Water-quality data for Sauk Lake and tributaries near Sauk Centre, Minnesota, 1988-89

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning to reduce aquatic growth and siltation in Sauk Lake in west-central Minnesota in order to improve recreation. A detailed water-quality survey of the lake and surrounding watershed was needed to plan remedial activities.

Water-quality data were collected at 11 sites on Sauk Lake, at sites on 3 major tributaries to the lake, and at the outflow from the lake from September 1988 through August 1989. Data collected from five selected lake sites comprise alkalinity, dissolved-solids concentration, concentrations of nutrients, plankton counts, and chlorophyll a and b. Vertical profiles of specific conductance, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, as well as transparency depths were measured at all lake sites. Discharge, specific conductance, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were measured at the stream sites. Water samples were collected to determine alkalinity and concentrations of suspended solids and nutrients.