive for swimming, boat-ing, and other activities (UW Extension 2001).

When algae and aquatic weeds die they are brokendown by bacteria. Bacteria consume oxygen duringdecomposition and make it difficult for fish and otheraquatic life to survive. Excess aquatic macrophytes also contribute to winter fish kills in shallow lakes (UW Extension 2001).

Excess algae can reduce populations of bottom-rootedplants by blocking sunlight. Bottom-rooted plants provide food and habitat for fish and waterfowl (UW Extension 2001).

EUTROPHICATION • The process by which lakes and streams are enriched by nutrients causing an increase in plantand algae growth. This process includes physical, chemical, and biological changes that take place after a lake receivesinputs for plant nutrients (mostly nitrates and phosphates) from natural erosion and runoff from the surrounding landbasin. The extent this process occurs is reflected in a lake’s trophic classification. Lakes can be classified as being olig-otrophic (nutrient poor), mesotrophic (moderately productive), or eutrophic (very productive and fertile).

NITROGEN • One of the major nutrients required for the growth of aquatic plants and algae. Various forms of nitro-gen can be found in water: organic nitrogen, most of which eventually decomposes to ammonia; ammonia, producedfrom organic decay by bacteria and fungi; nitrite, produced from ammonia by nitrite bacteria; and nitrate, the formwhich is most readily available for use by plants. Nitrate is produced from nitrous oxide by nitrate bacteria. In someecosystems, nitrogen is the nutrient that limits algae growth.

FAMILIAR SIGNS OF RUNOFF POLLUTION

SEDIMENTSediments can cause water to become cloudy, or “turbid”,making it difficult for fish to see and feed properly. Sedimentscan also damage fish gills and impair the feeding and breath-ing processes in aquatic insects (UW Extension 2001).

Sediments cloud the water and cover plant leaves, reducingsunlight penetration and inhibiting photosynthesis. Withoutphotosynthesis, desirable plant populations are reduced, leavingfewer habitats for fish and small organisms (UW Extension 2001).

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STRATIFICATION • The layering of waterdue to differences in temperature and density.

EPILIMNION • The uppermost circulatinglayer of warm water that occurs in stratified

lakes in summer because of the differences inwater density. Water’s greatest density occursat 39°F. In lakes that stratify, as water warms

during the summer, it remains near the sur-face while the colder water remains near the

bottom. The depth of the epilimnion is determined by wind and usually extends

about 20 feet below the surface.

THERMOCLINE • Sometimes referred to asthe metalimnion. The narrow transition zonebetween the epilimnion and the hypolimnion

that occurs in stratified lakes.

METALIMNION • Sometimes referred to asthe thermocline. The narrow transition zone

between the epilimnion and the hypolimnionthat occurs in stratified lakes.

HYPOLIMNION • The cold, deepest layer of a lake that is removed from surface

influences.

that eventually are eaten by fish, ducks, and other ani-mals. Too much phytoplankton can disrupt the natu-ral balance of a lake ecosystem, make the lakeunsightly, and make swimming and other activities lessenjoyable. Certain kinds of blue-green algae, which aresometimes classified as bacteria, can cause noxiousodors when it decays and can also produce natural tox-ins that can be dangerous to animals (including cowsand dogs) and humans if ingested. If your lake has lit-tle turbidity due to sediment, the Secchi disc data youprovide will give a relative estimate of how much algaeis present in your lake. It will not reveal what types ofalgae are present.

Water Color

Some lakes, especially those near acidic wetlands suchas bogs, may be stained brown like tea. This is an indi-cation that the water contains tannic acid that leachedfrom the surrounding vegetation. Since light does notpenetrate as well through dark-colored water, Secchidepth may be low although algae may be less abundant.Plant densities may be lower in stained lakes since sun-light is not able to penetrate very deep into the watercolumn. You may also notice a change in water colorover the sampling season. Seasonal color changes mostlikely reflect changes in algae productivity. If your laketurns unusually green, brown, or orange for a few weeksduring the summer months, the change is probably theresult of an algal bloom. To fully understand variationsin Secchi depth, water color observations over timemust be recorded.

Mixing and Stratification

A lake’s water quality and ability to support fish areaffected by the extent to which the water mixes.Mixing will also impact your Secchi disc reading. Thedepth, size, and shape of a lake are the most importantfactors influencing mixing; although climate, lakeshoretopography, inflow from streams, and vegetation alsoplay a role (Shaw et al. 2000).

Water density peaks at 39°F. It is lighter at bothwarmer and colder temperatures. Variations in waterdensity caused by different temperatures can preventwarm and cold water from mixing (Shaw et al. 2000).When lake ice melts in early spring, the temperature

JIM McEVOY

and density of lake water will be similar from topto bottom. This uniform water density allows thelake to mix completely, recharging the bottomwater with oxygen and bringing nutrients to thesurface (Shaw et al. 2000). This mixing process iscalled spring overturn. As surface water warms inthe spring, it loses density. Due to physics, windand waves can only circulate the warmed water20 to 30 feet deep, so deeper areas are not mixed.If the lake is shallow (less than 20 feet), however,the water may stay completely mixed all summer(Shaw et al. 2000).

During the summer, lakes more than 20 feetdeep usually experience a layering called stratifi-cation. Depending on their shape, small lakescan stratify even if they are less than 20 feet deep.In larger lakes, the wind may continuously mixthe water to a depth of 30 feet or more. Lake

shallows do not form layers, though deeper areasmay stratify. Summer stratification, as pictured inFigure 1, divides a lake into three zones: epil-imnion (warm surface layer), thermocline ormetalimnion (transition zone between warmand cold water), and hypolimnion (cold bottomwater). Stratification traps nutrients releasedfrom the bottom sediments in the hypolimnion(Shaw et al. 2000).

In the fall, the surface cools until the watertemperature evens out from top to bottom, whichagain allows mixing (fall overturn). A fall algaebloom often appears when nutrients mix and riseto the surface. Winter stratification, with a tem-perature difference of only 7°F (39°F on the lakebottom versus 32°F right below the ice), remainsstable because the ice cover prevents wind andwaves from mixing the water (Shaw et al. 2000).

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SUMMER STRATIFICATION

WINTER STRATIFICATION

WIND WIND

LATE FALL(November)

ICE

FALL OVERTURN(September-October)

SPRING OVERTURN(March-April)

Epilimnion Metalimnion Hypolimnion

Figure 1. Seasonal Stratification of Lakes. (Taken from Shaw et al. 2000 “Understanding Lake Data”)

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SEEPAGE LAKES • Lakes without a signifi-cant inlet or outlet, fed by rainfall and

groundwater.

ALGAL BLOOM • A heavy growth of algaein and on a body of water as a result of high

nutrient concentrations.

The lake’s orientation to prevailing winds can affectthe amount of mixing that occurs. Some small, deeplakes may not undergo complete mixing in the spring orfall if there is not enough wind action. The mixing thattakes place in the bays of a large lake will more closelyresemble that of a small lake because the irregular shore-line blocks the wind (Shaw et al. 2000). Because mixingdistributes oxygen throughout a lake, lakes that don’t mixmay have low oxygen levels in the hypolimnion, whichcan harm fish. Some fish species require lake stratifica-tion. The cold water in the hypolimnion can hold moreoxygen than the warmer water in the epilimnion andthus provide a summer refuge for cold water fish (e.g.,trout). If the lake produces too much algae that falls ontothe lake bottom to decay, oxygen in this part of the lakewill become depleted since the steep temperature gradi-ent in the metalimnion will prevent any surface waterwith dissolved oxygen from reaching the bottom (Shawet al. 2000).

A demonstration of overturn can be seen athttp://www.bellmuseum.org/distancelearning/greatlakes/goodies.html.

Water Levels

Lake levels can fluctuate naturally due to precipitationwhich varies widely from season to season and year toyear. While some lakes with stream inflows show theeffect of rainfall almost immediately, others may notreflect changes in precipitation for months. For exam-ple, heavy autumn rains often cause water levels to risein the winter when rain enters the lake as groundwater.Longer retention times occur in seepage lakes with nosurface outlets. Average retention times range fromseveral days for some small impoundments to manyyears for large seepage lakes. Lake Superior has thelongest retention time of Wisconsin lakes – 500 years(Shaw et al. 2000).

Water level fluctuations can affect your lake waterquality. Low water levels may cause stressful conditionsfor fish and increase the number of aquatic plants. Highwater levels can increase the amount of nutrients andsediments entering the lake due to runoff and increasethe amount of sediment due to erosion. When ground-water levels are high, older septic systems that arelocated near lakes may flood (Shaw et. al. 2000). Lowwater levels may impact the lake’s ability to stratify.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROTECT AND

ENHANCE YOUR LAKES,obtain a copy of

Life on the Edge… Owning Waterfront Property.

The 22 chapters give an overview of various topics such as living with wildlife,shore savers, or plant control. Copies are

$10 each and can be ordered online athttp://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/

publications/ or by calling (715) 346-2116.

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When lakes stratify, the thermocline (the mixingdepth) prevents nutrients (especially phosphorus)from circulating throughout the lake, essentiallytrapping it near the bed of the lake in the deeperwater areas. If water levels decrease and lakes donot stratify nutrients could circulate freelythroughout the water column creating algalblooms. Low water levels can contribute to algalpopulations. When water levels are low, algae cantake advantage of nutrients released from the sed-iments due to wave action. Normally these nutri-ents would be contained in deeper water.

Wind-generated Waves, Sun Position,and Cloud Cover

Wind-generated waves and boat wakes stir upsediments in shallow water areas. In addition,unprotected shorelines can erode and contributesuspended particles to the water. In shallow areas,wind-generated waves and boat wakes stir up sed-iments. Wind and boat generated waves breakingon shore also contribute to turbidity. Theseshoreline and shallow water impacts contributeto turbidity and can block out sunlight and thusaffect photosynthesis.

A 1998 study conducted by Larson andBuktenica found that when the lake surface wascalm and skies were clear or had high haze, differ-ences between descending and ascending Secchiobservations decreased slightly with increased discdepth. Waves from tour boats, drops of waterfrom the research vessel, and wind generated rip-ples and chop decreased disc readings as much as5 meters relative to readings recorded when thelake surface was calm. Furthermore, documentingthe variation caused by slightly disturbed lake sur-face conditions relative to calm surface conditionsand among trained observers ensures consistentinterpretation of the long-term data (Larson andBuktenica 1998).

The distance of the observer from the watersurface, cloudiness and other weather conditions,the height of the sun on the horizon (ideally, vol-unteers collect data when the sun is directly over-head), and glare at the water’s surface all affectyour Secchi disc reading. CLMN monitoring

protocols are set up to make sure that lake data iscomparable and to eliminate as many extenuatingcircumstances as possible.

