Water Testing Update - Summer, 2008
This is the third year of Sylvia Lake's participation in the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program. See the page about water testing from last year. We recently received our final results from 2007. Water testing was done this summer by our lake volunteers. Testing was done in June, July, and the final test in late August. The volunteer team is coordinated by Lea Dickson and includes Carlton Force, David McGrath, Gale Ferguson, Faye Lockwood, Jodi Hatch, Shari Barnhart, and Jeanette Perry. The Association also does water testing for bacteria- coliform total and coliform fecal at three selected sites around the lake. The most recent test was done on July 8, 2008. Results will be presented at the Fall Association meeting.
Water Testing - Spring, 2008
May 26, 2008 was a warm 72 degrees, but the wind was steady at
15 mph. Paul
Smith's College student and ALAP Intern Kim Caro and her
friend, Ryan, came to Sylvia Lake to perform ALAP water tests.
This will be our third year in this program and as we gather
more data, we will come to better understand the health of our
lake and how it compares to others in the Adirondack region.
The Sylvia Lake board continues to
focus on the importance of water quality. The ALAP measures leading
parameters that provide information about the health and aging
process of a lake or pond. These parameters include transparency,
pH, alkalinity, conductivity, concentrations of chlorophyll-a,
calcium, phosphorus, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen, among others.
Read
more about the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program in their brochure.
The goals of the ALAP are two-fold.
First, to gather useful, scientifically valid information on a
particular lake or pond to inform those associated with this water
body about its overall condition and trends. Groups or individuals
can use this information for long-term planning for a healthy lake
or pond. Second, to establish a profile of water quality conditions
and trends across the Adirondack Park. As mentioned above, despite
the importance of water in the Adirondacks to the local economy,
character of our communities, quality of life, and the environment,
we know very little about most of the lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks."
(from Residents Committee to Protect
the Adirondacks)
Lea, Kim and Ryan set off to test Sylvia's water...
