Secchi Disc Readings

The primary tool for measuring water clarity is called a Secchi disk.  It uses a black and white disc with alternating black and white sections.  This disk is attached to a tape measure and slowly lowered into the water column until the disk is no longer visible.  The resulting reading is the Secchi depth or transparency of the water. 

Clarity: The Secchi Reading for 5/30/2025 was 2.93 meters

Water Temperature

Water temperature significantly impacts lake water quality by affecting the amount of dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, stratification patterns, and the growth of algae and other aquatic organisms, with warmer temperatures generally leading to decreased dissolved oxygen, increased algal blooms, and potential disruption of the ecosystem balance, ultimately impacting the overall health of the lake.

Temperature: Readings for 5/30/2025 are lower this year than last year for the 0-to-7-meter levels over a similar timeframe last year. The cooler weather over the last 2 weeks has been good for water quality, the cooler temperatures allow the water to hold more oxygen.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is crucial to a lake's health because it is essential for the survival of all aquatic organisms, including fish, plants, and invertebrates, as they need oxygen to breathe, making it a key indicator of water quality and the ability of a lake to support life; low DO levels (below 2.0 mg/l) can lead to stress, disease, and even fish kills if significantly depleted

Dissolved Oxygen: Readings for 5/30/2025 are higher at all depths this year over last year. The longer DO stays above 2.0 mg/l (milligrams per liter) at the bottom of the lake, the healthier the lake, and the less likely we will have an algae bloom. (Remember that low oxygen at the bottom of the lake causes phosphorus to "unbind" from iron in lake sediment, which releases the phosphorus back into the water to act as a "fertilizer" for algae to feed on and grow rapidly into a bloom.)(A major benefit to an alum treatment is that phosphorus that is bound to Alum does not release back into the water column in low oxygen situations.)