2012 was the 22nd consecutive year of water quality monitoring conducted at Province Lake as part of the New Hampshire Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP). We sampled four times last season. The test results for 2012 on water samples collected by Steve & Mary Craig, John Wilkinson, and Amy Sargent, were reviewed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES). State reports for a number of years are available by clicking this web site.
Many of the terms in this report include hyperlinks to interesting related web sites. By clicking on most of the underlined terms, you can access additional information. If the same word is hyperlinked more than once, the different occurrences lead to different web sites.
The State conducted a statistical regression analysis to determine objectively if water quality has changed over time. This statistical analysis will now apparently be conducted annually for qualifying lakes. This is a major payoff for having had a continuous and consistent sampling program. Since last year, Province Lake is included in a "White Mountain Region Regional Report", which includes those 15 lakes (out of 127; 21 with data) that have data for at least 10 consecutive years. There is also a 2 page Individual Lake Report that I have used, along with the October 2012 Province Lake data report and the Regional Report, in preparation of this summary. All sources are public information.
There is a NEW separate supplementary report, published online on July 18, 2013, that provides NH DES's answers to many questions about the "Impaired" status of Province Lake.
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The data and the NH DES report on the quality of water in the lake for 2012 indicate the following:
1. The average amount of algae in the lake was the lowest measured since monitoring began in 1991, as indicated by the chlorophyll-a concentrations. This is great news. We have never returned to the high levels observed during the weed removal activities of 1996 and 1997, and their lingering effects in 1998. The State's statistical analysis shows that the amount of algae has not significantly changed over all the years since monitoring began in 1991. Our amount of algae was only about 50% of the amount that New Hampshire lakes have, on average. This low level is good because dying algae forms the brown floating bottom masses that come to your shore when the wind blows hard in July and August. The algae masses settle loosely on the bottom when the lake is still and cloud the water when wind or boat wakes stir things up. This may be unsightly, but it is not harmful to anyone or their animals.
The impairment status based on chlorophyll-a concentrations is significantly different, depending on the lake use that is being evaluated. For swimming, the lake gets the best rating. For aquatic life, the lake is considered Marginally Impaired.
2. Water transparency (a measure of how deep you can see into the water) was an average of 2.94 meters (9.6 feet). This tied with our best years on record, 1993 and 1995. The State's statistical analysis shows that the transparency has not significantly changed over all the years since monitoring began in 1991.
Last year (2011), for the first time, the State's statistical analysis had shown that the transparency had degraded since monitoring began in 1991, but this one spectacular year (2012) was enough to push the statistics back to "no significant change". As always, Province Lake's transparency was less than the statewide median of 3.2 meters (10.5 feet), but is not unreasonable considering that we have a shallow lake, so sediments are easily stirred up. The shallowness means that it is important to educate lake users on the importance of operating jet skis and boats at slow speeds in shallow areas to minimize disturbance to sediments and vegetation. Churning up the bottom sediments releases phosphorus, which promotes algae and cyanobacteria growth, increases turbidity (scattering of light by suspended particles), and decreases clarity.
The deepest part of the lake is only 16 to 17 feet deep, as shown on the bathymetric chart.
3. Phosphorus is a nutrient required for plant and algae growth and is typically the nutrient whose availability most limits plant and algae growth in NH lakes. In 2012, the average phosphorus levels in the upper water layer were less than in the previous 3 years (2009-2011) and were comparable to the 5 years prior to that (2004-2008). At this time, the varying phosphorus levels appear to be simply a matter of natural variation. As is typical for Province Lake, this level exceeds that in 50% of the lakes in NH (the median). The State's statistical analysis shows that the phosphorus concentration has not significantly changed since monitoring began in 1991.
While the variation in phosphorus levels is not a cause for concern, the average concentration is high enough that it earned Province Lake a "Marginal Impairment" listing in the "Aquatic life" use category because of total phosphorus concentrations. 2010 was the first year ANY water bodies were listed for total phosphorus, as explained in Issue #5 of the Province Lake Water Newsletter.
In the lower water layer, the phosphorus levels were less than in 6 of the previous 7 years (2005-2011). Our lower level phosphorus was about equal to the NH median, and below the median for lakes in NH that are similar to Province Lake. This is a good thing. Again, powered watercraft disturbance of bottom sediments is probably an important source of phosphorus for our lake. Too much phosphorus may increase the growth of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria in the lake.
