I took our fourth 2011 water samples Wednesday August 31, at Noon.  Here are the “preliminary” results:
#1        Dock                        04 cfu
#2        Cedar Fork Creek    04 cfu
#3        Booker Creek          04 cfu
 
Caution level is individual reading above 400 cfu, or average above 200 cfu. 
 
Lake water temp: 28C/81F
 
This is the lowest overall average I can remember since I began taking samples in 1993/94.  There was 0.7 inches of water in the rain gauge.  On the 28^th, after the Irene event, there was only a trace in the gauge.  The lake may be almost 8 inches below full, so we are in a low-inflow situation.
 
These good readings indicate that we are in an ecological balance.  I have seen plenty of fish and plenty of waterfowl.  As long as the “nutrients” (waste matter) come from indigenous sources,  nature seems to be able to maintain a balance.  This means the geese  are eating fish from the lake, not external feed sources, and we are not getting any fertilizer runoff.
 
The SECCI clarity reading was 22 inches.  About normal for this time of year.   We used our new SECCI disk, which came with a line calibrated in half-meter increments.  Around here, the water is not that clear (and too clear is not a healthy indication), so the last SECCI disk came with a line calibrated in single inches.  If someone reading this would like to do research on what is the relevant measure precision for this part of the world, and report that here, I think it would be helpful.
 
A member asked me about testing for pathological algae.  Our tests are what is required by the state and the county since we allow swimming.  There are many other useful tests we could take.  After hurricane Fran, when we were isolated from the lab we used then in Burlington,  there was a concern about hepatitis from inundated septic fields in our watershed.  Many tests require equipment and expertise we do not have, and some are highly localized.  Some of those tests are really expensive.  What we know about our lake is about the same as what is known about public beaches and state parks.  So caution is always appropriate.  We will arrange any additional tests that the members of Lake Forest Association consider appropriate and necessary.
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Chuck Henage
chenagemht@aol.com