Big Round Lake Meeting

Hertel, WI

October 25, 2007

IN ATTENDANCE:

District: Gordon Kill, Dan Bergeron, Truman Roach

Tribal Group: Katie Stariha, Chad Songetay

Polk County: Jeremy Williamson

DNR: Paul Garrison, Pamela Toshner

Blue Water Science: Steve McComas

Gordon Kill opened the meeting and outlined the agenda.

Steve McComas of Blue Water Science reviewed the water quality and aquatic plant conditions on Big Round Lake for the last 5-7 years. Water quality was relatively good in 2007 compared to prior years although the lake is still considered eutrophic (high in nutrients which results in algae blooms). His report covers Secchi Disk Readings indicating water quality, Plant Survey Summary and Biomass Levels. Although Biomass increased during the period, curlyleaf pondweed was down. Other plants such as coontail and northern milfoil showed increases. Overall, there are still questions on what is driving high phosphorous algae blooms.

Paul Garrison presented the final report on the Core Sample Project. Some conclusions follow:

· The mean sedimentation rate for the last 150 years for Big Round lake is one of the lowest measured in Wisconsin lakes

· Since 1940 the bulk sedimentation rate has been higher than the 100 years previous, but the increase is relatively small compared with many other Wisconsin lakes.

· Many geochemical elements increased around 1940. As with the sedimentation rate, the increase in chemicals that are surrogates for soil erosion, aluminum and potassium, was relatively small.

· The input from soil erosion in the watershed remains at elevated levels compared with the time period prior to 1940.

· Since 1990, the addition of synthetic fertilizers, probably for use on shoreline lawns, has resulted in increased input of potassium and likely other nutrients as well.

· The diatom community showed little change throughout the core. The only significant trend was an increase in planktonic diatoms after 1960. This increase likely reflects increased phosphorus levels.

· The production of green algae that produce fossils was significantly reduced following the installation of the dam. This was likely the result of the increased water level .The blue-green algae appeared to be the most sensitive to changes in nutrient levels in the lake. They indicated that phosphorus levels increased around 1940 and levels continued to increase until the present time. This was indicated by a shift from Aphanizomenon to Anabaena and to a bloom forming species around 1990, which was not preserved in the sediments but was likely Microcystis.

· The reason the diatom community was relatively unchanged with the increase in phosphorus was that the increase is largely the result of internal loading. This occurs during the summer when the blue-green algae out compete the diatoms for nutrients and light.

· Although the sediment core indicates that phosphorus levels have been increasing since 1940, it is not possible to estimate how much of an increase has occurred.

The Tribal Group reported continuing water quality testing and flow meter measurements. Katie Stariha also reported their fish count indicates numbers of walleye down from a previous count of 3+ to 1.7per acre.

Other discussions noted changes in the lake in the last few years that could effect fish and water conditions such as extreme high winds, hotter than normal summers, snail population down significantly and the increase in the Bass population.

It was mentioned that a DNR comprehensive fish survey is planned for Big Round in the next year or two. The district will contact Heath Benike of the DNR to determine when this is planned.

The DNR discussed a very extensive study planned for Cedar Lake. Cedar Lake has high nutrient conditions very similar to Big Round Lake. It was recommended Big Round Lake District could benefit from the results of their study rather than continue more extensive and costly studies of our own.

Pamela Toshner mentioned we should emphasize shoreline conservation. The DNR has small grants available for education, promotion efforts, etc. for this type of programs.

The District recommended continued water sampling, plant surveys and to implement a point intercept sampling procedure which utilizes a grid system for more consistent sampling points.

The St.Croix Tribe indicated that we would continue to work together on the lake water sampling and test readings on Big Round Lake. Gordon Kill will continue to collect the samples and take the readings, and the testing will be done by the

St.Croix Environmental Group.

It was agreed we should also start sampling and measuring the Straight River flowage into Big Round Lake. We will start this project in 2008.

It was also suggested that we might want to do some water sample collection and testing in Straight Lake. A plan will be discussed and budget projections put together by the District.

The meeting was adjourned

Respectfully submitted,

Truman B. Roach