Evaluation of Water Quality Parameters due to Aeration ...

1 Evaluation of Water Quality Parameters due to Aeration /Bioaugmentation Efficacy Relative to baseline conditions in Maple Lake, Van Buren County, Michigan 2009 and 2014 Data Notice: This report is copyrighted and property of Restorative Lake Sciences. No portion of this report can be duplicated or used without written consent from the Water Resources Director at Restorative Lake Sciences (Effective April 29, 2015). Prepared by: Restorative Lake Sciences Jennifer L. Jermalowicz-Jones, PhD Candidate Water Resources Director 18406 West Spring Lake Road Spring Lake, Michigan 49456 Restorative Lake Sciences Maple Lake Aeration report 2014 Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE INTRODUCTION & 5 Summary of Maple Lake Aeration Operations.

2 8 Summary of Maple Lake Aeration Operation Purpose/Goals .. 8 MAPLE LAKE Water Quality SAMPLING METHODS .. 8 Summary of Equipment/Sampling Devices/Replicates/ Parameters .. 8 Sampling Dates and Locations .. 9 MAPLE LAKE Water Quality DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION .. 10 Dissolved Oxygen .. 10 Water Temperature .. 10 Conductivity .. 11 Total Dissolved Solids and Total Suspended Solids .. 11 Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen, and Sediment Nutrients .. 11 pH .. 12 Organic Matter Content and Loss .. 13 MAPLE LAKE AQUATIC PLANT/WATERMILFOIL DISTRIBUTION.

3 15 PAW PAW RIVER/BRIGGS POND MANAGEMENT & RECOMMEND.. 21 LITERATURE 24 Restorative Lake Sciences Maple Lake Aeration report 2014 Page 3 FIGURES NAME PAGE Figure 1. Map of Maple Lake Depth Contours (RLS, 2014) .. 6 Figure 2. Map of Maple Lake Bottom Hardness (RLS, 2014) .. 7 Figure 3. Map of Maple Lake WQ Sampling Locations (2009 and 2014 Study Sites) .. 9 Figure 4. Map of BioBase 2014 Aquatic Plant Biovolume in Maple Lake (RLS, 2014) .. 17 Figure 5. Map of Maple Lake 2014 EWM in Maple Lake (RLS, 2014) .. 18 Figure 6. Maple Lake Drain Sampling Location Map.

4 22 Restorative Lake Sciences Maple Lake Aeration report 2014 Page 4 TABLES NAME PAGE Table 1. 2009 Mean Maple Lake Water Quality Data (Study Locations) .. 14 Table 2. 2014 Mean Maple Lake Water Quality Data (Study Locations) .. 14 Table 3. 2009 Mean Sediment Data (Study Locations) .. 15 Table 4. 2014 Mean Sediment Data (Study Locations) .. 15 Table 5. 2009 AVAS Data Table .. 19 Table 6. 2014 AVAS Data Table .. 20 Table 7. Drain Water Quality Data (November 3, 2014) .. 23 Table 8. Drain Water Quality Data (November 17, 2014) .. 23 Restorative Lake Sciences Maple Lake Aeration report 2014 Page 5 Evaluation of Water Quality Parameters due to Aeration /Bioaugmentation Efficacy Relative to baseline conditions in Maple Lake, Van Buren County, Michigan 2009 and 2014 Data INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY: Maple Lake is located in sections 1, 11, 12, 13, and 14 ( , ) of the Village of Paw Paw and Paw Paw Township, Van Buren County, Michigan (Figure 1).

5 The lake surface area is approximately 172 acres (Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 2001) and may be classified as a eutrophic lake with one deep basin and a large-sized littoral zone. Maple Lake has a maximum depth of feet (Figure 1), and an average depth of feet (MDNR, 2005). The lake bottom consists primarily of sandy substrate and organic matter deposits (Figure 2; RLS, 2014). Maple Lake has a large, immediate watershed of approximately 62,250 acres ( mi2) consisting of abundant agricultural land which contributes high quantities of fertile sediments and nutrients to the lake.

6 The estimated hydraulic retention time depends on the lake Water sources and outlet flow rate, but generally averages 7 days (Southwest Regional Planning Commission 1978). Briggs Pond which is located in the Village of Paw Paw, is a sedimentation basin which has accumulated large amounts of sediment that are transported into Maple Lake. The South Branch of the Paw Paw River, which is upstream of the lake, is also a designated trout stream. Excessive sedimentation has led to the accumulation of sediments within Maple Lake, as well as increased turbidity, lower dissolved oxygen levels during late summer and low flow periods, high nutrient loading, and overgrowth of submersed aquatic vegetation and filamentous algae.

7 Many of the sediments consist of a high fine fraction and organic matter content since they are derived from a large watershed that is comprised of primarily Adrian and Houghton Muck organic soils. The outlet for Maple Lake contains a hydropower dam which was constructed in 1907 and is located at the north end of the lake. When baseline Water Quality and sediment data was compared to recently collected data, it was apparent that recent lake improvement efforts such as the implementation of lake Aeration , bioaugmentation, mechanical harvesting, prior lake drawdowns, and other efforts have improved the Water Quality of Maple Lake.

8 Further recommendations are offered in the last section of this report . Restorative Lake Sciences Maple Lake Aeration report 2014 Page 6 Figure 1. Depth contour map of Maple Lake, Van Buren County, MI (RLS, 2014). Restorative Lake Sciences Maple Lake Aeration report 2014 Page 7 Figure 2. Bottom hardness map of Maple Lake, Van Buren County, MI (RLS, 2014). Restorative Lake Sciences Maple Lake Aeration report 2014 Page 8 Summary of Maple Lake Aeration Operations: Laminar Flow Aeration (LFA) was installed in the South Basin of Maple Lake in 2011 and has been evaluated and determined to be effective at improving Water Quality over the past four years.

9 In 2014, the Village of Paw Paw environmental council requested that Restorative Lake Sciences (RLS) compare the original baseline conditions in measured Water Quality Parameters that were collected during the original lake management plan study in 2009 to the latest collected data set in 2014. Every effort was made to overlay sampling locations from both dates to assure sampling continuity and unbiased data comparisons. Summary of Maple Lake Aeration Operation Purpose/Goals: The Maple Lake waterfront residents desired a lake restoration strategy that would make the lake healthier and accomplish the following objectives: The primary objectives of the implemented LFA system for Maple Lake include.

10 1) Reduction of nuisance rooted submersed aquatic vegetation such as milfoil and Curly-leaf pondweed 2) Increase in top to bottom dissolved oxygen concentrations 3) Increase in Water clarity 4) Reduction of filamentous algae 5) Reduction of organic matter and sediment nutrients in problem areas MAPLE LAKE Water Quality SAMPLING METHODS Summary of Equipment/Sampling Devices/Replicates/ Parameters : Restorative Lake Sciences had sampled 20 locations that became Aeration sites in 2011 back in 2009 and also 11 additional sites that remained as non-aerated control sites in 2011 and in future years.