Black River Watershed Profile - 2012 by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council

2012 Report

Lakes of the

Black River Watershed Black Lake • Long Lake • Twin Lakes

What would Michigan be without water? One might as well ask what the Sahara would be without sand or the Himalayas without mountains. Michigan is defined by water and, in fact, the definition of Michigan in some Native American languages literally means water, “big lake” to be precise. Water formed Michigan, frozen water that is, thousands of feet thick. A series of glaciers advanced and retreated across Michigan over the course of millions of years, creating the present-day landscape of rolling hills and broad plains; dotted with lakes, crisscrossed with rivers, and surrounded by freshwater seas. Glacial scouring and huge ice chunks that were left behind formed thousands of lakes across the landscape, lakes of all shapes and sizes, each unique: each beautiful and special in its own way. Many people live in or travel through Northern Michigan because of these lakes and the character they lend to the region. Black, Long, and Twin Lakes are jewels of Cheboygan County; true aquatic treasures that are experienced and enjoyed by thousands of people annually and year after year, generation after generation. The Watershed Council has long recognized the value of these three lakes and worked diligently for decades to protect the water quality and preserve the ecosystem integrity of these incredible lakes. Lakes throughout Northern Michigan are monitored by Watershed Council staff and volunteers alike who gather valuable data to keep tabs on the health of our waters. Over 50 lakes and streams in the region are monitored in early spring on an every three year basis through our Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program. Volunteers supplement the comprehensive program and fill in data gaps by collecting weekly water quality data throughout summer months as part of our Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program. In addition to monitoring, the Watershed Council works with property owners, associations, local governments, and others on a variety of projects to protect lakes throughout Northern Michigan.

Projects carried out on these lakes have ranged from lake-wide aquatic plant surveys to individual shoreline property restoration projects. Details about recent projects involving lakes of the Black River Watershed are included in this report. We hope you find the information presented in this report both interesting and insightful. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council at (231) 347-1181 or visit our website at www.watershedcouncil.org.

Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Water Quality Trends in Lakes of the Black River Watershed Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council has been consistently monitoring the water quality of Northern Michigan lakes for decades as part of the Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program. When the program was launched in 1987, Watershed Council staff monitored a total of 10 lakes. Since then, the program has burgeoned and now, remarkably, includes more than 50 lakes and rivers throughout the “tip of the mitt.” Over the course of 25 years of monitoring, we have managed to build an impressively large water quality dataset. This unique, historical dataset is, simply put: invaluable. Data from the program are regularly used by the Watershed Council, lake and stream associations, local governments, regulatory agencies, and others in efforts to protect and improve the water resources that are so important to the region. Every three years, Watershed Council staff head into the field in early spring, as soon as ice is out, to monitor lakes and rivers spread across Northern Michigan. All lakes over 1000 acres and the majority of lakes greater than 100 acres in size, as well as all major rivers, are included in the program. In each of these water bodies, the Watershed Council collects a variety of physical and chemical data, including parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, chloride, phosphorus and nitrogen. Water quality data collected in the field are compiled and used by Watershed Council staff to characterize water bodies, identify specific problems and examine trends over time. One obvious trend found by analyzing data from this program is that chloride (a component of salt) levels have increased significantly in many water bodies during the last 23 years. While chloride levels have increased, phosphorus concentrtions in many lakes have gone down. Causes and effects of these changes are discussed in the next section.

Data collected from Black, Long, and Twin Lakes show that pH levels consistently fall within this range, with a low of 7.32 (Twin, 1998) and a high of 8.40 (Twin, 2007).

Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen is required by almost all organisms, including those that live in the water. Oxygen dissolves into the water from the atmosphere (especially when there is turbulence) and through photosynthesis of aquatic plants and algae. State law requires that a minimum of 5 to 7 parts per million (PPM) be maintained depending on the lake type. Springtime dissolved oxygen levels recorded at mid-depth and at the surface in the Black River Lakes have consistently exceeded State minimums, ranging from 5.3 PPM (Twin, 2004) to 13.6 PPM (Black, 1995). On several occasions, dissolved oxygen levels near the bottom of the smaller lakes have been below 5 PPM. Oxygen depletion at the bottom is not unusual in lakes, though it can be an indicator of water quality impairment.