Motor Boat Activity

Propellers of boats may disturb the lake or riverbottom directly, or indirectly through the washor turbulence they produce, especially in shallowwater. This may affect water clarity by increasingthe amount of sediment particles in the water ormay cause nutrients, such as phosphorus, that arestored in the sediments, such as phosphorus, tobecome available for algal growth. Waves createdby watercraft may contribute to shoreline ero-sion, which can cloud the water. Boats have beenshown to affect water clarity and can be a sourceof nutrients and algal growth in aquatic ecosys-tems. Shallow lakes, shallow parts of lakes andrivers, and channels connecting lakes are themost susceptible to impacts. Depth of impactvaries depending upon many factors includingboat size, engine size, speed, and substrate type.Few impacts have been noted at depths greaterthan 10 feet (Asplund 2000).

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NNOTESNOTES

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1. SECCHI (Water Clarity)

MONITORING1. SECCHI (Water Clarity)

MONITORING

Before you start sampling, be sure to readthe following pages to familiarize yourself

with the equipment and the procedures thatyou will be using. All of the procedures that youwill follow in sampling your lake are done for spe-cific reasons. It is very important that you follow thesampling procedures exactly as they are laid out inthe following pages to ensure good, consistent,high quality data. The following pages will provideyou with sufficient background on the design of theequipment and proper procedures to use.

What Equipment Will You Need?At your training session, your CLMNregional coordinator will outline and pro-vide all of the equipment that you willneed to successfully monitor your lake.

❑✓ Secchi disc (with rope and holder)

❑✓ Two clothespins

❑✓ Lake map with sampling site marked

❑✓ Life jackets (you provide)

❑✓ Anchor and rope (you provide)

❑✓ Boat (you provide)

❑✓ Field data sheets

❑✓ Pencil and waterproof pen

After sampling, it is very important to rinse and air dry thoroughlyall of the equipment that you used. As always keep paperwork andenvelopes separate from equipment.

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SHOULD I COLLECT SECCHI DATA

IN THE WINTER?Secchi measurements taken

through the ice are highly variabledepending on the amount of snowon the ice and ice clarity (i.e. did it

freeze fast or was there slush on thelake that froze and created “cloudy”ice). These are the main factors thatdetermine the amount of light that

can get through the ice which allowsyou to take accurate measurements.

Since algae production is at a mini-mum under the ice, this data has no

real value for Network use.

Waterbody # or WBIC (WaterbodyIdentification Code) • A unique identifica-

tion number the Wisconsin DNR uses toidentify each waterbody in the state. Everyone of the 15,000 lakes in Wisconsin has a

unique WBIC.

Station # (or Storet #) • A numberassigned to sampling locations on a water-

body. The station identification numbermakes it easy to track secchi and chemistry

data. Each sampling site on a lake will havea separate station identification number.

VOLUNTEER IDENTIFICATION NUMBERAll data collected in CLMN is tied back to

an individual’s volunteer id number.Necessary if one wishes to enter data into

the database.

How Do You Prepare to Sample?The Day You SampleOn the day you plan to sample, complete the top portionof your field data sheet by filling in the waterbody # (orWBIC) “Station # (or storet #),” sections. Enter the name ofeach volunteer who will be sampling or their volunteer idnumber. If you do not know what these numbers are con-tact your CLMN regional coordinator. Before you launchyour boat, make sure you have your Secchi disc, ananchor, and personal flotation devices (life jackets) in yourboat before proceeding to your sampling site.

Sampling OverviewWhen to Take Your Secchi ReadingsThe weather can affect the depth at which you can nolonger see the Secchi disc. Wind-generated waves, sunposition, and cloud cover are major weather factors thatcan affect the accuracy of your readings.

• Ideally, Secchi readings should be taken every 10 to 14 days.

• Ideally, Secchi readings should be taken on clear, calm days between 10 am and 4 pm.

• Anchor the boat.

• Secchi disc readings are taken on the shady side of the boat.

• Kneel or sit so you are close to the surface of the water.

• Remove your sun glasses – sun glasses canincrease the depth that you can see your Secchidisc. For consistency and so we can comparedata from one lake to another, please removeyour sun glasses.

• Use clothespin method to determine accurate reading.

• For color and clear/murky determination, hold Secchi disc one foot below the surface of the water.

To make sampling regular and convenient, try to make ita part of your weekly routine. You can include it as part ofyour weekend fishing trip or family outing on the lake. Themost important time to collect your Secchi data is in Julyand August. These are the prime months for lake recreationand the time when algae is the most prevalent. Secchianalysis statewide relies on information for these monthsand will appear in your statewide summary. Averages ofSecchi data recorded during July and August will appear inyour statewide summary report. Due to seasonal variation,the entire years’ Secchi disc data cannot be averaged.

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The Secchi readings you take in the spring and fall will tella story about your lake. These readings can tell you whenspring runoff occurs in your lake or when there are algalblooms. For this reason, many Secchi volunteers may startcollecting data in April and continue through November. Butfor a variety of reasons other volunteers may choose to startin June and only continue sampling through September.

If you are unable to sample during your normally sched-uled sampling time, do not worry about it! Just try to sam-ple as soon as possible after that time. However, if youthink that you will not be able to continue monitoring yourlake due to illness, schedule conflicts, or other problems,please contact your CLMN regional coordinator as soon asyou can.

Some states collect Secchi readings differently thanWisconsin volunteers do. Some monitoring programs usedifferent sized and colored discs. Some states use unmarkedropes. Some monitor on the sunny side of the boat. Themost important thing is that Wisconsin CLMN volunteersremain consistent in monitoring protocols. If we change ourprotocols we may not be able to compare future data toexisting data.

Remote Sensing ProjectSince 1999, CLMN volunteers have assisted in a collabo-rative research effort with University of WisconsinEnvironmental Remote Sensing Center by taking secchireadings on dates when the satellites were overhead. Thevolunteers’ participation has allowed the University to suc-cessfully calibrate computer programs that enable satelliteimagery to be used to predict Secchi disc depth and otherwater quality parameters on lakes without volunteers. Theresearchers at the Remote Sensing Center are continuingtheir research. The ultimate goal is to put the satellite datainto everyday use by making the water clarity dataderived from the satellite imagery available to theWisconsin DNR and to the public. Volunteer participationis and will continue to be essential to this effort.

We participate in the study from July 1 to September 15.Each lake is assigned a path number. This path number willlet you know the dates when the satellite will be overhead.Go out on any of these days you can and sample your lakeas you normally would, preferably on clear, calm sunnydays. There is no need to let us know that you sampled forthe satellite experiment, just report your data as you nor-mally do. For paths and sampling dates please visithttp://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/remotesensing/.

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STEP 1. Before going out to take your Secchi disc readings, be sure theconditions are right for sampling. Ideal weather conditions includesunny or partly sunny/cloudy skies; wind-calm to breezy (there shouldbe no whitecaps on the lake). Collect Secchi measurements between10 am and 4 pm. If possible, try to collect Secchi readings when thesatellite is overhead. Satellite paths are available at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/remotesensing/.

STEP 2. Your CLMN regional coordinator will provide you with a lakemap with the sampling site marked. Be sure you have a station idnumber for each site you are monitoring.

STEP 3. Anchor your boat at your sampling site to prevent drifting. Becareful not to disturb the sediments on the lake bottom when anchor-ing since this could cloud the water. Remove your sun glasses. Wearingsun glasses will give you an unnatural reading. Unwind the Secchi discrope from the holder.

STEP 4. Lean over the shady side of the boatand slowly lower the Secchi disc into thewater until you can no longer see it. If you aresampling in a pontoon boat, be sure to kneeldown on the floor of the boat when you takeyour readings so you are closer to the surfaceof the water. Be as close to the surface of thewater as you can safely be. Secchi disc read-ings are taken on the shady side of the boatto reduce glare.

STEP 5. When the Secchi disc barely disap-pears from your view, mark the rope at thesurface of the water with a clothespin.

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ON LAKEON LAKE PROCEDURESHow to Use the Secchi Disc

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STEP 6. After you have marked this spot withthe clothespin, lower the disc a few more feetinto the water. Slowly raise the disc. When theSecchi disc reappears, mark the rope at thesurface of the water with the second clothes-pin. The clothespin marks may be at the samespot, several inches or even several feet apart.The purpose of lowering the Secchi disc andraising it back into view is so your eyes becomeaccustomed to looking into the water. The aver-age of the two readings will be a more accu-rate result.

STEP 7. Bring the Secchi disc back into theboat.

STEP 8. Average your two Secchi disc read-ings by forming a loop between the twoclothespins. Slide one clothespin into the cen-ter of the loop to mark it. Remove the otherclothespin. The remaining clothespin markwill be your Secchi reading.

STEP 9. Your rope is marked in foot incre-ments. The red lines indicate five, fifteen, andtwenty-five feet. The double black lines indicateten, twenty, and thirty feet. Carefully measurethe number of feet from the disc until youreach your clothespin mark. Round off to thenearest quarter foot.

STEP 10. Record this measurement on yourdata sheet and then fill out the rest of yourdata sheet.

(continued on next page)

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ON LAKEON LAKE PROCEDURESHow to Use the Secchi Disc (continued)

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STEP 11. Record your perception of water color and water appear-ance. Hold the Secchi disc one foot under the surface of the water todetermine color and appearance. Record perception. This is your per-ception of the amount of algae that is in the water at the deep hole.

Perception Numbers

1 - Beautiful, could not be any nicer.

2 - Very minor aesthetic problems, excellent for swimmingand boating.

3 - Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment of lake slightlyimpaired.

4 - Desire to swim and level of enjoyment of lake substantially reduced because of algae (would notswim, but boating is okay).

5 - Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment of the lake substantially reduced because of algal level.

STEP 12. If you are taking Secchi readings at more than one site orlake, proceed to your next location and repeat steps 1 through 10 above(step 11, perception, is recorded at the deep hole only.)

STEP 13. Report your data. Data can be submitted on the Internet athttp://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/clmn-data. Internet instructions are found inAppendix 2, page 50. If you enter data online, you do not need to submit data sheets by mail. Data can also be submitted by phone at(888) 947-3282. If reporting data by phone, copies of your data shouldbe mailed to Madison. Observations can’t be entered by phone, theyhave to be entered later using your hard copy.

For those without Internet access or phone access – data sheets canbe mailed to your CLMN regional coordinator to be entered into thedatabase or mailed to the central office in Madison:

Department of Natural Resources, Lakes WT/4101 S. Webster St.P.O. Box 7921Madison, WI 53791-9087

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ON LAKEON LAKE PROCEDURESHow to Use the Secchi Disc (continued)

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TTaking Care of DataTaking Care of DataOnce you are back on shore, transfer all your data to the dataform. This form will make it easier for you to enter your dataonline or submit it using the Secchi line phone system. Afterentering your data into the DNR database, fill in the columnlabeled “Date Entered ” on your data form. This will allowyou to keep track of what data you have already entered.

