Geneva Lake: Water quality, hydrology, and biology
To reduce the impact of increasing urban development and recreational use on Geneva Lake, efforts are being made to decrease point- and nonpoint-source pollution inputs. To document Geneva Lake's water quality, the USGS collected water-quality data and developed empirical eutrophication models to demonstrate that reductions in phosphorus loading were related to water-quality improvements.
Problem
Concerns continue to arise over the potential decline in the water quality of Geneva Lake because of increased urban development and recreational use. To reduce the impact on the lake, efforts have been and are continuing to be made to decrease the point- and nonpoint-source pollution to the lake. As part of an extensive cooperative study on Geneva Lake, water-quality data were collected for the lake and its tributaries by the USGS from 1997 through 1999. Empirical eutrophication models were also developed for the lake and used to demonstrate that the changes in the water quality of the lake were consistent with the reductions in the phosphorus loading to the lake. Since the detailed study was completed in 2002, continued water-quality and biological information are being collected to determine the effectiveness of pollution prevention-strategies implemented in the basin.
Objectives
The objectives of this project are to continue to document the water quality and planktonic populations in the lake.
Approach
Standard limnological procedures are being used to monitor water quality and plankton populations in the lake.
To reduce the impact of increasing urban development and recreational use on Geneva Lake, efforts are being made to decrease point- and nonpoint-source pollution inputs. To document Geneva Lake's water quality, the USGS collected water-quality data and developed empirical eutrophication models to demonstrate that reductions in phosphorus loading were related to water-quality improvements.
Problem
Concerns continue to arise over the potential decline in the water quality of Geneva Lake because of increased urban development and recreational use. To reduce the impact on the lake, efforts have been and are continuing to be made to decrease the point- and nonpoint-source pollution to the lake. As part of an extensive cooperative study on Geneva Lake, water-quality data were collected for the lake and its tributaries by the USGS from 1997 through 1999. Empirical eutrophication models were also developed for the lake and used to demonstrate that the changes in the water quality of the lake were consistent with the reductions in the phosphorus loading to the lake. Since the detailed study was completed in 2002, continued water-quality and biological information are being collected to determine the effectiveness of pollution prevention-strategies implemented in the basin.
Objectives
The objectives of this project are to continue to document the water quality and planktonic populations in the lake.
Approach
Standard limnological procedures are being used to monitor water quality and plankton populations in the lake.