Water Chemistry By Lucas Kirby, Cynthia Watson, Meghan Dye and Stephanie Johnson

Importance of Phosphorus in Lakes Limiting nutrient in freshwater systems Redfield ratio High concentrations may be indicative of eutrophication

Oneida Lake Largest land-locked lake in NYS Shallow, well mixed lake Mean depth of 6.8m Eutrophic Over 100 species of algae

Onondaga Lake One of the most polluted lakes in the U.S. 4.6 mi long, 1 mi wide ~10.6 m deep Syracuse METRO plant contributes 20% of annual inflow Hypereutrophic(>100 µg/L)

Green Lake Small surface area (glacial plunge pool), formed by waterfall ~52 m deep Oligotrophic Hard water Meromictic Permanent chemocline

Arbutus and Rich Lakes Max. depth: Arbutus: 8 m Rich: 18 m Area Arbutus: 49 ha Rich: 160 ha Archer Creek Catchment (130 ha) drains into Arbutus Lake

Methods Collecting Samples Kemmerer bottle 1L from epi-, meta- and hypo- Mixed Reagent- in specific order (for 150ml) Ammonium molybdate solution- 30ml Sulfuric Acid- 75ml Ascorbic Acid- 30ml Potassium antimonyl-tartrate solution- 15ml Standard Solution Duplicate solutions 50ml of DI water Color blank 5ml Mixed Reagent Unknown Solution Two Replicates- 50 ml sample 5ml Mixed Reagents Calculate for Unknown Phosphorus Average Replicates Graph- Standard Absorbance v. Standard Concentration Calculate Slope μmol-1-1 = (sample abs-reagent blank abs-color blank abs)* slope

Results

Discussion Oneida Lake Second highest phosphorus level. Measured lake depth around 6 meters Lake mixes through summer. Oxygenated hypolimnion

Discussion Onondaga Lake Highest level of P. Anoxic bottom waters Iron releases P. P Decreases with decrease depth.

Discussion Green Lake Lowest P level of all lakes Lowest P epilimnion, organisms use what ever P available. Increases approx. at thermocline Decreases again at hypolimnion Increase below chemocline

Discussion Arbutus Lake Shallow mixed lake Low productivity Oxygenated hypolimnion

Discussion Rich Lake Medium depth but mixes often. Low productivity Oxygenated hypolimnion.

Other Measurements -Nitrogen -Silica -Iron, Fe +3

References Cirmo, Chris Ph.D Council on hydrologic systems science. Biogeochemical and Hydrological Research at the Huntington Forest. New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Oneida Lake Association znet.com/~ola/index.html Onondaga Lake Improvement Project Upstate Freshwater Institute