Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Water Quality Summary of Hopkins Pond

WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
HOPKINS POND, MARIAVILLE
Midas: 4538, 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 algae blooms, and determine water quality trends. This
dataset does not include bacteria, mercury, or nutrients other than phosphorus.
Water quality monitoring data for Hopkins Pond has been collected since 1974. During
this period, 3 years of phosphorus and Chlorophyll information was collected, in addition
to Secchi Disk Transparencies (SDT). In summary, the water quality of Hopkins Pond is
considered to be above average, based on measures of SDT, total phosphorus (TP), and
Chlorophyll-a (Chla). The potential for nuisance alga blooms on Hopkins Pond is low.
Water Quality Measures: Hopkins Pond has an average SDT of 7.6m (25.0ft). The water
color of this pond is unknown at this time. The range of TP for Hopkins Pond is 5-7
parts per billion (ppb) with an average 8 of ppb, while Chla ranges from 1.2-3.4 ppb with
an average of 2.0 ppb. The dissolved oxygen (DO) profile shows low 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 low. Oxygen levels below 5
parts per million stress certain cold water fish, and a persistent loss of oxygen may
eliminate or reduce habitat for sensitive cold water species.
The flushing rate is the amount of time required for the lake water to be renewed each
year. The average flushing rate is about 1-1.5 flushes per year for Maine lakes. The
flushing rate for Hopkins Pond is 0.38 flushes per year.
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: pearl.spatial.maine.edu and/or state.me.us/dep/blwq/lake.htm, or telephone ME-DEP
at 207-287-3901 or VLMP at 207-225-2070.
Filename: hopk4538, Revised: 9/2000, By: jp

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