Online

The web address to enter your data online is http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/clmn. Choose the “Submit Data” linklocated on the left side of the page. You will need a username and password to enter data. Instructions for obtaininga user name and password are found at the CLMN websitehttp://dnr.wi.gov/lakes. If you enter your data online,there is no need to mail in a paper copy. If you need assis-tance getting set up to enter data online, contact JenniferFilbert at [email protected].

By Telephone

If you don’t have Internet access, you can still enter your datausing the Secchi line phone system. The toll-free number is(888) 947-3282. If at any time you have problems trying toenter your data using the Secchi line phone system, press 9 tospeak to someone in the central office. If you enter your databy phone, keep the pink copy of the data form for yourselfand use the business reply envelope provided to you to sendthe blue copy to the Madison DNR office (Citizen LakeMonitoring, WT/4, Wisconsin DNR, 101 S. Webster St.,PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921) by November 1.DNR staff will enter your observations for you.

All data for the year must either be entered online orinto the Secchi line phone system by November 1st toguarantee that it will be included in reports and analysesdone in the winter and spring. If you find data that has notbeen entered after this date you can still enter your dataonline or you can mail your data sheets to Citizen LakeMonitoring, WT/4, Wisconsin DNR, 101 S. Webster St.,PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. Staff will makesure that your data is entered into the database.

If you are unable to enter data on the Internet or byphone, mail the blue copy of your carbonless form to eitheryour CLMN regional coordinator or to the Madison centraloffice (there are self addressed envelopes in your manual).

During the winter, you will receivean email or postcard reminding you thatreports featuring the data you collectedare available online. If you do not havean email address, lake summary reportswill be mailed to you. Limnologists sug-gest that after eight years of collectingSecchi data, one can begin to determineif water clarity is getting better, worse, orstaying the same. Your reports will showthe dates you sampled, and your Secchidisc readings measured in feet andmeters. Always check your annual reportwith a copy of your original data sheetto verify your data.

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HOW TO FILL OUT YOUR FIELD DATA SHEET

During your training session, you should have received:

• A waterbody identification code (WBIC) (only needed if you phone inyour data on the Secchi Line)

• Station # (or Storet #)

• Volunteer ID number

The WBIC is a number assignedto your lake and allows the CitizenLake Monitoring Network to knowexactly which lake you are moni-toring. The Station # is assigned tothe specific monitoring site on yourlake and the data that you collect istied to that specific number. If youdecide to change your sampling site, itis very important that you contactyour regional coordinator right awayso a new Station # can be assigned forthat site. Each volunteer is also giventheir own ID number. If you need toknow your WBIC number and Station #,or volunteer ID, please contact yourregional coordinator or central officestaff to obtain it. While you are samplingon your lake, record all of your data onthe white “Field Data Form”. You can usethis same form for repeated samplingdays until it is filled up, or too wrinkledfrom wind and water to use anymore.However, if you change sampling sitelocations within a lake or change lakes,you must use a new form!

The following descriptions represent the portions of yourdata sheet that can be filled out while you are on theshoreline or before you get into your boat. Data sheets canbe found online at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/forms.

DateWhen recording the date it is only necessary to use 4 digits. Forexample, if you sampled on May 19th, you would record this on yourdata form as “0519”; July 6th would be “0706”, etc. You do not needto include the year since your data is submitted annually.

TimeRecord the time you started your sampling. If you are going toreport your data using the Secchi line, you should record it in“military” time (e.g., 1:05 P.M. is 135 hours). If you are reportingyour data online, you can record your “civilian” time as you nor-mally would by using A.M. and P.M.

Lake LevelRecord the water level on your lake. It helps to use the shorelineor your pier as a guide to indicate whether your lake level ishigh, low, or normal. If you are able to determine the waterlevel using a staff gauge on the lake, indicate this on the datasheet and record the numerical value in the space provided.

If you call in the data, mail the original (blue) copy in the postage paid envelope (or to Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, WI DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison WI 53703) by November 1.

If you enter the data on the web, keep a copy for your records. There’s no need to mail a paper copy. The Citizen Lake Monitoring web site is: dnr.wi.gov/org/water/fhp/lakes/selfhelp/

Form 3200-100 (R 2/07)Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network - Secchi

State of Wisconsin

Department of Natural Resources

Information is collected under s. 33.02, Wis. Stats. Personally identifiable information, including names of volunteers, will be broadly distributed in conjunction with lakes data.

Toll-free Secchi Line Phone: 1-888-947-3282

Waterbody # Storet #

Year

(Use separate form for each site)

County

Lake Name

Names

of each volunteer who

sampled on each date

TimeRound to

nearesthour

Date

Use 4 digits,

e.g., May 19

is 0519

Secchi Depth

Round to

nearest quarter

of a foot

HitBottom1=Yes2=No

If gauge, enter

numerical level1=High; 2=Low;

3=Normal;

4=Gauge

Appearance

1=Clear

2=MurkyLake Level

DateEnteredWater Color

1=Blue; 2=Green;

3=Brown; 4=Red;

5=Yellow

Percep-tion1 - 5

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

Observations:

NOTE: Storet # and Station # are the same number.

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The following descriptions should be filled out while you areon the water at your sampling site so the observations arefresh in your mind.

Secchi DepthWhen recording your Secchi disc reading, round off to the nearestquarter foot. Record fractions of a foot as a decimal since this is howit will be entered in the Secchi line phone system or online. For exam-ple, 12 1/4 feet is 12.25 feet. Note: The “ ” (star) button on your tele-phone key pad serves as the decimal point when entering your datainto the Secchi line phone system. It is possible that the Secchi discwill be visible even when it is resting on the bottom of the lake. If thisis the case, record the depth as you always would, but make sure yourecord a “1” in the “Hit Bottom” field of your data sheet.

AppearanceTo determine if the water appearance is clear or murky, hold yourSecchi disc one foot under the surface of the water and observehow the white part of the disc appears.

Water ColorThe water color is determined at your site using the Secchi disc as aguide. After lowering the disc about a foot into the water, ask your-self the question, “Does the white part of the Secchi disc look white,or does it appear green or brown?” If it appears white, then thewater color is “blue.” If it appears green, then the water color is“green” and so on. If you are using color cards to determine thecolor of your lake water, then the white part of the disc would becompared to the colors on the card and a numeric value assignedto the color. Be aware that the online data entry form and SecchiLine only accept one color, for instance, if the water appears “bluish-green,” you will have to select the one color (blue or green) thatbest describes your water color.

PerceptionsIndicate your perception of the water quality for your lake at the deephole. Refer only to the condition of the water itself. You can recordinformation on aquatic plants around the shoreline or other problemsyou perceive in the observation section of the data sheet. On a scaleof 1 to 5 (1 being the best and 5 being the worst), your perception ofthe water should reflect how much algae is in the water.

1 - Beautiful, could not be any nicer

2 - Very minor aesthetic problems; excellent for swimming and boating enjoyment

3 - Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment of lake slightly impairedbecause of high algae levels

4 - Desire to swim and level of enjoyment of lake substantiallyreduced because of algae (would not swim, but boating is OK)

5 - Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment of lake substantially reduced because of algae levels

ObservationsIn the observation section of the data sheet, you can include any com-ments about the weather, water conditions, wildlife sightings, plantdensities, or other information you want to include that you think willhelp to better understand your lake. If you need more data sheets,have questions or problems, you may also include those comments inthis section. Feel free to attach additional observations on a separatesheet of paper. You can enter as much information as you’d like. Thedatabase is capable of holding a very long entry.

HOW TO REPORT ICEON/OFF INFORMATIONYou can report your ice observa-tions online through SWIMS.After you log in, choose the IceObservations project for yourlake. There are two forms: one forreporting “Ice On” and one forreporting “Ice Off”. The corre-sponding paper forms can befound at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/forms/. For historical analy-ses, the official ice on date shouldbe the first date of complete icecover and the official ice off dateshould be the first breakup. Youcan document additional freezeand thaw dates in the commentsbox. See ice on/ice off data sheetsin Appendix 3, page 51.

RO

BE

RT

QU

EE

N

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Figures 2-5. Lake Types. Major water inputsand outflows of different lake types. Large

arrows indicate heavy water flow. (Taken fromShaw et al 2000 “Understanding Lake Data”)

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GROUNDWATER

RUNOFF

EVAPORATIONPRECIPITATION

GROUNDWATER

RUNOFF

EVAPORATION

INFLOWDAM

Seepage LakeFigure 2

Impoundment LakeFigure 5

UUnderstandingYour DataUnderstandingYour Data

GROUNDWATER

RUNOFF

EVAPORATIONPRECIPITATION

OUTFLOW

INFLOW

When you receive your annual report, the first thing youshould do is check for errors. The easiest way to do thisis to compare your report to your original records. If youfind an error, please notify Jennifer Filbert at (608) 264-8533 or by email at [email protected] can also mail your corrections to: Citizen LakeMonitoring, WT/4, 101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921,Madison, WI 53707-7921.

Before you review your results there are some basicthings you should note about your lake: the lake typeand lake georegion. This information can be found atthe very top of your annual report. Since lakes of thesame type located in the same georegion are usuallycomparable to one another, this information is impor-tant when comparing your lake to others.

Lake Types

The physical characteristics of a lake can greatly influ-ence its water quality. Two factors are especially impor-tant: the primary source of the lake’s water along withits flushing rate and whether or not the lake is stratifiedin the summer.

Seepage lakes are fed mainly by precipitation and runoff,supplemented by groundwater from the immediatedrainage area. These lakes do not have an inlet orpermanent outlet. Seepage lakes are the most com-mon lake type in Wisconsin. Many seepage lakes arelow in nutrients, acidic, and susceptible to acid rain.These lakes usually have small watersheds (Figure 2).

Groundwater drainage lakes, often referred to as spring-fed lakes, are fed by groundwater, precipitation, andlimited runoff. Spring-fed lakes have a permanentoutlet, but no inlet. The primary source of water forspring-fed lakes is groundwater flowing into the bot-tom of the lake from inside and outside the immedi-ate surface drainage area. Spring-fed lakes are locatedat the headwaters of many streams and are a fairlycommon type of lake in northern Wisconsin. Theselakes are usually well buffered against acid rain andcontain low to moderate amounts of nutrients. Theselakes have small watersheds (Figure 3).