Conductivity Conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to conduct an electric current, which is dependent upon the concentration of charged particles (ions) dissolved in the water. Research shows that conductivity is a good indicator of human impacts on aquatic ecosystems because levels usually increase as population and human activity in the watershed increase. Readings from lakes monitored by the Watershed Council have ranged from 175 to 656 microSiemens (μS). Measurements on the Black River Lakes have ranged from a low of 189 μS (Long, 2007) to a high of 308 μS (Twin, 2004). Black Lake, with the longest-term dataset of the Black River Lakes, experienced a gradual increase in conductivity levels from 1987 to 2004, followed by a large decrease in 2007. However, data from 2010 indicates that conductivity levels may again be on an upward trend.

The following pages contain descriptions of the types of data collected in the program as well as select data from Black, Long, and Twin Lakes. We have also included charts to provide a graphic display of trends occurring in the lake. For additional information about the Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program visit our web site at www.watershedcouncil.org/protect.

Parameters and Results pH pH values provide a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of water. Measurements above 7 are alkaline, 7 is considered neutral, and levels below 7 are acidic. When pH is outside the range of 5.5 to 8.5, most aquatic organisms become stressed, and populations of some species have declined or disappear entirely. State law requires that pH be maintained within a range of 6.5 to 9.0 in all waters of the state.

Chloride Chloride, a component of salt, is present naturally at low levels in Northern Michigan surface waters due to the marine

origin of the underlying bedrock (typically < 5 PPM). Chloride is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mobile ion,â&#x20AC;? meaning it is not removed by chemical or biological processes in soil or water. Many products associated with human activities contain chloride (e.g., de-icing salts, water softener salts, fertilizers, and bleach). Although most aquatic organisms are not affected until chloride concentrations exceed 1,000 PPM, increases are indicative of other pollutants associated with human activity (such as automotive fluids from roads or nutrients/ bacteria from septic systems) reaching our waterways. Chloride concentrations have increased over time in all three of the Black River Lakes; the increase has been subtle in Twin Lakes, gradual in Black Lake, and more pronounced in Long Lake.

are usually less than 10 parts per billion (PPB) in the high quality lakes of Northern Michigan. Total phosphorus concentrations in Black, Long, and Twin Lakes have ranged from 1.8 PPB (Long, 1998) to 24 PPB (Twin, 1995). There appears to be a trend of decreasing phosphorus in Black Lake, whereas levels in Long and Twin Lakes have oscillated and do not show a clear pattern. The decrease in Black Lake is probably due, at least in part, to the introduction of zebra mussels, which have filtered much of the algae out of the water column and disrupted the natural nutrient cycle in the lake.

Total Nitrogen Nutrients Nutrients are needed by organisms to live, grow, and reproduce. They occur naturally in soils, water, air, plants, and animals. Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential nutrients for plant growth and important for maintaining healthy, vibrant aquatic ecosystems. However, excess nutrients from sources such as fertilizers, faulty septic systems, and stormwater runoff lead to nutrient pollution, which can have negative impacts on our surface waters. In general, nutrient concentrations are highest in small, shallow lakes and lowest in large, deep lakes.

Nitrogen is a very abundant element throughout the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface and is a major component of all plant and animal matter. Nitrogen is also generally abundant in our lakes and streams and needed for plant and algae growth. Interestingly, algae have adapted to a wide variety of nitrogen situations in the aquatic environment, some fixating nitrogen directly from the atmosphere to compete in low-nitrogen environments (blue-green algae), while others tend to thrive in nitrogen-rich environments (some diatom species). Total nitrogen levels in Black, Long, and Twin Lakes have ranged from 223 PPB (Black, 1998) to 500 PPB (Long, 2001). Nitrogen concentrations in the Black River Lakes are similar to other lakes throughout the region and data do not show any clear trends.

Total Phosphorus Phosphorus is the most important nutrient for plant productivity in our lakes because it is usually in shortest supply relative to nitrogen and carbon. A water body is considered phosphorus limited if the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus is greater than 15:1. In fact, nearly all lakes monitored by the Watershed Council are found to be phosphorus limited. Because of the negative impacts that phosphorus can have on surface waters, legislation has been passed in Michigan to ban phosphorus in soaps, detergents, and fertilizers. Water quality standards for nutrients in surface waters have not been established, but total phosphorus concentrations

Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program Water quality data from the surface of all waters bodies monitored in 2010.

