Comparative Limnology of the Eight Eastern Finger Lakes
2005 - 2011
John D HalfmanEnvironmental Studies Program
Department of GeoscienceFinger Lakes Institute
7th Annual Finger Lakes Research Conference
Research Focus:Watershed Lake InteractionsImpact of Land Use & Bedrock Geology
Limestone vs. Shales & SandstonesSedimentary Rocks
Forested vs. AgriculturalLandscapes
Bedrock Land Use
Sampling Scheme• Sampling Schedule– Since 2005– Monthly: May through Oct– At Least Two Deep-Water Sites
• Parameters– CTD Cast (SeaBird SBE-25)
• Cond, Temp, Depth, Turb, Chlor, DO, pH– Secchi Disc Depth– Surface & Bottom Water Analyses
• Total Phosphates– Since 2006
• Dissolved Phosphates• Nitrates & Silica• Chlorophyll-a• Total Suspended Solids• Total Coliform & E. coli Bacteria
– 2005 only• Major Ions (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO4)
Seneca LakeSince 19944 (occasionally 9) SitesStreams
Owasco Lake11 Lake Sites & Streams2006 & 2007, 2011
Cayuga Lake9 Lake Sites2007 & 2008
Otisco LakeAdded in 2008
CTD ProfilesSBE-25Sea Logger
Temperature10-20 m Thermocline
Specific ConductanceEpilimnion Dilution
Fluorescence & Turbidity Surface Algae & Turbidity
Seasonal Surface Dilution?
Also detected in Seneca, Owasco, Skaneateles, & Otisco Lakes
Seneca Lake - Salinity Decline
2011
CTD
Dat
a
1997-2011 April CTD Data
Groundwater Source of Salts
Seneca Lake
020406080
100120140160180200
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
Year
Chl
orid
e, p
pm
JollyHalfmanOthers
Chloride DataJolly 2006, 2007
Inergy’s Storage LPGWatkins Glen
Dissolved Oxygen
FluorescenceSubsurface
Algal
Nepheloid Layers
Also detected in Canandaigua, Otisco & Owasco Lakes
Chlorophyll-a, Secchi AlgaeLargest
Surface WaterCayuga, Seneca,Honeoye, & Otisco
SmallestBottom WaterSkaneateles, Cayuga, Keuka, & Canandaigua
PhosphatesSRP & TP
Nitrates & Silica
2005 Finger Lake SurveyWater Quality & Its Protection
Finger Lake Water Quality
Water Quality
Wat
er Q
ualit
y Pr
otec
tion
Legi
slat
ion
Honeoye
Canandaigua
Keuka
Seneca
Cayuga
Owasco
Skaneateles
Worst
Wor
st
Best
Be
st
Bush, 2006, Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Bacteria (2005 Only Total Coliform & E. coli)Algae (Chlorophyll-a)Nutrients (Phosphates (TP, SRP), Nitrates)Suspended Sediments (TSS)Water Clarity (Secchi disk)
Wat
er Q
ualit
y Tr
ends
?
Algae (Chlorophyll-a)Nutrients (Phosphates, Nitrates)
Suspended Sediments (TSS)Water Clarity (Secchi disk)
Correlation with Agricultural RunoffCausation?
Agricultural Land
Exclude HoneoyeR2 = 0.98
AllR2 = 0.05
0
5
10
15
20
10 20 30 40 50 60
Agricultural Land Use (%)
Mea
n W
ater
Qua
lity
Ran
k
HoneoyeCanandaiguaKeukaSenecaCayugaOwascoSkaneatelesOtisco
Linear ( )Linear ( )
Annual Precipitation
2005 2007
2006 2008
2009
Five Years of Ranking
02468
10121416182022
Honoey
eCan
andiag
uaKeu
kaSen
eca
Cayug
aOwas
coSka
neatel
esOtis
co
Ran
k (3
7 M
ax) 2005
2006200720082009
Work in progress…
Wind Roses – Seneca Lake Buoy
Owasco Lake Phosphates (TP)Total Phosphate Annual Averages
0
5
10
15
20
A 1
1B B C 2
2B D
CC
1
CC
2 E
CC
3
CC
4
Tota
l Pho
spha
te (u
g/L,
P)
20052006
Total Phosphate Annual Averages
0
5
10
15
20
A 1
1B B C 2
2B D
CC
1
CC
2 E
CC
3
CC
4
Tota
l Pho
spha
te (u
g/L,
P)
200694 125 608
2007
NYS Funds – Senator Nozzolio
Seneca Lake: Nutrient Loading
Dissolved Phosphate
0
20
40
60
80
100
Sen
eca
Lake
Wils
on
Kash
ong
Keu
kaO
utle
t
Plu
m P
t.
Big
Stre
am
Ree
der
Ken
dig
Phos
phat
e (u
g/L,
SR
P) 199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009
118, 197, 145, 102, 120, 116
Seneca Lake Secchi Disk Data
Zebra Introduced
Zebra Die Off
Zebra & Quagga Rebound
Nutrient Loading?
Other VariabilityYSI Buoy Data, Seneca Lake
Finger Lakes Sample Dates
