Water quality '06

Rinkerfam · 07-11-2006, 11:35 PM

Has anyone notice the seemingly poor water quality of the lake this season? I am guessing that the run-off, which occurred during the spring rains, is mostly to blame. I have witnessed less clarity due to silt, as well as a tanic "iced tea" color to the lake water. Has anyone heard anything official about the health of the lake? I am truly concerned.

Lakegeezer · 07-12-2006, 07:32 AM

The University of NH has a set of volunteers that measure the visibility of the lake. It would be interesting to see the current numbers and compare them to the past. There seems to be several symptoms of change.

The water is strongly tannic. This can be explained by the high water levels of last October and this spring. The water had a several months over the past year of wake enhanced lapping at a higher shoreline, which brought in new organic matter. Also, the extra rain percolated through the ground to make the “tannic tea” stronger. The tannic color occurs every spring but usually goes away by June. If we have a normal weather year or two, perhaps the color will be restored to normal.

A more disturbing change is the silt on the bottom of lake. There is a deeply submerged rock that is offshore from where we swim and is hard to find, so we make a game of racing out to it. In the past, the trick to winning was to peer through the water, looking for the top of the rock. This year, it is impossible to see so we have to find it with our feet. A layer of very dark silt hides it. A few weeks ago, I was snorkeling in five feet of water by the dock and noticed how the boat wake was agitated the bottom of the lake, much like a washing machine agitates clothing. This can’t be good for the lake. The water is becoming thicker with organic particles which settle into silt. Try dunking a t-shirt in the lake and letting it dry. It practically stands up on its own, starched with lake particles. The fresh-water clams that used to keep the bottom looking like clean sand are gone.

Other symptom we notice is the green slime that forms on the dock and the bottom of the boat. It comes early in the season and grows pretty thick.

The bigger question is “so what”? There seems to be no political will to declare the lake “in danger” and prescribe a remedy. The higher price of fuel and its impact on boat traffic may help slow down the damage, but what if a two year ban on motors over 25 HP was the answer to restoring water quality? Economic growth would stop and house prices would shrink. Hundreds of millions of dollars in real-estate valuation would be lost. Businesses that depended on tourist revenue would suffer. It would cost too much to reverse the decline in water quality, so the lake will have to suffer until another generation decides it is time to fix it.

We should at least document the decline, to help the argument of those that eventually press for a cure.

mcdude · 07-12-2006, 08:54 AM

Last week I participated in the the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP) through the NH Dept. of Environmental Services. One of the tests conducted is a water clarity test and on both Hills Pond and Sunset Lake the clarity of the water was measurably down from last year. It is most likely the result of high spring waters dragging sediment and organic matter from the shore into the lake and was at least, in part, exacerbated by boat wakes during the high Spring waters. For example, one could usually see up to four meters down into Hills Pond. This year it was only 1.75 meters.

Grant · 07-12-2006, 02:42 PM

This year will surely be a poor visibility year in the lake, with all those heavy rains.

But the overall decline in water quality is ultimately due to changes in the watershed.

A really good page, worth a read, regarding Lake Eutrophication:

http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/bb/bb-3.htm

And an incredible resource regarding all the various issues of watershed management:

http://www.des.state.nh.us/bb.htm

ApS · 07-14-2006, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rinkerfam

I have witnessed less clarity due to silt, as well as a tanic "iced tea" color to the lake water. Has anyone heard anything official about the health of the lake?

The "official line" was that it was this Spring's runoff that has caused Winnipesaukee's present silt and bacteria problems.

However, we just had torrential rains that raised the lake about four inches above Tuesday's level—but the clarity is still as good as before the rains—and no silt!

The blame for the extremely heavy silt load lies directly at the feet of officials who failed earlier to place a comprehensive NWZ on the lake: Unfortunately, there are too few of us who can witness daily this "downsizing" of Winnipesaukee lakewater quality.

Leave the problem to another generation? Haven't we already left a full menu of problems?

Mee-n-Mac · 07-14-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

The "official line" was that it was this Spring's runoff that has caused Winnipesaukee's present silt and bacteria problems.

However, we just had torrential rains that raised the lake about four inches above Tuesday's level—but the clarity is still as good as before the rains—and no silt!

The blame for the extremely heavy silt load lies directly at the feet of officials who failed earlier to place a comprehensive NWZ on the lake: Unfortunately, there are too few of us who can witness daily this "downsizing" of Winnipesaukee lakewater quality.

Leave the problem to another generation? Haven't we already left a full menu of problems?

I noted that the water clarity was relatively good early this year (odd in early May), before the rains came. A couple of weeks ago it improved greatly which seemed pretty much in line with the lack of rain and decrease in lake level. While rain does wash sediment into the lake let's not forget that high water level is also to blame. A few downpours aren't going to make a big difference. While I agree the NWZ was ineffectual, I can't really blame June's high silt levels on that. Mother Nature filled the lake and made the winds blow when it was high. Seems she should get the majority of the blame ... not that she'll either listen or care.

