Water Quality in the Iowa Great Lakes, A Report to the Iowa Great Lakes Water Quality Control Plan, 1974

(1974) Water Quality in the Iowa Great Lakes, A Report to the Iowa Great Lakes Water Quality Control Plan, 1974. Agriculture and Land Stewardship

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Abstract

All the Iowa Great Lakes are eutrophic or biologically productive, but there are differences in the degree of eutrophication among lakes. In Table a, we have summarized several of the measurements made on the respective lakes. The concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds are indicative of the potential growth of plant materials in these lakes while the COD and chlorophyll a measurements indicate the amounts of growth achieved. Because planktonic algae play the major role in determining the water transparency in these lakes, the Secchi disc transparency is greatest in Lake West Okoboji which is the least eutrophic lake. Transparency is poorest in Lower Gar Lake, the most eutrophic lake. Using the data in Table a, we can rank the lakes in the order of decreasing water quality. This order is: Lake West Okoboji, Big Spirit Lake, Lake East Okoboji (including Upper Gar Lake and Lake Minnewashta), and Lower Gar Lake.