WATER QUALITY SUMMARY

Pleasant Pond, Turner Midas: 3822, Basin: Primary

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME-DEP) and the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) have collaborated in the collection of lake data to evaluate present water quality, track algal blooms, and determine water quality trends. This dataset does not include bacteria, mercury, toxics or nutrients other than phosphorus. Phosphorus is considered the primary limiting nutrient for algal growth in Maine lakes.

Water quality monitoring data for Pleasant Pond has been collected since 1975. During this period, 14 years of basic chemical information was collected, in addition to Secchi Disk Transparencies (SDT). In summary, the water quality of Pleasant Pond is considered to be average, based on measures of SDT, total phosphorus (TP), and Chlorophyll-a (Chla). The potential for nuisance algai blooms on Pleasant Pond is above average.

Water Quality Measures: Pleasant Pond is a non-colored lake (average color 11 SPU) with an average SDT of 5.7m (I8.7ft). The range of water column TP for Pleasant Pond is 7-14 parts per billion (ppb) with an average of 10ppb, while Chla ranges from 1.1-12.1 ppb with an average of 5 ppb. Recent dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles show moderate DO depletion in deep areas of the lake. The potential for TP to leave the bottom sediments and become available to algae in the water column (internal loading) is moderate. Oxygen levels below 5 parts per million (ppm) stress certain coldwater fish and a persistent loss of oxygen may eliminate habitat for sensitive cold water species.

The SDT trend, from 1975- 1999, in Pleasant Pond shows a significant decline or negative water quality trend during the month of August. The negative trend indicates an increase in the algal community over the long term, which is a typical response to rising nutrient levels. This means that Pleasant Pond is at risk for declining water quality and the surrounding community will need to take substantive action to maintain the current level of water clarity. A watershed survey was conducted in 1997. This is the initial step towards implementing watershed improvements that would protect the pond from future declines in water quality.

See ME-DEP Explanation of Lake Water Quality Monitoring Report for measured variable explanations. Additional lake information can be found on the World Wide Web at: http://www.pearl.maine.edu and/or http://www.maine.gov/deplblwqJIake.htm, or contact ME-DEP at 207-287-3901, or VLMP at 207-783-7733.

Filename: PLEA3822, Revised: 2/00, By ME

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