Working Together To Keep Medications Out of Our Waters Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, has launched a permanent multi-county medication drug take-back initiative to provide a convenient, secure, and environmentally sound option for the disposal of unused and unwanted prescriptions, including controlled substances, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The initial program was made possible by generous grants from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation. Additional funding to expand the program into the Cheboygan County area came from the Burt Lake Preservation Association and Mullett Lake Area Preservation Society. Additional funding for the POD Program as came from Emmet County Household Chemical Drop-off, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Michigan Department of Agriculture, and Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. The Prescription and Over-the-counter Drug (POD) drop-off boxes at the law enforcement offices offer a year-round, convenient and safe method for citizens to dispose of unwanted medicines, including controlled substances. This program is reducing avoidable poisoning of both children and adults; preventing intentional misuse of unwanted prescription drugs, especially by teenagers; and protecting our water resources, fish, and other aquatic species in Northern Michigan. Many studies have detected pharmaceutical compounds in treated wastewater effluent, rivers, lakes, and ground water. According to the USGS, over 80% of waterways tested in the United States show traces of common medications such as acetaminophen, hormones, blood pressure medicine, codeine, and antibiotics. Continuous exposure to low levels of pharmaceuticals can harm aquatic communities. Residents can drop off unused or unwanted medications at anytime throughout the year. All medications are handled according to the law enforcement agency’s evidence protocols until taken for final destruction in accordance with state and federal laws. For additional information about the project, please visit www.watershedcouncil.org or call 231-347-1181.

POD Drop Box Locations Antrim County • Antrim County Sheriff's Office Administration Office • Elk Rapids Police Department

ChArlevoix County • Boyne City - City Hall • Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office Jail Entrance • Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office Beaver Island Substation • City of East Jordan Police Department

CheboygAn County • Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office • Cheboygan Department of Public Safety • Mackinaw City Police Department • Tuscarora Township Police Department

emmet County • City of Petoskey Department of Public Safety - Front Lobby of City Hall • City of Petoskey Department of Public Safety, Public Safety Station West Bay Harbor • Emmet County Sheriff's Office - Jeffery P. Bodzick Administrative Office and Correctional Facility - Jail • Emmet County Sheriff's Office - Richard L. Zink Law Enforcement Center - M-119 • Harbor Springs Police Department • Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Police Department Items accepted for the Pharmaceutical Collection Program include: • Prescription Drugs (Including controlled substances)

Kurt Jones, Director of the Cheboygan Pubic Safety Department (left) joins Jennifer McKay, policy specialist for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, and Tony Naylor, President of the Mullett Lake Area Preservation Society (MAPS), in showing oﬀ the new drop-oﬀ bin for prescription and over-the-counter drugs at the Cheboygan Department of Public Safety at City Hall this past spring.

• Over-the-counter (OTC) Medicines • Pet Medicines • Nutritional Supplements and Vitamins • Medicated Ointments and Lotions • Liquid Medications in Sealed Containers or Plastic Bags Items NOT accepted in the program include: • Needles, Lancets, or Pen Needles (ANY Sharps) • Aerosol Cans • Bloody or Infectious Waste • Hydrogen Peroxide • Thermometers • IV Bags

Volunteer Lake Monitoring Local Volunteers Monitor & Protect Our Lakes Since 1984, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council has coordinated the Volunteer Lake Monitoring program (VLM), relying upon hundreds of volunteers to monitor the water quality of dozens of lakes in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. During the most recent summer for which data are available (2011), 51 volunteers monitored water quality at 32 stations on 25 lakes. A remarkable amount of data has been generated by the VLM program and is available to the public via our web site (www.watershedcouncil.org/protect). This data is essential for discerning short-term changes and long-term trends. Ultimately, the dedicated effort of volunteers and staff will help improve lake management and protect and enhance the quality of Northern Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lakes. Volunteers measure water clarity on a weekly basis using a Secchi disc. Every other week volunteers collect water samples to be analyzed for chlorophyll-a. Staff at the Watershed Council process the data and determine Trophic Status Index (TSI) scores to classify the lakes and make comparisons. Volunteer data from some of the Black River Lakes stretch back more than 20 years. The following section summarizes monitoring parameters and results.

cases, boast high quality waters. Throughout the summer, different algae types bloom at different times, causing clarity to vary greatly. Secchi disc depths have ranged from just a few feet in small inland lakes to over 80 feet in large inland lakes and Great Lakesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bays!

