2021 News

OLPA 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING - PHOSPHORUS

This table shows the OLPA Total Phosphorus (TP) testing results for 2021. TP testing results for Ore Lake and the S. Ore Creek upstream locations were very good this year except for July and August. Most of our samples this year were below 10 PPB (very good) in all locations, though we saw a dramatic increase in the TP values (above 25 PPB is considered bad) at all locations in Jul/Aug. Likely a result of the heavy rains in the area that began in mid-to-late June producing run-off and high water nearly everywhere.

 

OLPA 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING – WATER CLARITY

Water clarity readings this summer was also very good. The average was 11.5ft and the best was 17ft and the worst 8ft. Though I did get a 4ft reading on Oct 7.

 

OLPA 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING – ALGAL BLOOMS

I had 5 recorded algal blooms this year. One in July and the other four in September. The July bloom was likely caused by heavy rains in the previous weeks. The Sep blooms tend to be caused by the mixing of phosphorus in the whole water column, high water temps, and calm windless days.

 

OLPA 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING – CHLOROPHYL

We have not seen the results of our monthly Chlorophyl testing this summer (May-Sep). We should be getting the testing results back in early 2022 from the EGLE labs.

 

OLPA 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING – PFOS

The PFOS testing results for the Brighton WWTP so far this year have been 26, 12, and 18 PPT. 16 PPT or less is the Michigan water quality standard for non-drinking water. There is no indication that these levels are contributing to the “Do Not Eat Fish” advisory issued in 2018 by the MDHHS. In fact, the PFOS levels in Ore Lake water and fish sampled in the fall of 2019, were all quite low. My understanding is that EGLE is still evaluating samples taken in the Huron River and many lakes in the watershed during 2020 and 2021 to possibly modify the fish advisory.