The phosphorus concentration at the Rt. 153 Inlet (near the state line) continues to be elevated, but its 2012 level was lower than in 9 of the previous 11 years. The average and the maximum phosphorus concentrations measured at the Island Inlet on Bonnyman Road were the lowest seen since monitoring began in 1991. This supports my suspicion that culvert, bank, and road construction activity surrounding the Island Inlet sampling site in 2009 and 2010 was the main reason for the increase in those years and that the phosphorus has finally settled. Perhaps the longer-term result of the construction has been the reduction of phosphorus inputs, or maybe something else has changed on the properties that are upstream. Phosphorus clings to sediments, so soil erosion and sediment disturbance can increase phosphorus concentrations. Both inlet locations have a history of elevated and fluctuating total phosphorus concentration.
4. We have never sampled Province Lake for nitrogen as part of the monitoring program. However, a 1987 DES Lake Assessment Program survey determined that plant and algae growth in Province Lake is actually limited by the amount of nitrogen, rather than by phosphorus. Therefore, it is important to be sure nitrogen-containing fertilizers are not used near the shoreline, or streams or ditches feeding the lake, and to be sure septic systems are operating properly.
5. Province Lake experienced its first reported and confirmed cyanobacteria bloom in September 2010, when it had an official DES Lake Warning issued from 9/3/2010 to 9/15/2010. That sample was screened for toxins on 12/30/2012 and yielded 0 parts per billion (ppb) of toxin. When a cyanobacteria bloom is in progress (see description below), there is no way for us to know if it is toxic or not, so we need to act as if it is toxic.
When I discovered an apparent cyanobacteria bloom on 9/23/2011, I took photos and contacted the Cyanobacteria Hotline that day, but no one from DES called back or visited. A later email from Sonya Carlson at DES confirmed that the photos appeared to be a cyanobacteria bloom. She said that DES had not visited because the bloom was occurring "well after the swim season was finished." She said that the beach inspection program staff is greatly reduced after Labor Day, so lake visits because of cyanobacteria blooms are unlikely at that time of year.
The message here is clear. While Province Lake is more prone to cyanobacteria blooms in late summer to early fall, DES is constrained from doing much about it then. Therefore, it is important to know what a bloom looks like and act accordingly. If a cyanobacteria bloom is suspected, there may be Facebook postings and/or email alerts issued. Having had late August or September blooms 3 years in a row means we are susceptible to having them in future years, especially in late summer. This is why Province Lake is listed as "Marginally Impaired" in the "Primary Contact" use category.
Breaking News! Remarkably, while coding this section of this report on June 21, 2013, I checked my email and found an alert email from the Province Lake Association that a cyanobacteria bloom had been observed today near the boat ramp at the corner of Rt. 153 and Bonnyman Road. Teresa Ptak of the NH DES Beach Program stated that an official cyanobacteria advisory was being issued for that specific area of the lake. I reposted the information to the general Province Lake Facebook page when I read it. Bob Moore reposted the alert to the campground Facebook page much earlier than that, right after the email was issued. This brings up a good issue: Whoever gets an email alert should feel free to repost it to one or more of the Facebook pages around the lake, if they see that someone else has not already done so. The quicker and more widespread the word passes about blooms, the better. If you join the Association, you can get the email alerts directly; that alone is a good reason to join.
What a Cyanobacteria Bloom Looks Like: Large concentrations of cyanobacteria would be caused by a bloom, which would be seen as the formation of a green, blue, or pink surface scum in a section of the lake. Bear in mind that this is different from the tan or yellowish foam seen sometimes after strong winds. It will likely look different than what you have seen before the bloom of September 2010. If present in large amounts, cyanobacteria can be toxic to animals and humans. While recreational exposure to cyanobacteria toxins is a major concern of NH DES, there have been no documented cases of cyanotoxin-related illnesses in New Hampshire.
If you think you are seeing a cyanobacteria bloom, stay out of the water and especially, keep your children and pets out of the water. Call the NH DES Cyanobacteria Hotline at (603) 419-9229 to describe what you see. If suspicious, during "swim season" NH DES may sample and analyze the suspected bloom, then post a Lake Warning if there is any danger. They will monitor the situation and remove the postings when all is clear.
The best ways to avoid having cyanobacteria blooms are by eliminating fertilizer use on lawns, keeping the lake shore natural, protecting against shoreline erosion, and properly maintaining septic systems. Maintaining your septic system and pumping regularly helps protect Province Lake. How often your septic tank should be pumped is a function of the number of people in the house, the amount of water used, whether use is seasonal, and the size of the tank. You can call Kim at Lakes Region Septic at (603) 522-6246 to discuss a pumping schedule.
6. A pH between 6.5 to 7.0 is ideal for fish. pH is the measure of acidity, where 7.0 is neutral. Ours in 2012 was an average of 6.8, just about perfect. The state average is 6.6. The average pH at the Rt. 153 inlet was 6.08, the highest it has been since 2001, which is a good sign. Since it drains a large wetland, it has a high concentration of tannic, humic, and fulvic acids, which give it the color of tea and reduce its pH. No problem is indicated.
