1. MVCA’s Watershed Watch Program
Kelly Stiles
Lake Networking Group Meeting
August 3, 2017

2. History of the Watershed Watch Program Recent Changes
Rotation
Parameters
Report style
Data Presentation

3. History
Initiated in 1998
Partnership between MVCA and Lake Steward Network
Program objectives
To provide baseline monitoring to 44 lakes
To accumulate reliable environmental data and to monitor trends over time
To distribute this data to educate residents on sound stewardship practices
Variables measured
Total phosphorous, Secchi depth, calcium, pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Waterflea

4. Challenges Previous Rotation Problem
Each lake was visited every 5 years
Problem
Insufficient sampling events
Long time to determine trends (due in part in to inter-annual variation)

5. A 5 year rotation vs yearly data

6. Solution: A New Rotation
Emphasize lakes that are more indicative of the health of the Mississippi River
2 years – Mississippi line
3 years – large lakes representative of each subwatershed
5 years – smaller lakes from each subwatershed
8 years – very small, less developed, headwater lakes
Organized by subwatershed
Full rotation found in Appendix A of the 2016 Intergrated Report

7. Changes to Protocol: Total Phosphorous
Problem
Potential for artificially high TP results from zooplankton in samples
Risk of removing samples that may actually be high TP values
Data not as comparable to other monitoring programs
Solution
We began filtering the samples in 2016
80 µm mesh filter
Same as LPP
Question
Will we still be able to compare to historical results?
Yes
Looking for trends over absolute values
Filtering a TP sample
Various zooplankton species

8. Changes to Protocol: Chlorophyll a
Problem
Requires too many sampling events to get an accurate annual average
Expensive lab fees for minimal information
Solution
Eliminated in the 2016 season
TP and Secchi depth are good trophic status indicators
Explanation
Leftover parameter from old sampling schedule

9. Changes to Reporting
Old Individual Reports
New Integrated Report

10. Integrated Monitoring Report
Sections
1. Seasonal Conditions
Snow pack, precipitation and water levels
2. Indicators & methodology descriptions
3. Lake by lake results
4. Biotic data from stream sampling
5. Invasive species results
Reasons for the Change
Efficiency
No longer 12 reports/year
More holistic analysis
Can look at lakes upstream and downstream to see how your lake relates to the system
Can consider weather impacts such as droughts and floods
Can compare current year to previous year’s TP results

12. Thank you
Kelly Stiles
ex 234