Chlorophyll-a Chlorophyll-a is a pigment found in all green plants, including algae. Water samples collected by volunteers are analyzed for chlorophyll-a to estimate the amount of phytoplankton (minute free-floating algae) in the water column. There is a strong relationship between chlorophyll-a concentrations and Secchi disc depth. Greater amounts of chlorophyll-a indicate greater phytoplankton densities, which reduce water clarity and, thus, the Secchi disc depth as well. So why collect chlorophyll-a data? The chlorophyll-a data provides support for Secchi depth data for determing the productivity of the lake, but it can also help differentiate between turbidity caused by algal blooms versus turbidity caused by other factors such as sedimentation or calcite.

Secchi Disc The Secchi disc is a weighted disc (eight inches in diameter, painted black and white in alternating quarters) that is used to measure water clarity. The disc is dropped down through the water column and the depth at which it disappears is noted. Using Secchi disc measurements, we are able to determine the relative clarity of water, which is principally determined by the concentration of algae and/or sediment in the water. The clarity of water is a simple and valuable way to assess water quality. Lakes and rivers that are very clear usually contain lower levels of nutrients and sediments and, in most

Trophic Status Index Trophic Status Index (TSI) is a tool developed by Bob Carlson, Ph.D. from Kent State University, to determine the biological productivity of a lake. Formulas developed to calculate the TSI value utilize Secchi disc depth and chlorophyll-a measurements collected by our volunteers. TSI values range from 0 to 100. Lower values (0-38) indicate an oligotrophic or low productive system, medium values (39-49) indicate a mesotrophic or moderately productive system, and higher values (50+) indicate a eutrophic or highly productive system. Lakes with greater water clarity and smaller phytoplankton populations would score on the low end of the scale, while lakes with greater turbidity and more phytoplankton would be on the high end.

TSI values are an indication of a lake’s biological productivity. Oligotrophic lakes are characteristically deep, clear, nutrient poor, and with abundant oxygen. On the other end of the spectrum, eutrophic lakes are generally shallow and nutrient rich. Highly productive eutrophic lakes are more prone to oxygen depletion problems whereas low-productivity oligotrophic lakes are more likely to have a lackluster fishery. Depending upon variables such as age, depth, and soils, lakes are sometimes naturally eutrophic. However, nutrient and sediment pollution caused by humans can lead to the premature eutrophication of a lake, referred to as “cultural eutrophication”. Cultural eutrophication can lead to excessive plant growth, result in nuisance algal blooms that potentially pose a public health concern, and have negative impacts on the lake’s fisheries. (2010 TSI Values for all lakes on back page.)

Results from Black River Watershed Lakes Volunteers on Black, Long, and Twin Lakes monitor water quality at the deepest locations of each of these lakes. Black Lake has been monitored since 1987, Twin since 1989, and Long since 1993. There are gaps in the data for all three lakes during seasons when volunteers were not available to monitor or when they were unable to collect a sufficient amount of data during the summer to make results comparable. Regardless, efforts by these dedicated volunteers have produced results: long-term Secchi disc and chlorophyll-a data that allow Watershed Council staff to assess water quality and examine changes over time. There was a well-pronounced trend of increasing water transparency in Black Lake from 1987 to 1997. Although reliable data are not available for the time period from 1998 to 2005, the greater transparency appears to have persisted until 2008, when it swung in the other direction and began to decrease. Interestingly, chlorophyll-a data show a similar trend; levels decreased from 1990 to 2008 and then, rose sharply. The introduction of zebra mussels to Black Lake, which is estimated to have occurred in late 1990s, helps explain some of the observed changes. Zebra mussels are

