thumbnail

Evaluation of the effects of changes in the timing of water-level drawdowns on the export of phosphorus from Little St. Germain Lake, Wisconsin

Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5078
Prepared in cooperation with the Little St. Germain Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185078

Links

Abstract

Little St. Germain Lake is a 978-acre, multibasin lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. In the interest of improving its water quality, the Little St. Germain Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District initiated a cooperative study with the U.S. Geological Survey to describe the current phosphorus input into and export from Little St. Germain Lake and evaluate how water releases at different times of the year could affect the amount of phosphorus being released from the lake, potentially affecting water quality in the lake. Approximately 780 pounds per year of phosphorus are exported out of the lake, which is about 80 percent of that contributed to the lake by Muskellunge Creek. By focusing the release of water to times when phosphorus concentrations near the outlet of the lake are highest, export of phosphorus from the lake could increase by about 60 to 80 pounds annually. This is equivalent to reducing phosphorus contributions from Muskellunge Creek by about 7 to 9 percent. Increasing phosphorus export from the lake should improve the long-term water-quality of the lake, especially in the southern basins of the lake.

Suggested Citation

Dantoin, E.D., and Robertson, D.M., 2018. Evaluation of the effects of changes in the timing of water-level drawdowns on the export of phosphorus from Little St. Germain Lake, Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5078, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185078.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Evaluation of the effects of changes in the timing of water-level drawdowns on the export of phosphorus from Little St. Germain Lake, Wisconsin
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2018-5078
DOI 10.3133/sir20185078
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Wisconsin Water Science Center
Description vi, 14 p.
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Other Geospatial Little St. Germain Lake
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details