For our first group meeting, we as a group decided to take a look at the surrounding areas specifically the lakes and streams. We came to conclusion that there is a number of watersheds in the surrounding area that continuously flow into the lake bringing in all good and bad nutrients. This being said that means that all materials that get into these watersheds whether it is from rain, snow, runoff or human dumping will eventually enter Lake Champlain and meet up with all the other materials that have come form the numerous other watersheds. The picture that is attached to the left shows all the water sheds that surround Lake Champlain and where they originally come from whether it be New York or Vermont. The picture has broken down each watershed into its own number so the viewer can get a better idea of the size and location of each of these watersheds.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
First Group Meeting: Lake Champlain Watersheds by Lake Segments.
For our first group meeting, we as a group decided to take a look at the surrounding areas specifically the lakes and streams. We came to conclusion that there is a number of watersheds in the surrounding area that continuously flow into the lake bringing in all good and bad nutrients. This being said that means that all materials that get into these watersheds whether it is from rain, snow, runoff or human dumping will eventually enter Lake Champlain and meet up with all the other materials that have come form the numerous other watersheds. The picture that is attached to the left shows all the water sheds that surround Lake Champlain and where they originally come from whether it be New York or Vermont. The picture has broken down each watershed into its own number so the viewer can get a better idea of the size and location of each of these watersheds.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Phosphorus pollution comes from many sources, mainly sewage treatment plants, storm sewers, and industrial sources. Most of these are point sources.
In rural areas, the sources are sewage treatments from small towns, improper septic systems, storm sewers, manure runoff, nutrient runoff, milkhouse wastes, and eroded soil. Most of these are non-point sources, non-point sources make it extremely hard to pin point exactly where the phosphorus pollution is coming from or how it is getting there.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
We know from initial research that the four areas of the lake that are struggling the most to meet desired levels of phosphorus are: Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay, Northeast Arm, and South Lake A. We also know that in these areas the phosphorus levels are either increasing or remaining stable. Water coming from wastewater plants generally meets the target load levels, and that nonpoint phosphorus pollution is the largest contributor to areas not meeting target levels. Areas such as Missisquoi Bay that struggle to meet target phosphorus levels receive the majority of their phosphorus from agriculture. Agriculture only accounts for 14% of the land area, but contributes 38% to the total nonpoint source phosphorus pollution. Phosphorus is easily transferred because it is found in dissolved water and has the ability to attach to soil particles, which is undoubtedly a reason that agriculture is able to contribute so significantly to the phosphorus load. Nutrient rich soil from farmlands, excessive use of fertilizer and erosion are key contributors to the phosphorus load in lake Champlain.
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