Drainage LakeFigure 4

GROUNDWATER

RUNOFF

EVAPORATIONPRECIPITATION

OUTFLOW

Groundwater Drainage Lake

Figure 3

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Northwest

Southwest

Southeast

Northeast

Central

GEOREGION • Wisconsin’s lake “georegions”originated from a grouping of lakes made inthe early 1980s by Wisconsin DNR senior lim-nologists. These groupings are based on thebest professional judgment of the scientistsmost familiar with Wisconsin’s lake resources.The georegions roughly reflect “hydro-chemicallake regions” which are based on the state’sbedrock geology, glacial geology and soil type,and the more recently described “ecoregions”which are based on geological characteristicsas well as the dominant vegetation.

Average summer TSI values for different lake georegions. Averageswere calculated from Secchi measurementsrecorded in June, July, and August 2004.

Lake Georegion TSI Value

Northwest 45Northeast 43Central 44Southwest 58Southeast 49

Wisconsin’s Lake Georegions

Figure 6. Wisconsin’s lake georegions.

Drainage lakes are fed by streams, groundwater, pre-cipitation, and runoff. These lakes have an inletand an outlet, and the main water source is streamdrainage. Most major rivers in Wisconsin havedrainage lakes along their course. Water quality indrainage lakes can be highly variable. These lakesoften have large watersheds (Figure 4).

Impoundments are man-made lakes or reservoirs madeby damming a stream or river. An impoundment isdrained by a stream or river. Because of nutrient andsoil loss from upstream land use practices, impound-ments typically have higher nutrient concentrationsand faster sedimentation rates than natural lakes(Figure 5).

Lake Georegions

Wisconsin’s lake georegions first originated from a group-ing of lakes made in the early 1980s by Wisconsin DNRsenior limnologists. These first groupings were based onthe best professional judgment of the scientists mostfamiliar with Wisconsin’s lake resources. The georegionsroughly reflect “hydro-chemical lake regions” which arebased on the state’s bedrock geology, glacial geology, andsoil type; and more recently described ecoregions whichare based on geological characteristics and dominant veg-etation (Figure 6).

The northwest georegion is lake-rich. Most of thelakes found here are relatively small (i.e., less than 100acres). They are usually natural lakes and many haveextensive wetlands. Many “stained” lakes are found inthis georegion. In general, the lakes in this georegionhave low phosphorus levels and are moderately free ofsediment. However, lakes in Polk, St. Croix, and Barroncounties tend to be shallow and more eutrophic. For thisreason, chlorophyll concentrations and water clarity bothvary considerably in northwest georegion lakes.

Thirty seven percent of Wisconsin’s lakes are foundin the northeast georegion. Many are natural “stained”lakes and tend to be clustered with extensive wetlands.Lake size varies considerably. Lakes in the northeast geo-region tend to be deeper than lakes in other georegions.As a group, northeastern lakes have low phosphorus andchlorophyll levels and tend to have the greatest water clar-ity when compared to lakes in the other four georegions.

The central georegion forms a distinct lake groupin Wisconsin. In a large part of this georegion, lakes are

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

scarce due to the nature of the underlyingsoil and bedrock. Most central georegionlakes are small (i.e., less than 100 acres) andtend to have small watersheds. Most havelow phosphorus, low chlorophyll concen-trations, and high water clarity.

Large, shallow, eutrophic lakes andimpoundments are found in the south-west georegion. Natural lakes are scarcebecause of the topography and geologicalhistory since much of this georegion liesin the driftless area (a highly eroded andunglaciated landscape). Most lakes in thisgeoregion are shallow and do not stratifyin the summer. Lakes in the southwesterngeoregion tend to have high phosphorusand chlorophyll levels, and as a result, lowwater clarity.

Lakes and bogs are common in thesoutheast georegion. This georegion hasmore large lakes (i.e., greater than 1000acres) than the other four georegions andalso has many shallow lakes. Lakes in thesoutheastern georegion tend to exhibithigh phosphorus and chlorophyll levelsalong with low water clarity.

What Do My Secchi ReadingsMean?

On a statewide level, a Secchi reading ofgreater than 20 feet is considered excellentwater clarity. A reading of less than 3 feet isconsidered very poor. The water clarity thatcan be expected of a lake varies widelydepending on the location, lake type, andhistorical conditions. For example, if thedata shown in the following table was pre-sented in your annual report, a good way todescribe your water clarity might be to saythat “The 2002 average summer water clar-ity on Lake Seventeen in Oneida Countywas 12 feet. Lake Seventeen was slightly lessclear than other stratified lakes in thenortheast georegion since the northeastgeoregion summer water clarity average was13 feet.”

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WATER SOURCEThe source of a lake’s water supply is very important in

determining its water quality and in choosingmanagement practices to protect that quality. Ifprecipitation is a major water source, (e.g., a seep-age lake) the lake will be acidic, low in nutrients,and susceptible to acid rain (Shaw et al. 2000).

If groundwater is the major water source, the lake isusually well buffered against acid rain and con-tains low to moderate amounts of nutrients. Localseptic systems or other groundwater contamina-tion could cause problems. Water exchange isfairly slow creating long residence times for nutri-ents. (Shaw et al. 2000).

If streams are the major source of lake water, nutrientlevels are often high and water exchange takesplace more rapidly. These lakes have the mostvariable water quality depending on the amount ofrunoff and human activity in the watershed (Shawet al. 2000).

Managing the watershed to control the amount ofnutrients and soil that enter a lake is essential toprotecting water quality. Controlling runoff (waterthat runs from the land’s surface into the lake) isimportant for drainage lakes and impoundments,and some seepage and groundwater lakes.Protecting groundwater quality is particularlyimportant for seepage and groundwater drainagelakes (Shaw et al. 2000).

Watershed management becomes especially critical inimpoundment lakes. If a stream is dammed thenatural movement of water will be restricted, caus-ing soil and nutrients to collect in the impound-ment (Shaw et al. 2000).

Lake managers will measure the inflow and outflow of alake to determine its water budget. As shown in theformula below, a water budget consists of severalelements. The average precipitation in Wisconsin is30 inches per year. Evaporation depends on thetype of summer weather, but is usually about 21inches. Groundwater flow is more difficult to meas-ure, but can be estimated (Shaw et al. 2000).

The water budget can be expressed in percent or vol-ume. A typical water budget for a drainage lakemay look something like this:

Groundwater inflow (30%)+ Precipitation (10%)

+ Surface runoff (60%)= Groundwater outflow (5%)

+ Evaporation (11%)+ Stream outlet (84%).

page 35

Average summer Secchi values for differentlake georegions. Averages were calculated from Secchimeasurements recorded in July and August 2004.

Average Secchi Average Secchidepth (ft.) for depth (ft.) for

Georegion mixed lakes stratified lakes

Northwest 6.5 10.7Northeast 7.4 12.8Central 8.1 10.8Southwest 3.4 4.7Southeast 3.6 4.7

What Can I Learn From the Variation in MySecchi Readings?Was your lake clearest in the spring and graduallybecame murky as the summer progressed? Thistrend might suggest that the lake is receiving a con-stant supply of nutrients, either from the watershedor from the lake sediments. This nutrient supplycould be what is fueling the algal growth you areseeing throughout the summer.

If your lake water became clearer as themonitoring season went on, nutrients might becoming into the lake mainly in the spring withsnowmelt. But as the summer progresses, there isno nutrient supply and algal growth is slowed.

If you see a sharp increase in your lakes waterclarity in May or June, it may be that tiny grazinganimals, called zooplankton, are eating the algae.When zooplankton are abundant, they can actuallybe seen as tiny dark dots swimming over the whitepart of the Secchi disc when it is submerged. Theseanimals help decrease the amount of algae in thewater, but are grazed on by minnows and other fish(e.g., bluegills, perch, crappie, etc.). If fish speciesthat eat zooplankton become too abundant, oftendue to over-fishing of predator fish (i.e. bass), thenthe zooplankton population can decrease and thealgae can become more abundant. The reason whyzooplankton are more abundant in the spring isbecause fish that feed on them are not as active inthe cooler water.

What is Trophic State?

Taking just one Secchi disc reading may not havemuch value since it measures the water clarity ofthe lake only on that one occasion. The time yousampled might have been during an algae bloom orit could have been after a heavy rainfall; both ofwhich do not represent typical conditions. Secchidata collected regularly over time at or near thesame location will provide the most accurate pic-ture of your lake. Your data should vary over timebecause a lake is an ever-changing system. By tak-ing regular measurements during the ice-freeperiod you can determine the normal seasonal vari-ations for your lake and its overall condition.

Your Secchi depth results, along with phos-phorus and chlorophyll data (if available), allow adetermination of the level of nutrient enrichmentof the lake (i.e., trophic status). The Trophic StateIndex (TSI) is a continuum scale of 0 to 100, cor-responding with the clearest and most nutrientpoor lake possible, to the least clear and most nutri-ent rich lake (Table 1, page 36). Lakes can bedivided into three main levels of nutrient enrich-ment categories. Oligotrophic, or nutrient poorlakes, are characterized by very high Secchi depths,plenty of oxygen in deep water, and may have cold-water fish species living in them. Mesotrophic lakesfall in the middle of the continuum from nutrient-poor to nutrient-rich. They have moderately clearwater, and may experience low to no oxygen con-centrations in bottom waters. Nutrient-rich lakesare called eutrophic. They have decreased Secchidisc readings and experience low to no oxygen inthe bottom waters during the summer. These lakeswould only be habitable for warm water fish. Theymay also experience blue-green algae blooms. Lakesthat are super-enriched fall into an additionalfourth category termed hypereutrophic. These lakesexperience heavy algae blooms throughout thesummer, and may even experience fish kills. Roughfish dominate in hypereutrophic lake systems.

Müller

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

TABLE 1. The Trophic State Index(TSI) continuum.

TSI less than 30Classic oligotrophic lake characterized byclear water, many algal species, oxygenthroughout the year in bottom water, andcold water oxygen-sensitive fish species indeep lakes. Excellent water quality.

TSI 30-40Deeper lakes will still be oligotrophic, butthe bottom waters of some shallowerlakes may become oxygen-depleted dur-ing the summer.

TSI 40-50Classic mesotrophic lake. characterized bymoderately clear water, but increasingchance of low dissolved oxygen in deepwater during the summer.

TSI 50-60Lake becoming eutrophic characterized bydecreased clarity, fewer algal species, andoxygen-depleted bottom waters during thesummer. Plant overgrowth evident, sup-porting only warm-water fisheries.

TSI 60-70Becoming very eutrophic. Blue-green algaemay become dominant with possible algalscums. Extensive plant overgrowth prob-lems likely.

TSI 70-80Lake becoming hypereutrophic character-ized by heavy algal blooms throughoutsummer, dense plant beds limited by lightpenetration.

TSI > 80Hypereutrophic lake with very poor waterquality, algal scums, summer fish kills, andfew plants.

