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Assessing Coeur d’Alene Lake Health

This document proposes a refined method for determining the health of Coeur d'Alene Lake by measuring the dissolved oxygen outputs of macrophytes using in situ chambers. Researchers isolated the dominant macrophyte species, Potamogeton richardsonii, and incubated local microphytes to track dissolved oxygen concentrations over time. Measurements were taken at 15-minute intervals for 2 hours to quantify the gross productivity of P. richardsonii using a linear regression model. This refined method is intended to provide standardized data for organizations to accurately assess the health of Coeur d'Alene Lake.

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71 views1 page

Assessing Coeur d’Alene Lake Health

This document proposes a refined method for determining the health of Coeur d'Alene Lake by measuring the dissolved oxygen outputs of macrophytes using in situ chambers. Researchers isolated the dominant macrophyte species, Potamogeton richardsonii, and incubated local microphytes to track dissolved oxygen concentrations over time. Measurements were taken at 15-minute intervals for 2 hours to quantify the gross productivity of P. richardsonii using a linear regression model. This refined method is intended to provide standardized data for organizations to accurately assess the health of Coeur d'Alene Lake.

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Abstract

A refined method of determining the health of Coeur d’Alene Lake

Eryn D. Pierce¹ ², Krystal Saunoa³


¹North Idaho College, ²Baywatchers, ³University of Idaho

Since the establishment of the Bunker Hill Superfund Site by the Environment Protection
Agency (EPA) in 1983, the health and condition of Coeur d’Alene Lake has been a priority for
many organizations. While there are a plethora of procedures for determining water quality in
Coeur d’Alene Lake, there is currently no comprehensive method for determining lake health,
where a growing concern for the release of limiting nutrients and heavy metals in the water
column, in relation to increased human development, deems it necessary. Measuring the
dissolved oxygen (DO) outputs of macrophytes, referred to as the productivity rate, is a common
standard for determining water body health according to the United States Geographical Survey
(USGS). This was done by isolating a dominate macrophyte species in the lake, Potamogeton
richardsonii, with in situ chambers made from polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). A
water sample was taken from the same testing site and incubated the local microphytes in a
known volume. Using an optical DO sensor from Yellow Springs Instruments (YSI) allowed us
to track DO concentrations, of macrophytes and microphytes. For 2 hours, at 15-minute
intervals, we too measurements of DO, in percent liter (%L) and milligrams per liter (mg/L),
pressure and temperature to quantify the gross productivity of P. richardsonii using a linear
regression model. This refined method will provide data for local organizations to standardize
research to accurately assess the health of Coeur d’Alene Lake.

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