Glen Lake Association Water Quality Committee Annual Report 2004/2005

The Glen Lake Association Water Quality Committee has focused on the following activities during the past year:

1. Number of Test Sites Expanded
2. Our regular water quality monitoring and lake survey activities
3. Glen Lake – Crystal River Watershed Landowner’s Handbook
4. ML&SA Annual Meeting
5. Hatlem Creek Glen Lake School Test Activity
6. Big Little Glen Invasive Aquatic Plant Survey
7. Lake Biologist Activities

Since ice out this year we have begun testing at additional sites using our Hydrolab water quality tester aquired last year. With the recent acquisition of additional memory circuits in the Hydrolab we have been able to rapidly log more data without transcription. Rob Karner now tests both Big and Little Fisher Lakes, three sites on the Crystal River, Brooks Lake, and the lower reach of Hatlem Creek. As we test in subsequent seasons we will be able to track water quality trends in these new locations as we do for Big and Little Glen.

Water clarity remains typical compared to years past. Zebra mussel arrival has not changed Little Glen readings as yet.

Levels are comparable to previous years and are considered low indicating no excessive algal growth in either lake and a low rate of lake aging.

Last year readings were in line with previous years and still considered low, a favorable sign.

Late summer phosphorus indicates the level of lake aging. The increased levels of late summer phosphorus in both Big and Little Glen are of some concern. This will be monitored closely in the future.

Both Big and Little Glen are still classified as oligotrophic (relatively young) lakes based on the above readings. To keep phosphorus at these relatively low levels watershed residents should strive to minimize phosphorus runoff. Of all our actions this is probably the most important to control through responsible shoreline management.

By the last week in August the Glen Lake Association will have distributed 1503 sets of our Handbook and Stewardship Checklist to residents and landowners in our Watershed. Most of this distribution will have been done by neighborhood captains and distributors. Books to landowners without a home on the land (226) will be mailed in the third week of August. Anyone who has not received a handbook by September 1, 2005 should contact Sarah Litch 334-3612. Lake associations and agencies in the state have been interested in this project and requested copies. Hopefully the knowledge and techniques gained from those who read and use the handbook and stewardship checklist will protect our watershed for future generations.

The annual ML&SA Spring conference was held April 21, 22, and 23 in Boyne Mountain resort at Boyne Falls. As in the past, members of the Water Quality Committee (Gerry and June Powley, John and Carol Lund, Rob Karner, and Mike and Sarah Litch) attended the conference and the CLMP training and other sessions. Rob Karner gave a presentation highlighting his work on shoreline preservation, which was very well received.

There have been concerns communicated in the last two years to the Glen Lake Water Quality Committee concerning possible degradation of the Hatlem Creek sub-watershed of the Glen Lake–Crystal River Watershed. This system is second only to springs and groundwater as a primary input to the waters of Glen Lake. This spring the Glen Lake School biology classes took on the project of testing water quality along various sections of the Hatlem system. The students will repeat their testing in the fall. This project was conducted primarily to teach water quality monitoring procedures and expose students to possible real life problem situations. We applaud Karen Richard and her Glen Lake Community School biology students for their help with this project. It is hoped that riparians along the creek system will join with John Hayes who will chair a new GLA water quality sub-committee to work on the problems identified.

A qualitative Aquatic Plant Survey was completed in July for Big and Little Glen. In Little Glen 36 sites were sampled with 11 species found. In Big Glen 143 sites were sampled with 17 species found. No invasive plants, Eurasian watermilfoil or hydrilla, were found. Some plants that can become nuisance plants were collected: curly leaf pondweed, native milfoil, and sago pondweed.

Hydrolab Studies

• 400 samples taken

• Ten sampling stations

• Sampling stations represent entire watershed

• Overall results show healthy conditions and little change from last year

Plankton Studies

• 10 plankton samples taken from Big and Little Glen

• Phytoplankton populations appear to be less – perhaps due to rainless weeks in the summer

• Zooplankton appears healthy and diversity is comparable to last year

• Photo archiving of plankton is underway

Naturalization of Shorelines

• Three new properties are being presented with "lakescaping" designs

• Four properties were given follow-up consultations

• Water quality design workshop in August coming up to educate riparians

Shoreline Surveys

• August will be the focus of this activity

• Annual meeting will hopefully provide a forum for sign-ups for home visits

Cladophora Survey

• First week in August is the target date for survey

• Team of Chris Omerza and Dan Litch have been staged to do the work

• Topo maps will be created by M. Litch in September

• Results will help set priorities for next year’s shoreline survey and naturalization planning

• Lakescaping presentation at Noontiders and the Annual ML&SA meeting at Boyne Mountain

• Glen Lake Garden club is scheduled for 2006

Hope Laitala John Lund Gerry Powley Sarah Litch Bruce Lichliter

Jack Laitala Carol Lund June Powley Mike Litch

Rob Karner, MS 7/29/05