After a few years of collecting Secchi data, you willbe able to answer two major questions about your lake.

1. What is the trophic state of my lake based on waterclarity data alone? (Is my lake generally moreeutrophic, mesotrophic, or more oligotrophic?)

2. Is the water quality of my lake improving, declining,or remaining the same over time?

Lake enrichment levels for Wisconsin lakes canrange from being oligotrophic (i.e., lakes that experi-ence low levels of productivity) to eutrophic (i.e., lakesthat are highly productive). A natural aging processoccurs in all lakes, causing them to change from olig-otrophic to eutrophic over time, and eventually fillingin (Figure 7). Human activity can accelerate this agingprocess. “Cultural eutrophication” is a term coined byecologists to define human activity impacts on a lake’strophic state.

Although trophic states are labeled for the pur-poses of discussion, keep in mind that in nature, thecategories make smooth transitions into each other.Data from one date may show your lake as beingeutrophic, and the next date as being mesotrophic.

If your lake has many rooted aquatic plants andrelatively clear water, the TSI could be a mischaracter-ization of the true nutrient status of your lake. Lakesdominated by aquatic plants tend to have highamounts of phosphorus in the bottom sediments andrelatively low amounts phosphorus in the water col-umn. On the other hand, lakes that grow mostly algaehave high amounts of phosphorus in the water col-umn. The TSI only measures the portion of nutrientsthat are found in the water column, as evidenced bythe amount of algae. So if most of the nutrients areheld in the sediments and the lake is loaded withaquatic plants, the true total nutrient status would notbe accurately measured using the TSI.

page 36

OLIGOTROPHIC • Lakes characterized bylow nutrient inputs and low productivity. They

are generally deep with high water clarity.

MESOTROPHIC • Lakes characterized bytheir moderately fertile nutrient levels. Falls inbetween the oligotrophic and eutrophic levels

of nutrient enrichment.

EUTROPHIC • Lakes characterized by highnutrient inputs, high productivity, often expe-

riencing algal blooms and abundant weedgrowth. This term can also refer to a nutrient-

rich lake, as large amounts of algae andweeds characterize a eutrophic lake.

JESSIE H

EWITT

page 37

CULTURAL EUTROPHICATION • Accelerated eutrophication of a lakethat occurs as a result of human activities in the watershed. These activi-ties increase nutrient loads in runoff water that drains into lakes.

Figure 7. (Taken from Shaw et al. 2000 “Understanding Lake Data”)

Lakes can be divided into three cate-gories based on trophic state: eutrophic,mesotrophic, and oligotrophic. Eutro phiclakes (very productive or fertile lakes)contain an overabundance of algae andmay appear green in color. The waterclarity of a eutrophic lake is low, meaningthe Secchi disc disappears when sub-merged only a few feet. A eutrophic lakeis not necessarily an unhealthy lake, butoften has abundant plant growth oralgae. Eutrophic lakes often support largefish populations but can be susceptible tooxygen depletion.

In contrast, a less productive lake isreferred to as oligotrophic. In oligotrophiclakes, the Secchi disc may be visible togreat depths, indicating high water clarity.Oligotrophic lakes generally contain littlealgae, fewer plants, and often have lowfish densities. Meso trophic lakes catego-rize the state between the oligotrophic

and eutrophic stages. Mesotrophic lakesoften have low dissolved oxygen levels inlate summer. The hypolimnion (cold, bot-tom water) in these lakes limits coldwaterfish populations and causes phosphoruscycling from the sediments.

A natural aging process occurs in all lakes,causing them to change from oligotrophicto eutrophic over time, and eventually fill-ing in (Figure 7). However, human activitycan accelerate this aging process. Theterm “cultural eutrophication,” coined byecologists, defines the human activityimpact on a lake’s trophic state.

By examining Secchi data over time,general lake productivity can be esti-mated. But in order to estimate thetrophic state of your lake, you must haveenough data collected over several years;particularly in the summer months whenalgal blooms are most prevalent.

THE NATURAL AGING OF LAKES

OLIGOTROPHIC MESOTROPHIC EUTROPHIC

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Lake Water Quality 2008 Annual Report

Dad Lake Lake Type: SEEPAGEVilas County DNR Region: NOWaterbody Number: 979700 GEO Region:NE

Site Name Storet #Dad Lake - Deep Hole 643057

Date SD (ft)

SD (m)

Hit Bottom

CHL TP TSI(SD)

TSI(CHL)

TSI(TP)

LakeLevel

Clarity Color Perception

06/01/2008 11 3.4 NO 43 LOW MURKY BLUE 3-Enjoyment somewhat impaired (algae)

06/17/2008 13 4 NO 40 LOW CLEAR BLUE 2-Very minor aesthetic problems

06/25/2008 12.75 3.9 NO 40 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not be nicer

07/11/2008 10 3 NO 44 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not be nicer

07/18/2008 12.25 3.7 NO 41 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not be nicer

07/28/2008 12 3.7 NO 41 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not be nicer

08/04/2008 11.25 3.4 NO 42 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not be nicer

08/20/2008 13.25 4 NO 40 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not be nicer

09/05/2008 12.75 3.9 NO 40 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not be nicer

09/20/2008 10 5 3 2 NO 43 LOW CLEAR BLUE 1-Beautiful, could not

LAKE SUMMARY REPORT SAMPLE

←Did your secchi

disc hit bottom

and you could

still see it?

←Actual secchi

reading in feet.

Your perceptionof the amount ofalgae at thedeep hole.

←Your secchivalue converted

to trophic state

index. Adjusted

for Wisconsin.

Dad Lake - Deep Hole 2008 Results

Dad Lake - Deep Hole was sampled 12 different days during the 2008 season. Water clarity was sampled

with a secchi disk.

The average summer (July-Aug) secchi disk reading for Dad Lake - Deep Hole (Vilas County, WBIC:

979700) was 11.75 feet. The average for the Northeast Georegion was 10.2 feet. Typically the summer

(July-Aug) water was reported as CLEAR and BLUE.

The overall Trophic State Index (based on secchi) for Dad Lake - Deep Hole was 42. The TSI suggests

that Dad Lake - Deep Hole was mesotrophic. Mesotrophic lakes are characterized by moderately clear

water, but have a increasing chance of low dissolved oxygen in deep water during the summer.

Sample narrativethat will be supplied for eachlake.

NOTES

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Past secchi averages in feet (July and August only).

Dad Lake Lake Type: SEEPAGE

Vilas County DNR Region: NO

Waterbody Number: 979700 GEO Region:NE

Avg July-Aug Secchi Depth (ft)

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

7

1993

8

1994

9

1995

11

1996

10

1997

11

1998

12

1999

11

2000

12

2001

13

2002

13

2003

13

2004

13

2005

11

2006

11

2007

12

2008

Year Secchi Mean Secchi Min Secchi Max Secchi Count1993 7.4 6 10 7

1994 8 7 9 5

1995 9.4 6.75 12 4

1996 11.1 10.5 12 4

1997 10 2 8 5 11 25 4

NOTES

Average of July and

August secchi readings

over time. Volunteers

can see if water clarity

is improving, declining

or staying the same.

Monitoring Station: Dad Lake - Deep Hole, Vilas County

Past Summer (July-August) Trophic State Index (T

Trophic State Index Graph

Hypereutrophic

100908070

Eutrophic 6050Mesotrophic 40

Oligotrophic

3020100 19791993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008

= Secchi

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All volunteers are encouraged to report their annual findings at a lake association meeting or publish results in your organization’s newsletter. The following is an example of a simple summary that you can follow whengenerating your own report.

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Found Lake 2000 Water Quality Report

This year, Secchi disc readings show that the average water clarity on Found Lake

is about 5.25 feet. The deepest clarity reading was 7 feet deep on May 7th. The shal-

lowest clarity reading was 4 feet deep, which happened only a few days earlier

on May 3rd. Rainstorms, windy days, or boat traffic can cause the clarity of the lake

to fluctuate. This is normal and happens on most lakes. One thing that is important

to look for is if the water quality is changing over time. This doesn’t seem to be the case

for Found Lake. For the last four years the average water clarity readings were 4.75 feet

in 1999, 5.0 feet in 1998, 8.3 feet in 1997, and 5.7 feet in 1996.

These historical water clarity readings show that Found Lake is a eutrophic lake. This

was verified by the phosphorus and chlorophyll levels in the lake. Although the phos-

phorus and chlorophyll results from 2000 are not back from the lab yet, the results from

1999 indicate that Found Lake is a eutrophic lake.

A eutrophic lake is a lake that is high in nutrients and supports a large amount of plants

and animals. Eutrophic lakes are often weedy and can sometimes have algae blooms. They

often support large fish populations, but they are also susceptible to oxygen depletion.

2000 was the first year that oxygen levels were measured on the lake. Oxygen levels were

measured once in May and once in August. In Found Lake there was plenty of oxygen for

fish to survive in most of the water column, except below 21 feet in May and below 12 feet

in August. This oxygen depletion most likely occurs because the plant and algae decomposi-

tion during the summer months use up oxygen. The more plants and algae you have, the

more that die, and the more oxygen they use up when they decompose. Reducing the

amount of nutrients that get into a lake to allow for excessive plant and algae growth will

generate less plant matter to decompose and will help keep oxygen levels from getting too

low. One way to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the lake is to not fertilizing lawns,

reduce erosion, and keep (or restore) a natural shoreline.

Found Lake 2000 Water Quality Report

This year, Secchi disc readings show that the average water clarity on Found Lake

is about 5.25 feet. The deepest clarity reading was 7 feet deep on May 7th. The

shallowest clarity reading was 4 feet deep, which happened only a few days earlier

on May 3rd. Rainstorms, windy days, or boat traffic can cause the clarity of the lake

to fluctuate. This is normal and happens on most lakes. One thing that is important

to look for is if the water quality is changing over time. This doesn’t seem to be the

case for Found Lake. For the last four years the average water clarity readings were

4.75 feet in 1999, 5.0 feet in 1998, 8.3 feet in 1997, and 5.7 feet in 1996.

These historical water clarity readings show that Found Lake is a eutrophic lake. This

was verified by the phosphorus and chlorophyll levels in the lake. Although the phos-

phorus and chlorophyll results from 2000 are not back from the lab yet, the results

from 1999 indicate that Found Lake is a eutrophic lake.

A eutrophic lake is a lake that is high in nutrients and supports a large amount of plants

and animals. Eutrophic lakes are often weedy and can sometimes have algae blooms.

