Bathymetry and Water Chemistry of the Lucas Pond

Mikaela Campbell, Jeff McDonald, Joshua Stedman, & Sierra Grove

Background

Limnological Chemical and Physical Analyses• Temperature profile• Dissolved oxygen profile• Conductivity profile• Light irradiance • Total phosphorus• Chlorophyll a

Importance of Chemical and Physical Analyses• Ecological and economical reasons

Consequences of Poor Management• Algal Blooms• Fish Kills• Economical impacts

www.reefnation.com

www.indosupply.com

Background Continued

Bathymetry• Is the study and mapping of underwater depths of a body of water

Importance of Bathymetry • Navigation• Possible fish locations• Where aquatic vegetation might occur

How did we get this data?

www.noaa.gov

Lucas Pond

Goals

•Increase Water Quality •Create a Sustainable Fishery

www.nastaev.com 

MethodsBathymetric Mapping

• GPS points and depths recorded using Humminbird 365idual beam transducer unit

• Mapped collected points using DrDepth software

Water Volume and Sediment Deposition• Surface area * avg. depth• Sediment depth * area

Chemical Water Properties• Used YSI-55 to develop profiles• Used van Dorn sampler to take triplicate samples

of Chlorophyll a and total phosphorus at deepest point within the pond

www.stoichiometry.com

www.water-research.net

Results

Physical Results

• Deepest Point was 7.5ft (~2.5m)

• Average Secci Depth was 1.29m

Physical Results

• Low Water• Volume 9.617e^004

ft3

• Area 2.289e^004 ft2

• Average Depth 4.2ft

• High Water• Volume 1.522e^005

ft3

• Area 3.219e^004 ft3

• Average Depth 4.7ft

Results - Total Phosphorous• Total P – ranged

from 52-60 µg/L• Greatest at

depth of 1m• Also the most

varied

Results - Chlorophyll-a

• Ranged form 12.35 (SE 0.33) at the surface to 23.62 (SE 1.18) at 2m of depth.

• Low Readings• Makes sense

because of the low P levels

8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00 22.00 24.00 26.000

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5Chlorophyll a (µg/L)

Dept

h (m

)

Results

● Gathered with a YSI-85

● Low readings

● Change at 1.5m of depth

(µg/L)

Discussion - Total Phosphorus and Chlorophyll-a❏ Total Phosphorus (mean 55.83 µg/L)

❏ Low total phosphorus limits the amount of primary production

❏ Chlorophyll-a (mean 14.91) ❏ Primary production low due to phosphorus

limiting ❏ Nutrient Supplementation would increase the

available total P and increase 1o production

Discussion - Temperature

❏ Temperature

❏ Isothermic - mean 10.2 oC and 0.27 std dev

❏ In the summer pond may exceed 20oC and thus would not be suitable for cold water species such as trout

Discussion - Oxygen

❏ Oxygen remains high from surface to 2 m (10.85-9.84 mg/L)

❏ 2.5 m drops to 3.5 mg/L creating a habitat that is unsuitable to fish

❏ 0-2 m oxygen levels suitable for fish to occupy❏ When pond warms, anoxic conditions may

exist throughout the pond

Management Plan• Artificial habitat - fish attractors, blocks, etc.

• Aeration - Prevent anoxic conditions

• Nutrient Supplementation• Increase food base

• Stocking of fishes - Sport and Forage

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Artificial Submerged Habitat

southernsportsmanaquaticsandland.com structurespot.com

Aeration❏ Improve water quality

❏ Circulate pond and keep nutrients available

❏ Decrease likelihood of winterkill

❏ Increased dissolved oxygen

(Willis et al. 2010, Austin et al. 1996)www.a-wfitness.com 

Aeration

organicpond.com

Fertilization

❏ Inorganic fertilizer of 20-20-5 (20% N, 20% P205, and 5% K20)

❏ Found to support four to five times more biomass than unfertilized ponds (Willis et. al 2010) and has a direct effect on phytoplankton.

Fertilization

alafarmnews.com

Trophy Bass❏ Stock fingerling

largemouth bass after fertilization (Austin et al. 1996)

❏ After four years reduce densities of 20-38 cm LMB to allow for rapid growth of remaining fish

❏ Release fish over 38 cm, except for the occasional trophy(Willis et al. 2010).

largestfreshwaterfish.com

Forage Fish❏ Abundant and diverse

prey base

❏ Rainbow trout are great option because they will not reproduce in a pond

❏ Alternative angling

dnr.maryland.gov

Citations

Austin, M., H. Devine, L. Goedde, M. Greenlee, T. Hall, L. Johnson, and P. Moser. 1996. Ohio pond management handbook:

a guide to managing ponds for attracting wildlife. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Accessed 12/9/13.

Burns, N.M., Rockwell, D.C., Bertram, P.E., Dolan, D.M., and Ciborowski, J.J.H. 2005. Trends in temperature, secchi depth,

and dissolved oxygen depletion rates in the central basin of Lake Erie, 1983-2002. Journal of Great Lakes Research 31: 35-49.

Wetzel, Robert. 2001. Limnology. 3rd Edition. Academic Press. 1066 pp.

Wilhelm, F. M. 2013. Lecture. Fish 415 Limnology. University of Idaho

Wilhelm, F. M. 2013. Laboratory Session. Fish 415 Limnology. University of Idaho

Willis, D.W., R.D. Lusk, J.W. Slipke. 2010. Farm ponds and small impoundments. Pages 501-537 in W.A. Hubert and M.C.

Quist, editors. Inland fisheries management in North America, 3rd Edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

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