About Us | Services | Careers | News | SEH Home

Sweeney Lake Total Maximum Daily Load Study

PROJECT UPDATE

June 14, 2007

It's been a busy month so far on the data collection and analysis side of things. It's also been an interesting month so far for the lake. Bernie and I have been in close contact with Dave after a couple of emails regarding how much greener the lake looks this year and the lower than "normal" dissolved oxygen (DO) readings (“normal” being with the aerators on). Dave and his neighbors have been concerned with this information, but Bernie has given them a couple of scenarios that may explain how the lake is responding and the DO levels so far are not a concern for fish. We'll need to continue looking at the data as it is collected to better understand how things are responding.

There's a couple of things that have been observed in the data thus far that tell us we are seeing the lake respond how we need it to, to get the answers we need to get. Dave is collecting some additional data to see if there is diurnal fluctuation in the DO data.

Work Completed Past two weeks

1. Sediment cores collected on June 1 and currently in the lab being analyzed
2. Bi-weekly in-lake sampling, continuous inflow monitoring and base flow water quality samples collected
3. P8 modeling efforts continue
4. Bernie has had contacts with Dave Hanson and has reviewed Dave's data and Three Rivers preliminary data for dissolved oxygen/temperature trends

Work in Progress

1. P8 model and BATHTUB model development ongoing
2. Review of, and coordination with MPCA on, Quality Assurance Plan for monitoring/sampling efforts
3. Carefully watching the DO data
4. Evaluating budget status for end of June - need invoices from Three Rivers (they have been contacted by SEH and Barr)

Work in the Next 1-2 Weeks - Wrap up Phase 1A by June 30

1. Continue in-lake data collection - every two weeks
2. Continue to review in lake and sample data as it is available and work with Dave Hanson on his additional data collection efforts
3. Lake response model setup - BATHTUB model
4. Project webpage updates as information is available
5. Refine budget estimates through June 30 and modifications for equipment (if needed)
   

Sweeney Lake
Total Maximum
Daily Load Study

About the Project

Project and Work Plan Schedule

Public Information/Comment Page

Project Updates

Project Contacts and Links

Documents and Data