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Project Background
Bird’s-eye view - Street level
Bird’s-eye view - Street level
In July 2023, I submitted a plan to the Skaneateles Lake Association (SLA) to prepare a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of Skaneateles Lake. I have collected and compiled dissolved oxygen data points to create a baseline GIS to better understand eutrophication in the lake. My initial scope was to establish a base or raster map of the lake and provide a GIS file to which additional data can be appended over time by SLA volunteer scientists.
Bird’s-eye view - Street level
Bird’s-eye view - Street level
Bird’s-eye view - Street level
The overuse of fertilizers in farming can cause eutrophication. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients enter bodies of water, leading to the dense growth of plant life and a lack of dissolved oxygen. Overuse of agricultural fertilizers also leads to toxic algal blooms, tainted drinking water, and the collapse of aquatic ecosystems as fish suffocate. In Skaneateles Lake, there is a correlation between farm runoff and algal blooms, which have terrible consequences for the environment and our water systems.
Areas of Investigation
Bird’s-eye view - Street level
Areas of Investigation
Over the summer, when farming activity is heavy, there is a general trend of increased algal blooms. Data has shown that algal blooms are more common in coastal areas within close proximity of agricultural land. Fertilizer drainage and runoff enter the watershed, carrying phosphorus and nitrogen into the lake and causing blooms. According to NYDEC, 80% of all phosphorus runoff comes from agricultural land, and there are 46 established farms in the Skaneateles watershed.
Non-Point Sources
Field Collection and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Areas of Investigation
Many non-point sources of fertilizer runoff, such as lawns, contribute to algae growth within the lake. Many properties, ranging from personal lawns to golf courses, use fertilizers to create lush grass. Although they don't use the concentrated amount of chemicals that farms do, contaminants accumulate and cause a massive effect on the lake.
Soil erosion is another big contributor to the level of phosphorus in the lake. In land with more foliage/plant life (and therefore more root systems), runoff does not flow as easily into the lake. Therefore, when land is being developed and forests are cleared to make lawns and roads, there is an increased flow of phosphorus into the water.
Blue green algae, a cyanobacteria, forms easily with an abundance of nutrients such as phosphorus. These bacteria can harm human life. Through contact, ingestion, and inhalation, humans can begin to develop allergic reactions, experience eye/skin irritation, and have diarrhea or vomiting.
Field Collection and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Field Collection and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Field Collection and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Increased plant life can affect dissolved oxygen levels in water. An abundance of plants would produce more oxygen that needs to dissolve into the water, as demonstrated by the darker green circles. Therefore, it might seem helpful to increase fertilizer runoff into lakes, so that aquatic plants will become nutrient rich, thereby increasing growth and dissolved oxygen level. However, when algae is fertilized in the lake, it grows at a faster rate, blocking sunlight for the aquatic plants below. Many other species begin to die and decompose as a result of blocked sunlight, further depleting the water of its oxygen supply. A lower dissolved oxygen level, represented by the white circles, can have many detrimental effects on the ecosystem. Fish populations will be harmed, humans will begin to face consequences like rashes and illness, and bird species will die off. This is also an issue for the residents of the City of Syracuse, as their main drinking water supply is sourced from Skaneateles Lake.
The Future of Farming in Skaneateles
Field Collection and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Field Collection and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Learn more about the future and existing efforts to mitigate these issues:
https://www.twinbirchdairy.com/product-philosophy
Twin Birch lives by its mission statement by striving to operate an environmentally-friendly farm in a manner that is perceived by neighbors and our community as an asset to the area.
Sustainability practices include crop rotation, erosion control, no-till and cover crop planting. We even create and utilize electricity produced from the herd's manure! Located between the beautiful Skaneateles and Owasco Finger Lakes, we also believe in keeping waterways clean and water quality a priority for the benefit of all.
Monitoring dissolved oxygen levels within Skaneateles Lake
Using Geographic Information System mapping technology
Introduction: Skaneateles Lake is experiencing eutrophication due to excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorus introduced into the water through local agricultural run-off. Eutrophication results in hypoxia, or the growth of dense plant life in aquatic environments, which leads to the death of fish and marine animals.
Skaneateles Lake is part of the Finger Lakes in New York State, an area with significant agricultural endeavors, including commercial farms surrounding the lake. The lake is a watershed, and it serves as the primary source of drinking water for the City of Syracuse. It is a glacial lake, and the second cleanest lake in the US. It measures 17 miles long, averages 3/4 miles wide, and is 315 feet deep at the deepest point. It is a crucial environmental site that needs protection as it serves as a community water source but is also open for recreational use.
In July 2023, I submitted a plan to the Skaneateles Lake Association (SLA) to prepare a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of Skaneateles Lake. I have collected and compiled dissolved oxygen data points to create a baseline GIS to better understand eutrophication in the lake. My initial scope was to establish a base or raster map of the lake and provide a GIS file to which additional data can be appended over time by SLA volunteer scientists.
My hypothesis is that oxygen depletion occurs in the lake at points nearest to areas of increased agricultural activity. By correlating eutrophication and agricultural runoff, we can
target efforts to bring the local use of fertilizers in agriculture under better control. I hope to change the perceptions and behaviors of consumers, farmers, and regulators. We can easily farm, manufacture, and landscape more sustainably, and I believe that measuring our "Nitrogen Footprint" is a first step in making this change.
Objective: Through this initiative, I have: (i) established a baseline GIS map of the lake basin that the SLA can use to aggregate data over time, (ii) acquired dissolved oxygen samples from various points on the lake, (iii) plotted these data measurements in a GIS environment, and (iv) supported my hypothesis that oxygen depletion occurs in the lake at points adjacent to areas of increased agricultural activity.
The initial scope of this research was to establish a base or raster map of the lake and provide a GIS file to which additional data can be appended over time. The value of the GIS file is that it will be a central resource for aggregating data collected by SLA volunteer scientists.
Methods and Results: During the summer of 2023, I created a GIS map of Skaneateles Lake. Initial data points included farm locations and some historic algal bloom location data. With this information in hand, I used a personal watercraft to collect and measure the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in water samples taken from the lake at various locations, including both near and far from areas of agricultural activity. These data were collected on three occasions, including once after a heavy rain, and once in overcast conditions. On the first date, I was able to measure DO levels at 56 points around the perimeter of the Lake. On the second occasion I was only able to collect 49 samples as my equipment failed, however the data remains accurate.
I layered the DO levels on the GIS map. My materials include a Milwaukee MW600 LED Economy Portable Dissolved Oxygen Meter with 2 Point Manual Calibration, Lake water samples, and a GIS file.
Preliminary Conclusions: I am still in the process of finalizing the analysis of the data collection and GIS plots, but I am seeing a correlation between dissolved oxygen levels, indicating the presence of algal blooms, with farm locations which contribute to nutrient run-off into the lake.
Affiliation: Under the mentorship of Robert Becker, Project & GIS Manager at EKN Engineering in Irvine, CA.