They often support large fish populations, but they are also susceptible to oxygen deple-

tion. 2000 was the first year that oxygen levels were measured on the lake. Oxygen lev-

els were measured once in May and once in August. In Found Lake there was plenty of

oxygen for fish to survive in most of the water column, except below 21 feet in May and

below 12 feet in August. This oxygen depletion most likely occurs because the plant and

algae decomposition during the summer months use up oxygen. The more plants and

algae you have, the more that die, and the more oxygen they use up when they decom-

pose. Reducing the amount of nutrients that get into a lake to allow for excessive plant

and algae growth will generate less plant matter to decompose and will help keep oxy-

gen levels from getting too low. One way to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the

lake is to not fertilizing lawns, reduce erosion, and keep (or restore) a natural shoreline.

Secchi Reading and Light Penetration

Secchi disc measurements can indicate the depth atwhich your lake contains enough oxygen to support fishand other aquatic life. In general, sunlight can penetrateto a depth 1.7 times greater than your recorded Secchidepth. For example, if your Secchi disc reading is 12 feetdeep, that means the sunlight can actually penetrate 20feet deep (1.7 times 12). The depth at which sunlight canpenetrate is called the photic zone. It is within this zonethat photosynthesis occurs and oxygen is produced byalgae and other aquatic plants. Plant life is important toprovide necessary habitat for fish and invertebrates. Indeep, productive lakes, oxygen may become depletedbelow the photic zone as a result of bacterial decomposi-tion of dead plants and animals. Without oxygen, phos-phorus and other nutrients may be released from the lakesediments and during the lake’s mixing periods be circu-lated to the surface water. This internal cycling of nutri-ents can trigger algae blooms, aquatic plant growth, andodor problems.

How Does My Lake Compare to Others?

To examine how your lake quality compares to othersaround the state, use the summary reports generated byCLMN. These reports contain graphs that chart the SecchiTSIs for each lake type in each georegion. You can findthese reports online at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/clmn.

What if Your Data is Better Than Average

If your Secchi readings are better than average for yourlake type and georegion, you will want to work to pro-tect your lake and keep it the way it is. One way to helpprotect your lake is through a Lake Protection Grant.Qualified lake associations, lake districts, as well as,counties, towns, cities, or villages are eligible to receivelake planning and protection grant funding. Throughthese 75 percent cost-share grants (75% state share/25%local share), money is available for lake and watersheddata collection, development of local lake managementplans, land acquisition, and other lake protection activi-ties. For more information on lake grants, contact yourCLMN regional coordinator or a UWEX lake specialist.The Wisconsin DNR also has excellent information onlake grants online at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/grants.

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PHOTIC ZONE • The surface and under -water lighted zone in a lake that usually has a depth around 1.7 times the Secchi reading.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS • Process by whichgreen plants convert carbon dioxide (CO2)dissolved in water to sugar and oxygen usingsunlight for energy.

DECOMPOSITION • The act of breaking downorganic matter from a complex form to a sim-pler form, mainly through the action of fungiand bacteria.

DID YOU KNOW?Usually, light can penetrate thesurface of a lake to about 1.7times the recorded Secchi depth.This light penetrating zone is calledthe photic zone. In this zone, plantsand algae produce oxygen. Aquaticplants provide good habitat for fishand invertebrates. This zone also pro-vides good habitat for fish and othervertebrates, because the light enablesthem to see better under water whensearching for prey.

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

What if Your Data isWorse Than Average

If your Secchi readings are lowerthan average for your lake type andgeoregion, the first step is to try tofigure out what is causing the lowreadings. If your water appears clearand brown, chances are your lake is a“stained” lake. This staining is natu-ral and not an indication of a waterquality problem. With this kind oflake, you may want to get involvedin chemistry monitoring which cangive you more information about thetrophic status of your lake.

If your water appears murkyand brown, the problem may be sed-iment. In this case, you will want toinvestigate where the problem iscoming from. Sediment in the watercan be due to erosion along the lakeshore, or erosion coming fromstreams that flow into lakes.Sediment in your lake could also bea result of carp or boat traffic stirringup the bottom.

Clear and green, or murky andgreen water may suggest that algaeare impacting your Secchi readings.In this case, working with peoplethat live and work around your laketo reduce nutrient inputs is onething you can do. If your lake is sur-rounded by farms, farm owners canapply best management practices to

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GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMSuppose that your lake is not as clear as others in thearea, and that there is some indication of clay turbid-ity in the spring and after rainstorms. However, thecolor of your lake is green indicating that algae, notclay, is affecting water clarity. What do you do now?

First, do some detective work.

Your data have given you some clues as to thesources and cycles of nutrients and erosion materials.Drive through the watershed, preferably after a recentrain and observe the condition of the streams enteringyour lake. Are some more turbid than others? Lookupstream and try to track down the sources of turbid-ity. If you’re lucky, you may find some point sources(e.g., pipes) or specific locations such as a field or hous-ing development that is the source of the problem. Ifyou aren’t lucky, you may find that there are numerouscontributors to stream turbidity. Are there any sewagetreatment plants discharging into the river or arehouses in the watershed using septic tanks? Sewage inany form is high in nutrients and septic systems some-times fail or are deliberately by-passed. By the time youhave done several of these surveys you might have abetter idea of the sources of your lake’s problems. Itmight even be necessary to obtain a detailed map thatincludes the watershed and start mapping problemstreams and sources.

Second, take more Secchi measurements in your lake.

Even though the Network requires you to collectdata every other week, you can sample more often ifyou think it is important. Make a point to sample yourlake after rainstorms to see if there is any relationshipbetween rainfall and your lake’s turbidity. You may alsowant to sample more sites on your lake, preferablynear the mouths of streams that you think may becausing turbidity. To make these new sites “official” con-tact your regional coordinator. If you think weekendwatercraft use may be affecting your water clarity, trysampling the lake during the week and again on theweekend (Don’t forget to make a note of this on yourdata sheet!). Volunteers have even used their Secchidata to detect the consequences of leaking septic sys-tems by monitoring decreases in transparency nearhouses. Be sure to write down all of your observationsand report your data to the Network. We really dowant to know more about your lake, too!

WHERE DOES THE STORM WATER GO?If you look in the street outside of yourhome or office and search the parkinglots around town, you will probablyfind storm sewer inlets. Did you everwonder where they go?

A common misconception about stormsewers is that they go to a waste-watertreatment plant. This is not the case.Storm sewers transport stormwater (rain and melting snow) to the nearestriver, lake, stream, or wetland. Storm -water often contains materials found on streets and parking lots such as oil,antifreeze, gasoline, soil, litter, petwastes, fertilizers, pesticides, leaves, andgrass clippings. When these materialsenter lakes and streams, they becomepollutants that kill fish, reduce the aes-thetics of the water, and may even closebeaches. (UW Extension 1991)

What can I do?You can:

❑✓ plant trees, shrubs or ground covers,

❑✓ maintain a healthy lawn,

❑✓ redirect down spouts from pavedareas to vegetated areas,

❑✓ use a rain barrel to catch and storewater for gardens,

❑✓ install gravel trenches along drive-ways or patios,

❑✓ use porous materials such as woodenplanks or bricks for walkways andpatios,

❑✓ have the driveway and walkwaysgraded so water flows onto lawnareas, and

❑✓ wash your car on the lawn, not thedriveway. (UW Extension 1991)

reduce the amount of nutrients that flow into your lake.Maintaining a healthy, diverse aquatic plant communitywill help to reduce shoreland erosion and create habitatfor fish and wildlife. Convincing others to plant naturalvegetation along their lakeshore is another great way toreduce the amount of nutrients that enter your lake. Ifyour lake is in an urban area, work to convincelandowners to use less fertilizer on their lawns. In urbanareas, rain gardens are another great way to reduce pol-lution. Rain gardens are small depressions in your yard,landscaped with native plants and wildflowers. Thesewater-loving plants help capture runoff, allowing morewater to infiltrate into your soil, rather than runningdown the pavement into the storm drain and ultimatelyyour lake.

It is important to keep AIS out of your lake. AIScan have a detrimental impact on the natural balancein the lake ecosystem. Chemical control of EWM orcurly-leaf pondweed may increase algae populations.

You may want to apply for a Lake Planning Grantif sediment or algae are having a negative impact on yourlake. Your lake association can use the grant to prepare along-term management plan. For more information onapplying for a Lake Planning Grant contact your CLMNregional coordinator or a UWEX lake specialist. TheWisconsin DNR website also provides excellent informa-tion on lake grants at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/grants.

If you do not have a lake association, form one.Lake associations are organizations of individuals whoown land on or near a lake. Dealing with the broadrange of issues and concerns that face our lakes can beoverwhelming for one person. Working as an organizedgroup that shares a common goal can make even themost difficult problems easy. For more information onforming a lake association or other ways to organize,please contact: Lake Specialist, UW-Extension, Collegeof Natural Resources, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point,WI 54881-3897. Or, visit http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/associations.

If you already are part of a lake association, youcan share your data by doing a presentation or writingan article for the newsletter.

The best way to help solve your lake’s problems isthrough education. Try planning a lake fair or event. Alake fair is a good way to help lake property ownersand users become involved with lake issues. A lake fairis an educational and social event that blends a sense

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of discovery and entertainment. These eventsprovide an opportunity for participants to gethands-on experience, talk with lake experts inan informal setting, meet lake neigh-bors, and build relationships. Formore information on organizing a lakefair, please contact: Lake Specialist,UW-Extension, College of NaturalResources, UW-Stevens Point, StevensPoint, WI 54881.

Another great opportunity to furtheryour limnology skills is to attend the LakeLeader Institute. The Institute’s seminars aredesigned to stretch the minds by exploringnew ideas about lakes management and thehuman use of lakes. The Institute also seeks todevelop networks to share experiences and toencourage participants to learn from each other.The core curriculum is offered every other year.For more information on the Lake LeaderInstitute, please visit http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/lakeleaders/.

The Lakes Convention is an annual event thatgives educators, lake lovers, federal, state, and localexperts a chance to get together and discuss lakeissues. Please visit http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/conventions/ for more informationon the convention.

Keeping a “Lake Log”

As a CLMN volunteer, you are a record-keeper ofyour lake’s overall health. The Secchi clarity data,water chemistry information, and observationsthat you supply help with current managementactivities and also provide a basis for future man-agement. The information that you collect in thefield, as well as, the summary results presented inCLMN reports, should be used to create a “lakelog” (i.e. a long-term record of your lake’s overallhistory and health).

The field data sheet copies of your waterclarity and chemistry information can be used asbasic information for starting your lake log.Eventually you can add graphs, news clippings,lake history, maps, wildlife sightings, land userecords, etc., to make your log complete. The sky’sthe limit! But don’t take on this responsibilityalone. You can share record-keeping responsibili-ties by enlisting the help of lakeshore residents,lake association members, and youth or schoolgroups to help collect and compile information.