filter-feeders that prey upon algae and essentially clear the water column, which would explain both the drop in chlorophyll-a and the increase in water transparency. Unfortunately, zebra mussels are not cleaning the water, but rather removing the algae that are the base of the food chain. This loss of primary productivity (i.e., algae) alters the entire food web, ultimately leading to a reduction in top predator fish populations, such as trout or walleye. Coincidentally, the Black Lake Association has been working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and others to assess the lake’s walleye populations, which have dwindled in recent years. Somewhat surprisingly, data show that Black Lake has become more biologically productive in the last few years, which could indicate that zebra mussels are on the decline or that recent warming trends associated with climate change are having an impact… or a combination of both. Volunteer data from Twin Lakes indicate that this group of small interconnected lakes is becoming more biologically productive; water clarity has gradually decreased over time as algae abundance has increased. To date, zebra mussels have not been documented in Twin Lakes, which helps explain why the trend differs from that observed in Black Lake. A warming climate could be contributing to the increase in biological productivity that we are seeing in Twin Lakes, though human impacts around the lake and in the watershed, such as excessive nutrient inputs from fertilizers, septic systems, and other sources, may be another contributing factor. However, the likelihood of nutrient pollution in the lake is considered to be quite low due to the fact that the Twin Lakes watershed is largely pristine and the Twin Lakes Association’s active role in educating riparian landowners about the importance of properly managing shoreline properties to prevent nutrient pollution. Long Lake is a bit of an enigma; in spite of zebra mussels in the lake, neither Secchi disc nor chlorophyll-a data show any obvious trends. According to information provided by the Cheboygan Area Long Lake Association, zebra mussels have been in the lake since at least 1993. Thus, one would expect a sharp decrease in biological productivity in the lake after that point. Such a change is not clear in the data, though it is difficult to discern trends on Long Lake due to the lack of consistent volunteer data during the 1990s. Fortunately, during the last decade, volunteers from the Lake Association have consistently collected reliable data that will help with future analyses. Tools of the Trade... Volunteer Lake Monitors use a Secchi disc to measure water clarity.

7 *TSI values range are based on secchi disc data and range from 0 to 100. Lower values (0-38) indicate an oligotrophic or low productive system, medium values (39-49) indicate a mesotrophic or moderately productive system, and higher values (50+) indicate a eutrophic or highly productive system.

Not surprisingly, trophic status index data show that Black Lake has become less biologically productive, Twin Lakes more productive, and Long Lake has gone back and forth. Trophic status index scores for Black Lake were consistently in the mesotrophic category (moderately productive), dropped into the oligotrophic category (low productivity), and recently moved up and now borders between mesotrophy and oligotrophy. Twin Lakes has gradually moved from oligotrophic to mesotrophic while Long Lake has remained in the oligotrophic category throughout the years of monitoring. Total phosphorus data from the Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring program concur with decreased biological productivity observed in Black Lake volunteer data as total phosphorous concentrations have gradually dropped during

the same time period; invasive mussels appear to have altered the Black Lake food web and reduced its biological productivity, perhaps for the long term. Curiously, phosphorus data do not support the trend observed in Twin Lakes, where we would expect phosphorus concentrations to increase in tandem with increased biological productivity. Volunteers are doing an excellent job of monitoring Black, Long, and Twin Lakes. Without their dedication and enthusiasm, we would have much less data to assess lake health and fewer eyes on our precious waters. Thus, we cannot thank our volunteers enough for the critical roles they play in helping protect the lakes of Northern Michigan. We and the waters of Northern Michigan are eternally grateful! Of course, new monitors are always needed, so please consider joining the program to help protect and preserve the lakes of the Black River Watershed. If you would like to get involved or would like additional information, please contact the program coordinator, Kevin Cronk, at (231) 347-1181 ext. 109 or by e-mailing kevin@watershedcouncil.org.

Thank you Volunteer Lake Monitors on Black, Long, and Twin Lakes: Bob Williams (Black) Fabian LaVigne (Long) John Ressler (Twin) Elwin Coll (Twin)

Trophic Status Index* (TSI) Values for Lakes Monitored in 2011 Lake

TSI

Lake

Bass Lake

Lake Charlevoix, South Arm

Black Lake

Huffman Lake

Burt Lake, Central Basin

Burt Lake, North

TSI 36

Lake

TSI

Paradise Lake

No Data

Pickerel Lake

Lake Marion

Six Mile Lake

Lake Michigan, Bay Harbor

Thayer Lake

Burt Lake, South

Lake Michigan, Little Traverse Bay

Thumb Lake

Crooked Lake

Lake Skegemog

Twin Lake

Douglas Lake - Cheboygan

Long Lake, Cheboygan County

Walloon Lake, Foot Basin

Douglas Lake - Otsego

Mullett Lake, Center

Walloon Lake, North

Elk Lake

Mullett Lake, Pigeon Bay

Walloon Lake, West Arm

Lake Charlevoix, Main

Munro Lake

Walloon Lake, Wildwood

*TSI values range are based on secchi disc data and range from 0 to 100. Lower values (0-38) indicate an oligotrophic or low productive system, medium values (39-49) indicate a mesotrophic or moderately productive system, and higher values (50+) indicate a eutrophic or highly productive system.