Title
A Watershed Analysis of Long Pong North: Implications for Water Quality and Land-Use Management
Document Type
Report
Study Date
2006
Abstract
The Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) investigated the water quality of Long Pond North, located in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, from June through December 006. CEAT analyzed several physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters to determine the current health of the lake. Attributes of the watershed such as land-use patterns and residential and commercial development were also studied to determine their impact on water quality. Data collected were used to produce models of the watershed that enabled CEAT to identify possible sources of degradation to the current and future water quality of Long Pond. To examine historic water quality trends, all data collected this summer were compared to data collected in previous years by CEAT and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The trends observed show a decrease in mean Secchi depth, a measurement of transparency that is an important indicator of water quality. CEAT also observed an increasing trend in mean phosphorus levels. Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient for aquatic plant species, and higher phosphorus levels in the lake can result in algal blooms that decrease the aesthetic and recreational value of the lake. Although the phosphorus levels of Long Pond North are not at the level to produce algal blooms, the increasing phosphorus level is a cause for concern.
Recommended Citation
Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College and Problems in Environmental Science course (Biology 493), Colby College, "A Watershed Analysis of Long Pong North: Implications for Water Quality and Land-Use Management" (2006). Colby College Watershed Study: Long Pond, North (2006, 1994). 1.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/longpondnorth/1
Comments
Publication Date: 2007
Date of Study: June through December 2006