2008 Secchi Disk and Fecal Coliform testing results

2008 Secchi Disk testing results
The Lake Level (above sea level) is also shown.

The "Legal Lake Level", established in 1972, is:
755.0 feet above sea level in the Summer (April 1^st to October 1^st)
753.0 feet above sea level in the Winter (October 1^st to April 1^st)

Sites Where Secchi Disk Readings Are Taken

The Lake Level on April 21^st of 2008 was 755.35 feet.(755 feet 4.2 inches)
Because of the excesive Snow & Rain this past Winter the Lake Level was greater than 756 feet to begin 2008.
During May thru August the Level went back very near the normal 755 feet.

The first, & only, Secchi Disk tests was done on September 19^th starting at 10:30 AM & the Lake Level was 756.1 feet.
Conditions: Clear skies, sunny ,temperatures in the 60's. The lake was extremely cloudy due to the 10+ inches of rain the previous weekend reflecting the nearly uniform readings,and the channel that connects Baldwin to Long was flowing backwards, from Long to Baldwin. The depths of the 4 areas were increased by 1 foot based on the Lake Level being over 1 foot higher than normal.

Northwest Cove with a depth of 27’ had a 09.0'

Little Baldwin with a depth of 28’ had a 09.0’

The Deep Basin with a depth of 58’ had a 09.25'

The South End with a depth of 38' had a 08.0’

Since there was only 1 Secchi reading in 2008 we can only report
"Average", "Best" & "Worst" for the prior years.

Northwest Cove - 26’

September 19, 2008 - - 09.0’

2007 Average = 15.1’ * * * * 2007 Best = 22.5’ * * * * 2007 Worst = 11.25’

2006 Average = 12.5’ * * * * 2006 Best = 18’ * * * * 2006 Worst = 8.5’

2005 Average = 10.25’ * * * * 2005 Best = 12.75’ * * * * 2005 Worst = 8.25’

Little Baldwin – 27’

September 19, 2008 - - 09.0’

2007 Average = 16.9’ * * * * 2007 Best = 27’ (Hit Bottom) * * * * 2007 Worst = 12.75’

2006 Average = 13.77’ * * * * 2006 Best = 17.5’ * * * * 2006 Worst = 11’

2005 Average = 10.075’ * * * * 2005 Best = 14’ * * * * 2005 Worst = 8’

The Deep Basin – 57’

September 19, 2008 - - 09.25’

2007 Average = 16.4’ * * * * 2007 Best = 29.5’ * * * * 2007 Worst = 11’

2006 Average = 14.25’ * * * * 2006 Best = 25.25’ * * * * 2006 Worst = 8.5’

2005 Average = 10.775’ * * * * 2005 Best = 13’ * * * * 2005 Worst = 6.75’

The South End – 37’

September 19, 2008 - - 08.0’

2007 Average = 15.2’ * * * * 2007 Best = 23.5’ * * * * 2007 Worst = 11.75’

2006 Average = 13.17’ * * * * 2006 Best = 18.5’ * * * * 2006 Worst = 8’

2005 Average = 10.25’ * * * * 2005 Best = 12.25’ * * * * 2005 Worst = 7’

Fecal Coliform tests are scheduled for July thru September, at sites around the Lake.
The USEPA recommendations (in 2000) are:
for body contact recreation is fewer than 200 colonies per 100 mL;
for fishing and boating, fewer than 1000 colonies per 100 mL.

The first set of Fecal Coliform tests were done at various sites around Baldwin Lake on July 06^th. The results
of those tests, in random order, were: 09 -- 12 -- 21 -- 21 -- 05 -- 25 -- 32 -- 13 -- 50 -- 98
These were the best results that we have had right after July 4^th of any year.

The second set of tests were done at various sites around Baldwin Lake on September 15^th. The results
of those tests, in random order, were: 48 -- 300 -- 370 -- 46 -- 130 -- 40 -- 280 -- 160 -- 480 -- 110
Not as good this time. Water was high so there was a lot of "washoff" from the shore.
The samples were taken right after all the extreme rain. The water was also very murky.