Drain Commissioner's Corner

Water Quality Report -- February, 2010

Water levels: We had another wet year in Water Year 2009 which runs from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009. The water year coincides closely with the hydrologic cycle that Hydrologists use to balance water systems. In 2009 we received 36.92 inches of precipitation including snowfall converted to water compared to a long term average of 30.81 inches. This is about a 20% increase over normal conditions. This obviously has an impact on lake levels and most months were close to the 1290.0 feet mean sea level that the courts set for a spring goal. Right now because of a dry early winter we are at 1289.60 feet which gives us a 0.4 feet or almost 5 inch buffer to absorb winter snow accumulations and spring melt. Hopefully we will drop another 0.25 feet before spring melt. The dam is wide open and has been since early October. It takes a long time to pull approximately 4,000 surface acres of water through a 30 foot structure!!!

Water Quality: We now have eight (8) years of water quality data that we have collected on Lake Mitchell. This is a very good base level of data to measure any future changes in lake water quality. Most of our water quality parameters have stayed pretty steady in the "good" range but we did see some potential problem areas. Many of us are aware of the algal bloom that was the worst any of us can remember that occurred last summer. We all remember it as the "pea soup" weeks. This corresponds to the highest phosphorous levels that we have recorded on Lake Mitchell in the eight years of sampling. Algal blooms seemed to be wide spread in inland lakes in Michigan last year so at least we had company!!! All 4 of the lakes that we sample in Wexford County (Mitchell, Cadillac, Berry and Stone ledge) had the highest phosphorus levels ever recorded. I feel it may be related to the flood of June 13, 2008 and a flushing of nutrients from surrounding wetlands over time due to the high water levels that we experience throughout 2008 and 2009. I don’t have empirical data to support that, but because the blooms were so wide spread, it seems to be a logical conclusion.

Let’s all remember to use phosphorus free fertilizers, consider buffer strips and other management techniques which minimize our impacts to the lake. We all look forward to a warmer summer and good times on the lake in 2010.

If you have any questions concerning drain issues, please call at 231-779-9110.

Mike Solomon
Wexford County Drain Commissioner