Monitoring Results

Eagle Lake Improvement Association, Inc.

Willmar, Minnesota

Photo by Gary G Hanson

Eagle Lake Monitoring Results Since 2000

Lab definitions:

Total Phosphorus – A nutrient essential to the growth of organisms, and is commonly the limiting factor in the primary productivity of surface water bodies. Total phosphorus includes the amount of phosphorus in solution (reactive) and in particle form. Agricultural drainage, wastewater, and certain industrial discharges are typical sources of phosphorus, and can contribute to the eutrophication of surface water bodies. Measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Phosphorus is what helps weeds grow in our lake. It can also lead to turning our water green. One pound of Phosphorus helps produce 300-500 pounds of weeds. Please do not use phosphorus in your lawn fertilizer. If the middle number on your fertilizer is 0, then your using phosphorus free fertilizer.

Ortho Phosphorus – This part of phosphorus directly produces weed and algae growth. It comes from animal waste, plant matter, and improperly maintained sewer systems.

Secchi Disk - This measures the distance we can see in the water. A special disk is used to help us measure this.

Chlorophyll a. - Photosynthetic pigment found in all green plants, and the main pigment in algae. The concentration of chlorophyll a is used to estimate the amount of algae (all phytoplankton in a given area) in surface water. Measured in micrograms per liter (µg/L).

Our goal is to be in the typical range for lakes in our ecoregion.

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