Water Quality Testing
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Wall Lake's pH has remained slightly basic and stable. This is excellent news, as one of the two existential threats to Wall Lake is a drop in pH (increase in acidity) that can occur if our wetlands are damaged and acidic bog water flows freely into Wall Lake. The second existential threat is the transmission of aquatic invasive species into Wall Lake.
The Bad
Wall Lake's phosphorous and nitrates levels are periodically elevated. This is because excess phosphorous and nitrogen enter Wall Lake, typically by the use of fertilizer chemicals that contain phosphorous and nitrogen. The problem with this is that it causes excess plant and algae growth. Natural shorelines, as opposed to seawalls and riprap, absorb extra nutrients like (fertilizers) and pollutants and prevent them from entering Wall Lake.
Another problem is that in the hot summer months Wall Lake has no dissolved oxygen below 20'. Ideally an inland lake would have dissolved oxygen throughout the lake. The lack of oxygen is due to microorganisms using oxygen when they consume sediment that collects on the floor of the deep basins. The oxygen never gets replenished because that layer of the water is deep and cut off from the atmosphere. We are advised by our experts that this is observed in every inland lake they monitor, and it is not something that we can control.
Another problem is that Wall Lake has two, and sometimes three, aquatic invasive plant species. Milfoil is a long-term nemesis, and is well controlled through professional weed management. Cabomba is a new discovery and it is our hope that it will be well controlled. Purple Loosestrife makes an appearance most, but not all years, and is not prevalent.
The Ugly
There is no ugly! Wall Lake is a beautiful lake.