Exceedances of the Water Quality Criteria for pH are defined as: pH < 6.5 or pH > 8.0. The state average pH of 6.6 nearly falls below the 6.5 criterion, therefore a large number of New Hampshire water bodies are listed as "Slight impairment - marginal condition" in the "Aquatic life" use category for pH. The supplemental report explains why Province Lake is listed as "Slight impairment - marginal condition" for pH and will probably stay listed for years. However, the impairment is so slight, it should not be of great concern.
7. Province Lake was listed in 2008 as impaired for mercury in fish because Note 3 of the list stated "all surface waters in New Hampshire are also included on this list due to statewide fish/shellfish consumption advisories because of mercury levels in fish/shellfish tissue." Two fish from Province Lake tested in 2009 were shown to have safe mercury levels, but just two fish cannot be assumed to be sufficiently representative of all fish in the lake. Better to be cautious and do catch-and-release, which makes for better fishing anyway, not to mention leaving food for the loons and bald eagles.
8. Due to budget cuts, a state biologist visits each VLAP lake only once every 2 years, therefore, dissolved oxygen (DO) was not measured in 2012. Generally, DO levels in Province Lake have been satisfactory. Officially, the Individual Lake Report says there is insufficient data to evaluate DO definitively, but that the data that do exist are "encouraging" for DO concentration and "cautionary" for DO percent saturation.
A high oxygen level is a sign of the lake's overall good health. I encourage powered watercraft to operate far from the shore to mix the deep waters and boost the oxygen concentration, while minimizing their operation in the shallows.
9. No E. coli bacteria testing was done in 2012. Sample testing done on the campground brook in 2010 seemed to indicate that the source of occasional high readings was wildlife, not the campground, therefore, there was no need to continue testing. Since the brook has minimal outflow, it is likely that any E. coli there will have little or no effect on the lake water quality.
10. Effect of putting leaves into the water: Any organic matter dumped into the lake or the streams that feed it has the potential to increase phosphorus or other nutrients that can enhance algae and cyanobacteria growth, can increase turbidity, and can impede the dispersal of any E. coli that may be present. Organic matter in the water also creates habitat for leeches, which occur naturally in New Hampshire lakes. Leeches require unpolluted water, so their presence is actually a good sign, just not a sign we like to live with. A posting on the campground member's Facebook page asking that leaves not be blown into the brook should help matters there.
Lead fishing sinkers can be swallowed intentionally by loons, leading to their deaths. Therefore, most lead fishing sinkers have been outlawed so, if you still own any lead fishing gear, please stop using it immediately.
If you bring up or buy earthworms to use as bait, you absolutely should not release them on the ground, since they are not native to New England and they can eat up the leaf litter and disturb the soil. Either use them up, give them to someone else who can use them, or dump them in the lake, as far from shore as you can. Any soil you had the worms in can contain eggs or other life stages, so should not be dumped on the ground either. See the 2011 report for more details, including a video. The native plants and little creatures that live in the woods will thank you!
The Asian Longhorned Beetle is a tree-killing insect 0.75 - 1.25 inches long, with long antennae and a black body covered with white spots. It is a severe threat to any forest to which it is introduced. The Worcester, MA, quarantine area where the beetle is found in New England is now over 100 square miles. The ALB reporting hotline number is 866-702-9938. Please always use local firewood, to keep from spreading around this beetle and other wood pests (such as Emerald Ash Borer, recently discovered in and around Concord, NH). It is illegal to move firewood across most state lines in the Northeast now, and Province Lake is perched on a state line, so be careful to keep out of trouble. See the 2009 report for more details. You can also learn much more at the following web sites:
Last year's summary report is posted HERE. That is the 2011 report, publicly presented on July 21, 2012.
There are now 57 members of the Facebook group called "Province Lake, New Hampshire & Maine", which is not affiliated with the any organization, but where people interested in the lake and nearby areas can share information. Province Shores Campground also has a Facebook group primarily for members, and there has been outreach regarding water quality issues by that means. These Facebook groups have been used to post cyanobacteria warnings, official or otherwise.
THANK YOU NOTE: I want to thank Steve Craig for taking the lead on the VLAP water sampling activity since 2004. Each year the State report grades each sampling program and each year Province Lake receives Excellent ratings for sample collection and submittal. Thank you to Steve, and others who have helped out from time to time! Steve can always use more volunteers to help him with sampling, deliveries, or both, so please contact Steve (at Weeds@ProvinceLake.org) or me (at province-lake-water@cox.net ) if you are interested in helping out. The PLA currently coordinates and provides financial support to the VLAP effort on Province Lake. You do not need to be a member of the PLA to volunteer, and have no obligation to join if you do volunteer, although new or returned members are always welcome.
Happy Summer,
Norm Dudziak, P.E., I.M.
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