Water clarity is great right now

Dave R · 08-17-2011, 04:55 PM

I snorkeled the Belknap this AM. I swear visibility was close to 100 feet. I've never seen the water so clear. It was like the Carribean. Must be the recent rain?

Slickcraft · 08-17-2011, 06:18 PM

We sample Winni water at two sites on a weekly basis as part of the UNH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program:
http://winnipesaukeegateway.org/moni.../introduction/

One is a 95' deep site between Governor's and Timber. One test is to lower a black and white secchi disk and looking through a view tube record the depth at which the disk disappears from view.
http://www.geoscientific.com/sampling/index.html#SECCI

Previous results this year were not as deep as last year, 8.5 meters vs 9.5 last year. Today the water was very clear and the secchi depth was 10.2 meters (33.5 feet).

BTW, there was a very sharp thermocline at 8.5 meters.

Dave R · 08-18-2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Previous results this year were not as deep as last year, 8.5 meters vs 9.5 last year. Today the water was very clear and the secchi depth was 10.2 meters (33.5 feet).

BTW, there was a very sharp thermocline at 8.5 meters.

I wish there was a simple horizontal clarity measurement. The water at 0-20+ feet deep, near Steamboat Island is crystal clear.

It was creepy looking over the side of my boat in Center Harbor and seeing boulders I'd never seen before. They looked a lot closer than they were.

Belmont Resident · 08-19-2011, 07:02 AM

I was told the reason the lake is becoming clearer is due to all the lawn chemicals killing off the algea. Is this still true? Or was it in the first place?

fpartri497 · 08-19-2011, 08:17 AM

the first signs of fall On the lake. yesterday the water temp. has dropped to 75 deg.

Jeanzb1 · 08-19-2011, 09:09 AM

Was hoping that we would escape the annual gleotrichia bloom because it seems rather late this year, but, alas, yesterday there it was, even way offshore. UGH. It looks like tiny dots suspended throughout the top approx. 12 inches of the water.

Just Sold · 08-19-2011, 11:36 AM

Gleotrichia Floating green stuff

Fuzzy, green floating dots on lakes and in the top few feet of water, or tiny tapioca-like balls might be an alga (microscopic plant) called Gleotrichia echinulata . Gleotrichia (glee-oh-trick-ee-ah) usually appear mid-summer for brief periods, but can persist longer in some lakes. The presence of Gleotrichia does not necessarily indicate poor water quality since it is commonly present in Maine lakes that have good water clarity. Wind and currents can concentrate them in one part of the lake and high densities can collect in coves.

08-17-2011, 04:55 PM	#1
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	Water clarity is great right now I snorkeled the Belknap this AM. I swear visibility was close to 100 feet. I've never seen the water so clear. It was like the Carribean. Must be the recent rain?

08-17-2011, 06:18 PM	#2
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,329 Thanks: 1,240 Thanked 2,118 Times in 968 Posts	Yes We sample Winni water at two sites on a weekly basis as part of the UNH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program: http://winnipesaukeegateway.org/moni.../introduction/ One is a 95' deep site between Governor's and Timber. One test is to lower a black and white secchi disk and looking through a view tube record the depth at which the disk disappears from view. http://www.geoscientific.com/sampling/index.html#SECCI Previous results this year were not as deep as last year, 8.5 meters vs 9.5 last year. Today the water was very clear and the secchi depth was 10.2 meters (33.5 feet). BTW, there was a very sharp thermocline at 8.5 meters.

08-19-2011, 07:02 AM	#4
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	Clarity I was told the reason the lake is becoming clearer is due to all the lawn chemicals killing off the algea. Is this still true? Or was it in the first place?

08-19-2011, 08:17 AM	#5
fpartri497 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Concord NH Posts: 681 Thanks: 97 Thanked 48 Times in 39 Posts	Fall around the coner the first signs of fall On the lake. yesterday the water temp. has dropped to 75 deg. __________________ dont worry be happy

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08-19-2011, 09:09 AM	#6
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 557 Thanks: 639 Thanked 176 Times in 95 Posts	Was hoping that we would escape the annual gleotrichia bloom because it seems rather late this year, but, alas, yesterday there it was, even way offshore. UGH. It looks like tiny dots suspended throughout the top approx. 12 inches of the water.