1	Water Quality Monitoring in Vancouver Lake Ron Wierenga Clark County Public Works Water Resources Program
2	Presentation Outline Background on Clark County Volunteer Monitoring Lake Problems/Lake Assessment Volunteer Monitoring in Vancouver Lake Summary of Results What’s Next?
3	Background on Clark County Volunteer Monitoring What is it and how do we do it? Why monitor using volunteers? Summary of volunteer monitoring projects
4	Clark County Volunteer Monitoring A Clark County Department of Public Works, Water Resources Program project: Run by Water Resources Program staff. Accountability is to the Clark County Board of County Commissioners and the citizens of Clark County. Funding provided by the Clark County Clean Water Program and Washington Department of Ecology Grant(s).
5	Clark County Volunteer Monitoring How does volunteer monitoring work? Need Volunteers - Clark County Watershed Stewards, citizens, civic groups, company/corporations, schools. Need Support - County staff provide 1) standardized volunteer stream and lake monitoring protocols; 2) equipment from the Clark County Volunteer Monitoring Resource Center; 3) coordination of sampling dates. Need a way to share information - Clark County’s Water Quality Information Database.
6	Clark County Volunteer Monitoring Where to collect information? Lake sites where people recreate. Locations representative of overall lake conditions or of specific conditions of study, e.g. beaches for the Health Department. In general, sites selected by county staff where data gaps exist. Locations where volunteers are interested or concerned about water quality.
7	Clark County Volunteer Monitoring Why monitor with volunteers? Facilitate grassroots participation and education in water resource protection. Collect and report credible baseline data to describe current condition of streams and lakes. Add to the network of Clark County Water Resources Program monitoring sites.
8	Summary of Volunteer Monitoring Projects Summer 2002 trained volunteers to participate in the Great North American Secchi Dip-in. Fall 2002 initiated program to routinely monitor four stream sites countywide. Summer 2003 started monitoring Vancouver Lake with a single volunteer. Spring 2004 initiated Gibbons Creek monitoring project. Summer 2004 continued monitoring Vancouver Lake with team of volunteers.
9	Typical Lake Problems “Water quality…is a term used to describe the condition of a water body in relation to human needs or values. Quality is not an absolute; the terms “good” or “poor” water quality only have meaning relative to the use of the water and the attitude of the user. An oligotrophic lake might have good water quality for swimming but be considered poor water quality for bass fishing”, Robert Carlson, Kent State University
10	Typical Lake Problems Depends on the lake! Shallow v. Deep Lakes Climate – tropical, temperate, elevation Primary uses – drinking water, recreation, wildlife Lake standards State Water Quality Rules – Mostly narrative statements like “No toxic substances above toxic levels” etc. State Lake Nutrient Criteria proposed in 2003 rules EPA Criteria – recommendations for healthy aquatic systems
11	Typical Lake Problems Lake Problems: Excess algae – unsightly algal blooms restricts uses. Excess attached plants – dense growth restricts uses. Exotic species – reduce native species restricts uses. Shallow water depth – restricts boating and swimming. Turbid water – reduces aesthetic values; causes food chain disruptions. Toxins – restricts fish consumption. Fecal coliform, pathogenic bacteria, and enteric viruses – causes illness, infections, rashes. Undesirable fishery – increases turbidity and nutrients. User conflicts – restricts boating and swimming
12	Elements of Lake Assessment Water Quality Survey – lake assessment and nutrient budgets. Algae Survey – amount and type of phytoplankton; presence of bloom-forming or toxin producers. Aquatic Plant Survey – location and density; presence of non-native or invasive types. Fish Survey – Numbers, types, and distribution; non-native species. Sediment Assessment – areal distribution and thickness, contaminants. Bathymetry and Modeling – detailed information about the lake bottom; models describe where water comes from and goes to. Recreational Use Assessment –types of recreation, types of development on the shoreline, user perceptions of the resource and potential problems, user conflicts.
13	Water Quality Monitoring Considerations Gather background information including historical data Identify data gaps Evaluate potential or typical lake problems Typical Lake ‘Check-up’
14	Volunteer Monitoring in Vancouver Lake 2003 trophic state determination project Student performed July-November monthly sampling of physical, chemical, and algae. 2004 routine main-lake station monitoring by the county’s Dragonfly team June-October bi-monthly sampling physical, chemical, and algae. 2004 flushing channel inflow monitoring Student performed periodic sampling in and around flushing channel in the lake.
15	Data Summary Temperature – The lake is too large and shallow to stratify; vertical gradients confined brief periods confined to calm weather; warm. Oxygen - Usually at acceptable levels but occasionally depleted during periods of calm weather; “supersaturated” during algal blooms. pH- Very high at times due to heavy growth of algae.
16	Data Summary Transparency or water clarity – limited/poor.
17	Data Summary Nutrients - elevated amounts can cause algal blooms and plant problems; much higher than recommended criteria of 0.025-0.030 mg/L for lakes. Average Phosphorus = 0.267 mg/L; Nitrogen = 2.255 mg/L
18	Data Summary Algae – excessive growth of algae restricts recreational use; potential toxin producers dominate during the late summer.
19	Data Summary Trophic State refers to the degree to which nutrients affect the algal productivity of the lake. Overall TSI for 2004 was about 74 or Hyper-Eutrophic, meaning nuisance plants, algal scums, and low transparency may discourage swimming and boating.
20	Data Summary Bacteria and pathogens – safe swimming at Vancouver Lake Park
21	Data Summary Are things worse than they used to be? Average annual values for parameters.
22	Data Summary Are things worse than they used to be? Average annual values for parameters.
23	Data Summary Are things worse than they used to be? TSI based on level of Chlorophyll; 1995 data limited dataset from WA Department of Ecology.
24	What’s Next?