Water Quality Monitoring

Volunteer Program

The water monitoring program runs from April through October every year. During the 2020 Association meeting, members voted to establish a Water Monitoring Committee and purchase equipment to expand our monitoring efforts. With guidance from our resident water quality expert, Carriel Cataldi, the Crystal Pond water monitoring program has significantly expanded. Below is a summary of achievements:

o Increased the nutrient/phytoplankton samples from three times per year to 7.

o Increased annual inlet samples from once per year to four.

o Increased dissolved oxygen and secchi disk readings from three times per year to 30 (weekly).

Carriel’s expertise allows us to maintain a high-quality program and ensures integrity of the data we collect. In addition, the hundreds of volunteer hours save the Association over $10,000 per year.

What We Do

Weekly profiles - Volunteers conduct weekly profiles of the lake at the deep-water buoy. During each weekly trip, volunteers measure dissolved oxygen and temperature at .5-meter intervals from the surface of the water to 8.5 meters. 

Monthly nutrient and phytoplankton analysis – Every month, volunteers take a variety of samples to understand the health of our lake including testing for nitrogen, phosphorus, and phytoplankton. Samples are taken at three different depths. 

Inlet sampling - Volunteers take regular samples from the five known inflows to our pond. We evaluate the water flowing into the lake for nitrogen and phosphorus as these are two nutrients that contribute to plant growth and eutrophication (aging of the lake). Volunteers take these samples from a kayak but may venture further inland to gather a quality sample with permission from the property owners. 

Equipment

  Dissolved oxygen meter – Our dissolved oxygen meter measures dissolved oxygen levels in the lake and temperature. The cable is marked at .5-meter intervals to guide volunteers on the various depths they should record dissolved oxygen levels and temperature. 

Secchi disk with view tube – The secchi disk helps monitor water clarity. The view tube ensures consistency in our results as it reduces the impact of waves, wind, and sun glare to obtain an accurate reading. Volunteers measure water clarity three times using the secchi disk and three times using the secchi disk/view tube combo. We take three measurements to ensure accuracy. A passing boat with wake can disrupt our readings so its important to measure three times. 

Plankton net – we use this equipment to monitor the microscopic life found in our lake. The plankton tow is tossed into the lake, sinks to a prescribed depth, and is pulled up at an angle (apprx 45 degrees) to capture the living organisms in our water column. 

Algae tube – Volunteers use a weighted tube to capture algae found in the upper layer of the lake.