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RRecord-KeepingRecord-Keeping

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For a basic lake log, the following items are recom-mended: a lake map, copies of your field data sheetsand notes, and your annual data summary sheets. Inaddition to the items listed above, if you would like tocompile a more comprehensive lake log the followingitems are recommended.

❑✓ Graphs of your results

❑✓ General lake ecology information (e.g., CLMN reports, Understanding Lake Data, etc.)

❑✓ Statewide CLMN data summary sheets

❑✓ Planning and protection grant information

❑✓ Precipitation and other weather information

❑✓ Ice-on and ice-off dates

❑✓ Wildlife sightings

❑✓ Illustrations and photographs

❑✓ Aquatic plant information

❑✓ Lake history notes from interviews with long-time residents

❑✓ Historical maps showing watershed development

❑✓ Video or photos of shoreline developmentrunoff, plants, algal blooms, etc.

❑✓ Any other data or information collected about your lake

Assembling the BasicsThe Wisconsin DNR has maps for many lakes inWisconsin available online at http://dnr.wi.gov/maps/.When you sample, make careful observations. Your ini-tial observations are important since they can help youremember (and others understand) what is happeningin and around your lake. In addition, taking careful fieldnotes can provide a better understanding of the waterquality and ecosystem conditions on your lake. Alwaysremember to keep copies of your Secchi and field datasheets, the annual data summary sheets for your lake,and the statewide data summaries. The easiest way to dothis is to three-hole punch them and add them to yourlake log binder. CLMN volunteers receive graphs show-ing Secchi visibility, water chemistry, and their lake’strophic state index annually.

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SECCHI DIP-INThe Secchi Dip-In is an annual eventcoordinated by Kent State University,where individuals from all over theworld take a Secchi reading sometimebetween the end of June and the middleof July each year. You should report yourdata from these dates to the Network,and optionally, you can also report themto the Secchi Dip-In online. For moreinformation on this annual event pleasevisit http://dipin.kent.edu/ or [email protected].

REMOTE SENSINGSince 1999, volunteers have assisted in a collaborative research effort withUniversity of Wisconsin EnvironmentalRemote Sensing Center by taking Secchireadings on dates when the satelliteswere over their lakes. The volunteers’participation has allowed the Universityto successfully calibrate computer pro-grams that use satellite imagery to pre-dict Secchi disc depth and other waterquality parameters on lakes. The ulti-mate goal is to put the satellite data intoeveryday use by making the water clar-ity data derived from the satelliteimagery available to the Wisconsin DNRand to the public. The dates that satellitephotos will be taken of your lake areavailable online at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/remotesensing/. TakeSecchi readings on as many of the datesas you can. If you collect data on “satellitedates,” you don’t need to do anythingspecial to report it. The Network willautomatically include your data in theanalysis of the satellite imagery. Justthink, on a clear satellite day, your Secchireading may translate into hundreds ofother readings; almost as if you’re moni-toring hundreds of lakes at one time!

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Algae. Small aquatic plants containing chloro-phyll and without roots that occur as a sin-gle cell or multi-celled colonies. Algae formthe base of the food chain in an aquaticenvironment.

Algal bloom. A heavy growth of algae in andon a body of water as a result of highnutrient concentrations.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Refers tospecies of plant or animal that are notnative to a particular region into whichthey have moved or invaded. Zebra musselsand Eurasian water-milfoil are examples ofAIS. Wisconsin has laws preventing thespread on boats and trailers.

Bathymetric map. A map showing depth con-tours in a water body. Bottom contours are usually presented as lines of equaldepth, in meters or feet. Often called ahydrographic map.

Chlorophyll. Green pigment present in allplant life and necessary for photosynthesis.The amount of chlorophyll present in lakewater depends on the amount of algae and isused as a common indicator of water quality.

Cultural eutrophication. Acceleratedeutrophication of a lake that occurs as aresult of human activities in the watershed.These activities increase nutrient loads inrunoff water that drains into lakes.

Decomposition. The act of breaking downorganic matter from a complex form to asimpler form, mainly through the action offungi and bacteria.

Deionized water. Water that has been passedthrough a column or membrane to removeions present.

Distilled water. Water that is boiled in a stilland the condensate collected and distrib-uted. Distillation removes both ionic andnonionic organic contaminants.

Dissolved oxygen. A measure of the amountof oxygen gas dissolved in water and avail-able for use by microorganisms and fish.Dissolved oxygen is produced by aquaticplants and algae as part of photosynthesis.

Drainage lake. Lakes fed primarily by streamsand with outlets into streams or rivers.They are more subject to surface runoffproblems but generally have shorter resi-dence times than seepage lakes. Watershedprotection is usually needed to managelake water quality.

Epilimnion. The uppermost circulating layerof warm water that occurs in stratifiedlakes in summer because of the differencesin water density.

Euphotic zone. That part of a water bodywhere light penetration is sufficient tomaintain photosynthesis.

Eutrophic. Lakes characterized by high nutri-ent inputs, high productivity, often experi-encing algal blooms and abundant weedgrowth. This term can also refer to a nutri-ent-rich lake, as large amounts of algae andweeds characterize a eutrophic lake.

Eutrophication. The process by which lakesand streams are enriched by nutrients caus-ing an increase in plant and algae growth.

Georegion. Wisconsin’s lake “georegions” origi-nated from a grouping of lakes made in theearly 1980s by Wisconsin DNR senior lim-nologists. These groupings are based on thebest professional judgment of the scientistsmost familiar with Wisconsin’s lakeresources. The georegions roughly reflect“hydro-chemical lake regions” which arebased on the state’s bedrock geology, glacialgeology and soil type, and the morerecently described “ecoregions” which arebased on geological characteristics as wellas the dominant vegetation.

Hypolimnion. The cold, deepest layer of a lakethat is removed from surface influences.

GGlossaryGlossary

Lake association. A voluntary organizationwith a membership generally comprised ofthose who own land on or near a lake. Thegoals of lake associations usually includemaintaining, protecting, and improvingthe quality of a lake, its fisheries, and itswatershed.

Lake classification. A way of placing lakesinto categories with management strategiesbest suited to the types of lakes found ineach category. For example, lakes can beclassified to apply varying shoreland devel-opment standards. They can be groupedbased on hydrology, average depth, surfacearea, shoreline configuration, as well as,sensitivity to pollutants and recreational use.

Lake district. A special purpose unit of gov-ernment with the cause of maintaining,protecting, and improving the quality of alake and its watershed for the mutual goodof the members and the lake environment.

Limnology. The study of inland lakes andwaters. The study of the interactions of thebiological, chemical, and physical parame-ters of lakes and rivers.

Macrophyte. Large, rooted or floating aquaticplants that may bear flowers and seeds.

Meniscus. The curved upper surface of a stillliquid in a tube caused by surface tension.

Mesotrophic. Lakes characterized by theirmoderately fertile nutrient levels. Falls inbetween the oligotrophic and eutrophiclevels of nutrient enrichment.

Metalimnion. Sometimes referred to as thethermocline. The narrow transition zonebetween the epilimnion and thehypolimnion that occurs in stratified lakes.

Nitrogen. One of the major nutrients requiredfor the growth of aquatic plants and algae.

Oligotrophic. Lakes characterized by low nutri-ent inputs and low productivity. They aregenerally deep with high water clarity.

Parts per million (ppm). An expression ofconcentration indicating weight of a sub-stance in a volume of one liter. Milligramsper liter (mg/l) is an equivalent unit.

pH. The measure of the acidity or alkalinity of asolution. Neutral solutions are defined ashaving a pH of 7.0. Solutions which areknown as acidic have a pH lower than 7.Solutions which are known as basic have apH greater than 7.

Phosphorus. The major nutrient influencingplant and algal growth in more than 80%of Wisconsin lakes. Soluble reactive phos-phorus refers to the amount of phosphorusin solution that is available to plants andalgae. Total phosphorus refers to the amountof phosphorus in solution (reactive) and inparticulate forms (non-reactive.)

Photic zone. The surface and underwaterlighted zone in a lake that usually has adepth around 1.7 times the Secchi reading.

Photosynthesis. Process by which green plantsconvert carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolved inwater to sugar and oxygen using sunlightfor energy. Photosynthesis is essential inproducing a lake’s food base and is animportant source of oxygen for many lakes.

Phytoplankton. Very small free-floating aquaticplants, such as one-celled algae. Theirabundance, as measured by the amount ofchlorophyll a in a water sample, is commonlyused to classify the trophic status of a lake.

Qualified Lake Association. To be eligible forstate lake planning, protection and recre-ational boating facilities grants, a lake asso-ciation must meet certain standards set outin section 281.68 of the Wisconsin statutes.

(Glossary continued on next page)

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Respiration. The reverse reaction of photosyn-thesis. The complex process that occurs inthe cells of plants and animals in whichnutrient organic molecules, such as glucose,combine with oxygen to produce carbondioxide, water, and energy. Respiration con-sumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.This process also takes place during decom-position as bacterial respiration increases.

Runoff. Water from rain, snow melt, or irriga-tion that flows over the ground surface andinto streams or lakes.

Secchi disc. A 20-cm (8-inch) diameter discpainted white and black in alternatingquadrants. It is used to measure light trans-parency in lakes.

Seepage lakes. Lakes without a significant inletor outlet, fed by rainfall and groundwater.

Spring lakes. Lakes that have no inlet, buthave an outlet. The primary source ofwater for spring lakes is groundwater flow-ing into the bottom of the lake from insideand outside the immediate surface drainagearea. Spring lakes are found at the headwa-ters of many streams and are a fairly com-mon type of lake in northern Wisconsin.

State Laboratory of Hygiene. The state ofWisconsin’s public health and environmen-tal laboratory.

Station # (or Storet #). A number assigned tosampling locations on a waterbody. TheStation # makes it easy to track secchi andchemistry data. Each sampling site on alake will have a separate Station #.

Stratification. The layering of water due todifferences in temperature and density.

SWIMS. Surface Water Integrated MonitoringSystem. The database where all CLMNdata and other water quality data is stored.

Tannins. Natural pigments found in organicmatter such as leaves and bark.

Thermocline. Sometimes referred to as themetalimnion. The narrow transition zonebetween the epilimnion and thehypolimnion that occurs in stratified lakes.

Trophic state. The extent to which the processof eutrophication has occurred is reflectedin a lake’s trophic classification or state.The three major trophic states are olig-otrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic.

Turion. A specialized bud which consists ofcondensed leaves and stems. This structureis most often an “over-wintering” structure,but in the case of curly-leaf pondweed is an“over-summering” structure. When theappropriate water conditions are reached,the turion will sprout a new plant.

μg/L. micrograms per liter is an expression ofconcentration indicating weight of a sub-stance in a volume of one liter. Parts perbillion (ppb) is an equivalent unit.