ApS · 07-16-2006, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

"...While I agree the NWZ was ineffectual, I can't really blame June's high silt levels on that. Mother Nature filled the lake and made the winds blow when it was high..."

Last year I would have agreed, but this Spring had me stabilizing my dock against the extremely high lake level with FLL's innovative water-filled-garbage-cans suggestion.

Boat wakes would shake the dock and change the calm surfaces of those round Wake-o-Meters into concentric rings with an occasional upwards jet in the center; however, there were no jets and rings during subsequent high wind conditions. It makes common sense to me:

"Natural" waves are widely disordered between large and small waves, while wakes are a violent, and highly-ordered series of waves. Large wakes by themselves can cause distinctly-shoreline debris to appear on the lake's surface (such as sticks and mats of moss); moreover, many Winnipesaukee shores never see long fetches suitable for wave-building—but are never free of the effects of boat wakes.

As an example, my sturdy 25-year-old dock never got washed by the occasional wind-driven wave, but every summer weekend—watch out!

They're not apples and oranges, but boat wakes and wind-driven waves are different. Certainly in combination, they are the silt-makers, IMHO.

07-11-2006, 11:35 PM	#1
Rinkerfam Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 268 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	Water quality '06 Has anyone notice the seemingly poor water quality of the lake this season? I am guessing that the run-off, which occurred during the spring rains, is mostly to blame. I have witnessed less clarity due to silt, as well as a tanic "iced tea" color to the lake water. Has anyone heard anything official about the health of the lake? I am truly concerned. __________________ Education is hanging around 'til you've caught on - Frost

07-12-2006, 07:32 AM	#2
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,692 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 356 Thanked 646 Times in 294 Posts	Turbidity The University of NH has a set of volunteers that measure the visibility of the lake. It would be interesting to see the current numbers and compare them to the past. There seems to be several symptoms of change. The water is strongly tannic. This can be explained by the high water levels of last October and this spring. The water had a several months over the past year of wake enhanced lapping at a higher shoreline, which brought in new organic matter. Also, the extra rain percolated through the ground to make the “tannic tea” stronger. The tannic color occurs every spring but usually goes away by June. If we have a normal weather year or two, perhaps the color will be restored to normal. A more disturbing change is the silt on the bottom of lake. There is a deeply submerged rock that is offshore from where we swim and is hard to find, so we make a game of racing out to it. In the past, the trick to winning was to peer through the water, looking for the top of the rock. This year, it is impossible to see so we have to find it with our feet. A layer of very dark silt hides it. A few weeks ago, I was snorkeling in five feet of water by the dock and noticed how the boat wake was agitated the bottom of the lake, much like a washing machine agitates clothing. This can’t be good for the lake. The water is becoming thicker with organic particles which settle into silt. Try dunking a t-shirt in the lake and letting it dry. It practically stands up on its own, starched with lake particles. The fresh-water clams that used to keep the bottom looking like clean sand are gone. Other symptom we notice is the green slime that forms on the dock and the bottom of the boat. It comes early in the season and grows pretty thick. The bigger question is “so what”? There seems to be no political will to declare the lake “in danger” and prescribe a remedy. The higher price of fuel and its impact on boat traffic may help slow down the damage, but what if a two year ban on motors over 25 HP was the answer to restoring water quality? Economic growth would stop and house prices would shrink. Hundreds of millions of dollars in real-estate valuation would be lost. Businesses that depended on tourist revenue would suffer. It would cost too much to reverse the decline in water quality, so the lake will have to suffer until another generation decides it is time to fix it. We should at least document the decline, to help the argument of those that eventually press for a cure. __________________ -lg

07-12-2006, 02:42 PM	#4
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,510 Thanks: 387 Thanked 234 Times in 128 Posts	This year will surely be a poor visibility year in the lake, with all those heavy rains. But the overall decline in water quality is ultimately due to changes in the watershed. A really good page, worth a read, regarding Lake Eutrophication: http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/bb/bb-3.htm And an incredible resource regarding all the various issues of watershed management: http://www.des.state.nh.us/bb.htm __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

07-12-2006, 08:54 AM	#3
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,343 Thanks: 370 Thanked 1,033 Times in 480 Posts	Last week I participated in the the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP) through the NH Dept. of Environmental Services. One of the tests conducted is a water clarity test and on both Hills Pond and Sunset Lake the clarity of the water was measurably down from last year. It is most likely the result of high spring waters dragging sediment and organic matter from the shore into the lake and was at least, in part, exacerbated by boat wakes during the high Spring waters. For example, one could usually see up to four meters down into Hills Pond. This year it was only 1.75 meters.