The Sources and Fates of Nutrients in the Deep Lake Watershed
Faculty Mentor
Ross Black and Camille McNeely
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
10-5-2023 9:00 AM
End Date
10-5-2023 10:45 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Department
Biology
Abstract
This study will determine the sources and fates of nutrients within the Deep Lake watershed located in Stevens County, WA. Deep Lake is a 191-acre exorheic lake found in northeast Washington state. It is situated at the bottom of a valley with steep walls and is fed throughout the year by snowmelt from tributaries descending the surrounding mountains. To the north of the lake, the tributaries are utilized by cattle ranchers as a water source for livestock while a small community of homes surrounds the lake. Water samples for nutrient analysis, discharge, and metrics including pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and conductivity are taken at 8 locations within the tributaries and outflow of the lake. Similar metrics are recorded in the lake at 4 locations, and both water and sediment samples are retrieved. These data are used to determine and compare the concentrations of nutrients moving through the watershed and being deposited in the lake. It is also used to determine the proportion of nutrients that remain in the lake vs. the proportion that leaves via the outflow. It is expected that the introduction of livestock upstream will correlate to a higher concentration of nutrients and sediment flowing into the tributaries and lake. It is also expected that the septic systems of the homes surrounding the lake will be contributing to diffuse pollution. This analysis of the watershed will allow for the development of better land use practices and suggestions that could improve and protect water quality and health.
Recommended Citation
Kenison, Kiler, "The Sources and Fates of Nutrients in the Deep Lake Watershed" (2023). 2023 Symposium. 33.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2023/res_2023/p1_2023/33
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The Sources and Fates of Nutrients in the Deep Lake Watershed
PUB NCR
This study will determine the sources and fates of nutrients within the Deep Lake watershed located in Stevens County, WA. Deep Lake is a 191-acre exorheic lake found in northeast Washington state. It is situated at the bottom of a valley with steep walls and is fed throughout the year by snowmelt from tributaries descending the surrounding mountains. To the north of the lake, the tributaries are utilized by cattle ranchers as a water source for livestock while a small community of homes surrounds the lake. Water samples for nutrient analysis, discharge, and metrics including pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and conductivity are taken at 8 locations within the tributaries and outflow of the lake. Similar metrics are recorded in the lake at 4 locations, and both water and sediment samples are retrieved. These data are used to determine and compare the concentrations of nutrients moving through the watershed and being deposited in the lake. It is also used to determine the proportion of nutrients that remain in the lake vs. the proportion that leaves via the outflow. It is expected that the introduction of livestock upstream will correlate to a higher concentration of nutrients and sediment flowing into the tributaries and lake. It is also expected that the septic systems of the homes surrounding the lake will be contributing to diffuse pollution. This analysis of the watershed will allow for the development of better land use practices and suggestions that could improve and protect water quality and health.