Volunteer Identification Number. All datacollected in CLMN is tied back to an indi-vidual’s volunteer id number. Necessary ifone wishes to enter data into the database.

Waterbody # or WBIC (WaterbodyIdentification Code).

A unique identification number theWisconsin DNR uses to identify eachwaterbody in the state. Every one of the15,000 lakes in Wisconsin has a uniqueWBIC.

Watershed. The area of land draining into aspecific stream, river, lake, or other body of water.

Zebra mussel. A tiny bottom dwelling mollusknative to Europe.

Zooplankton. Plankton that is made up ofmicroscopic animals, for example, protozoa,that eat algae. These suspended planktonare an important component of the lakefood chain and ecosystem. For many fishand crustaceans, they are the primarysource of food.

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Secchi Collection Summary Sheet

1. Contact your Citizen Lake Monitoring Network coordinator for a volunteer identifi-cation number, waterbody # or WBIC (Waterbody Identification Code) and Station #.The Station # identifies the sample site on the lake, usually the deepest part of the lake(the deep hole).

2. Before going out to collect Secchi reading, be sure that conditions are right and safe forsampling.

• Sunny to partly sunny/cloudy skies• Wind calm to breezy – there should be no white caps on the lake• Between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm

3. Gather your reporting form, lake map with the sample site marked, PFD and Secchidisc. Motor to the deep hole or other designated sampling site. Anchor boat.

4. Mark time and date on your data sheet.

5. Remove sunglasses. Secchi reading is taken from the shady side of the boat.

6. Unwind the Secchi disc rope from the holder. Lean over the shady side of the boatand slowly lower the Secchi disc into the water until you can no longer see it. Youshould be as close to the surface of the water as is safe. If you are sampling from apontoon boat, kneel down on the floor of the boat.

7. When the Secchi disc barely disappears from view, mark the rope at the water levelwith a clothes pin.

8. Lower the Secchi disc a few more feet into the water. Slowly raise the disc. When theSecchi disc reappears, mark the rope at the water level with the second clothespin. Theclothespin may be at the same spot or there may be several inches to several feet difference.

9. Bring the Secchi disc back into the boat. Average the two Secchi readings by forming aloop between the two clothespins. Slide one clothespin into the center of the loop to markit. Remove the other clothespin. The remaining clothespin will be your Secchi reading.

10. Count the number of feet from the disc until you reach your clothespin. Round off tothe nearest quarter foot and record that number on your data sheet.

11. Complete water aesthetics survey on your worksheet. Water level should be recordedusing the ordinary high water mark as the norm.

12. To determine if the water appearance is clear or murky, hold your Secchi disc one footunder the surface of the water and observe how the white part of the disc appears.

13. To determine water color, hold your Secchi disc one foot under the surface of the waterand observe the water against the white of the disc. Clear water should be recorded as“blue.”

14. Indicate your perception of the water quality at the deep hole. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the best and 5 being the worst) record your perception of the amount ofalgae in the water.

15. Record weather and other observations.

AAppendix 1:Appendix 1:

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How to Report Data OnlineAAppendix 2:Appendix 2:

Forms

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Appendix 3:Appendix 3:Appendix 3:

Secchi Datasheet

Ice Observation Report - “Ice On”

Ice Observation Report - “Ice Off”

Aquatic Invasives Presence/Absence Report

(see next 4 pages)

PLEASE NOTE: You can find the most current version of the forms online.http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/forms

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If you or past observers on your lake have always used another method to judge ice-on and ice-off, please describe the method

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Monitoring Results

Ice Observation Report - "Ice On"Form 3200-131 (R 02/08)

Personally identifiable information collected on this form will be incorporated into the DNR lakes database. It is not intended to be used for any other purposes, but may be made available to requesters under Wisconsin's Open Records laws, s. 19.32 - 19.39, Wis. Stats.

Date and Time of Monitoring

Describe your observation point

Describe portion of waterbody you can see from your observation point

County

State of WisconsinDepartment of Natural ResourcesWisconsin Lakes Partnership

Phone Number Email

Township Name

Start Date

If you or past observers on your lake have always used another method to judge ice-on and ice-off, please describe the method"Ice Off" = The lake is considered thawed when it is possible to boat from any shore to the deepest part of the lake without encountering ice.

Start Time

Ice Duration (Total number of days frozen) [provide only if lake was observed daily]

Comments

Primary Data CollectorName

Additional Data Collector Names

Monitoring LocationWaterbody Name

Start Date = Date you observed "Ice Off"

Date First "Ice Off" (When lake was first observed to be open in the spring)

Monitoring Results

Ice Observation Report - "Ice Off"Form 3200-131 (R 02/08)

Personally identifiable information collected on this form will be incorporated into the DNR lakes database. It is not intended to be used for any other purposes, but may be made available to requesters under Wisconsin's Open Records laws, s. 19.32 - 19.39, Wis. Stats.

Date and Time of Monitoring

Describe your observation point

Describe portion of waterbody you can see from your observation point

County

State of WisconsinDepartment of Natural ResourcesWisconsin Lakes Partnership

Township Name

Zebra Mussels?

Other?: ____________

If you find an aquatic invasiveIf you find an aquatic invasive and it is not listed at http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/AIS fill out an incident report for the species. Then bring the form, a voucher specimen if possible, and a map showing where you found it to your regional DNR Citizen Lake Monitoring Coordinator as soon as possible (to facilitate control if control is an option).

Fishhook Waterfleas?

Freshwater Jellyfish?

If you don't find an aquatic invasiveIf you submit your data online, that is all you need to do. Otherwise, please mail a copy to your regional DNR Citizen Lake Monitoring Coordinator.

Hydrilla?

Purple Loosestrife?

Rusty Crayfish?

Spiny Waterfleas?Eurasian Water Milfoil?

Monitoring Location

Observe entire shallow water area (up to 3 feet deep)?

Use rake to extract plant samples?

Check underwater solid surfaces (boat hulls, dock legs, rocks)?

Walk along the shoreline?

Other: _______________________________

Did you…

County Boat Landing (if you only monitor at a boat landing)

All Beaches and Boat Landings?

Banded Mystery Snail?

Chinese Mystery Snail?

Curly-Leaf Pondweed?

Did you monitor…

Dates MonitoredStart Date (when you first monitored this season)

Did at least some data collectors monitor in... May? June? July? August? (circle all that apply)

End Date (when you last monitored this season)

Aquatic Invasives Presence/Absence

Primary Data Collector Name Phone Number EmailData Collectors

Form 3200-133 (03/09)

Other: _______________________________

Did you find…(even if not a new finding for the lake or stream)

End of Season Report

Personally identifiable information collected on this form will be incorporated into the DNR aquatic invasive species database. It is not intended to be used for any other purposes, but may be made available to requesters under Wisconsin's Open Records laws, s. 19.32 - 19.39, Wis. Stats.

Total Paid Hours Spent (# people x # hours each) Total Volunteer Hours Spent (# people x # hours each)

Additional Data Collector Names

Waterbody Name

Perimeter of whole lake?

Docks or piers?

State of WisconsinDepartment of Natural ResourcesWisconsin Lakes Partnership

Frequently Some of the Time Not Often/Never

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Yes No Did not look for

Frequently Some of the Time Not Often/Never

Frequently Some of the Time Not Often/Never

Frequently Some of the Time Not Often/Never

Frequently Some of the Time Not Often/Never

Frequently Some of the Time Not Often/Never

Frequently Some of the Time Not Often/Never

page 56

W I S C O N S I N C I T I Z E N L A K E M O N I T O R I N G T R A I N I N G M A N U A L

Asplund, T.R. 2000. The Effects of Motorized Watercraft on AquaticEcosystems. Miscellaneous Publication SS-948.Wisconsin Depart ment of Natural Resources,Bureau of Science Services and University ofWisconsin, Water Chemistry Program.

Larson, G.L. and Buktenica, M.W., 1998. Variability of secchi reading in an exceptionallyclear and deep caldera lake. Archiv fuerHydrobiologie. Vol. 141. No. 4

Lillie, R.A. and J.W. Mason. 1983. Limnological characteristics of Wisconsin lakes.Technical Bulletin (138):1-116. WisconsinDepart ment of Natural Resources, Madison.

Lundquist, J.B. 1975. A Primer on Limnology. University of Minne sotaLimnological Research Center, St. Paul, MN.28 pp.

Post, G.W. 1988. A Textbook of Fish Health. TFH Publication Inc.

Shaw, B.H., C. Mechenich and L. Klessig. 2000. Understanding Lake Data. University of Wiscon -sin Extension, Madison, WI. 20 pp.

University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. 1992. Zebra Mussel Boater’s Guide. University of Wis consin Sea Grant Institute, Madison, WI.

University of Wisconsin-Extension. 1991.Storm Sewers: The Rivers Beneath Our Feet.Univer sity of Wis consin-Extension, Madison, WI.

University of Wisconsin-Extension. 2001. Brown Water, Green Weeds. University ofWisconsin-Extension, Madison, WI. Publicationnumber GWQ003. Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources, Madison, WI. Publicationnumber WT-459 2001.

Understanding Lake DataThis booklet will help you understand how lakeswork and what your data means for your lake.The CLMN web site can also provide links toother lake information athttp://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/.

Wisconsin Lakes [PUBL-FM-800 91]This book published by the Wisconsin DNR listsWisconsin’s lakes, their area, depth, if they havepublic access, and what fish species they support.

Life on the Edge: Owning Waterfront PropertyThis book was written by Michael Dresen andRobert Korth and published by the University ofWisconsin in 1995. It is an easy to read guide forwaterfront owners and covers topics like septicsystems, wells, and shoreline development. Copiesare available for $10 from University of WisconsinExtension Lakes Partnership, College of NaturalResources, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

LimnologyThis book was written by Charles Goldman andAlexander Horne and published in 1983 byMcGraw Hill, Inc, New York. It is a basic collegelimnology text that covers both lakes and streams.

LimnologyThis book was written by Robert G. Wetzel andpublished in 1983 by Saunders College Publishing,Philadelphia. It is a slightly technical college textwhich covers many topics in great detail.

Through the Looking Glass... A Field Guide to Aquatic Plants

This book was written by Susan Borman, RobertKorth and Jo Temte and published in 1997 bythe University of Wisconsin. It is available fromUniversity of Wisconsin Extension LakesPartnership, College of Natural Resources,University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

LLiterature CitedLiterature Cited

AAdditional ResourcesAdditional ResourcesCLMN Web Site: http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMNCBCW Web Site: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CBCWUWEX Web Site: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes

The following resources and many other limnology related books can be found on the web or at your local or University library. Used text books often can be found at college bookstores for a reduced price.

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesBureau of Science Services

P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707

PUB-SS-1010 2009

Printed on recycled paper.