A closer look at A closer look at the geography, the geography, history, and history, and science of ourscience of our grand next grand next door door neighbor…neighbor…

Let’s “dig” into the geography…Let’s “dig” into the geography…

Formation:Formation: Originally from glacial movement over 10,000 Originally from glacial movement over 10,000 years agoyears ago

Region:Region: Eastern Ridges and Lowlands Eastern Ridges and Lowlands County:County: Racine Racine Latitude:Latitude: 42 degrees North 42 degrees North Longitude:Longitude: 88 degrees West 88 degrees West Depth range:Depth range: 0 – 50 feet 0 – 50 feet Bottom conditions:Bottom conditions: variety of sand, peat, gravel, rubble, variety of sand, peat, gravel, rubble,

muck, stumps and snagsmuck, stumps and snags

SPECIES OF FISHSPECIES OF FISH

abundantabundant commoncommon rare/nonerare/none

MuskieMuskie xx

Northern PikeNorthern Pike xx

WalleyeWalleye xx

Large Mouth Large Mouth BassBass

xx

Small Mouth Small Mouth BassBass

xx

Pan fishPan fish xx

TroutTrout xx

DEPTH MAPDEPTH MAP

Let’s check out the DNR EEK! Let’s check out the DNR EEK! WebsiteWebsite

HISTORICAL TOUR OF WIND HISTORICAL TOUR OF WIND LAKE AREALAKE AREA

Observing the Lake through a Observing the Lake through a Scientific LensScientific Lens

Why do scientists study water?Why do scientists study water? For preservation of existing plant/animal speciesFor preservation of existing plant/animal species For discovery of new plant/animal speciesFor discovery of new plant/animal species To find links between the water cycle and climate To find links between the water cycle and climate

changechange To understand how certain diseases are carried To understand how certain diseases are carried

through water and what can be done to treat (clean) through water and what can be done to treat (clean) the waterthe water

Can you think of any other reasons???Can you think of any other reasons???

Observing the Lake through a Observing the Lake through a Scientific LensScientific Lens

How was Wind Lake How was Wind Lake used in the past?used in the past?

Primary food and water Primary food and water source for Native source for Native AmericansAmericans

Primary food and water Primary food and water source for explorers and source for explorers and early Norwegian settlersearly Norwegian settlers

How is Wind Lake How is Wind Lake used now?used now?

Primary as recreation: Primary as recreation: boating, skiing, swimming, boating, skiing, swimming, catch & release fishing, catch & release fishing, snowmobiling, ice skatingsnowmobiling, ice skating

Secondary as food source Secondary as food source for residents ( and non-for residents ( and non-residents): bag limit fishing residents): bag limit fishing for pan and game fish, for pan and game fish, duck, goose, pheasant, duck, goose, pheasant, and deer hunting on and and deer hunting on and around lake areaaround lake area

What will we, as What will we, as ScientistsScientists, get to , get to study at the lake?study at the lake?

Station #1:Station #1: Collection of water samples Collection of water samples

in vials at waters edgein vials at waters edge Pier observation for Pier observation for

invasive speciesinvasive species

Station #2:Station #2: pH testing with test stripspH testing with test strips pH of water is important to pH of water is important to

know because all aquatic know because all aquatic life is affected by itlife is affected by it

changes in pH can occur changes in pH can occur both naturally and by both naturally and by peoplepeople

Station # 3:Station # 3: ObservationsObservations Write results of pH testing Write results of pH testing

as well as observations in as well as observations in written and diagram form of written and diagram form of what water looks like in what water looks like in vialsvials

Station # 4:Station # 4: Lake descriptionLake description Describe with Describe with detaildetail, either , either

in written or drawing/sketch in written or drawing/sketch form how the lake looks form how the lake looks from your point of viewfrom your point of view

What is pH anyway???What is pH anyway???

((cool h2ou student tipcool h2ou student tip: to remember what pH is, think of the term : to remember what pH is, think of the term "pH" as "pH" as ppositive ositive HHydrogen).ydrogen).

The pH scale ranges from 0 (high concentration of positive hydrogen The pH scale ranges from 0 (high concentration of positive hydrogen ions, strongly acidic) to 14 (high concentration of negative hydroxide ions, strongly acidic) to 14 (high concentration of negative hydroxide ions, strongly basic). In pure water, the concentration of positive ions, strongly basic). In pure water, the concentration of positive hydrogen ions is in equilibrium with the concentration of negative hydrogen ions is in equilibrium with the concentration of negative hydroxide ions, and the pH measures exactly 7.hydroxide ions, and the pH measures exactly 7.

In a lake or pond, the water’s pH is affected by its age and the In a lake or pond, the water’s pH is affected by its age and the chemicals discharged by communities and industries. Most lakes are chemicals discharged by communities and industries. Most lakes are basic (alkaline) when they are first formed and become more acidic with basic (alkaline) when they are first formed and become more acidic with time due to the build-up of organic materials. As organic substances time due to the build-up of organic materials. As organic substances decay, carbon dioxide (CO2) forms and combines with water to produce decay, carbon dioxide (CO2) forms and combines with water to produce a weak acid, called "carbonic" acid — the same stuff that’s in a weak acid, called "carbonic" acid — the same stuff that’s in carbonated soft drinks. Large amounts of carbonic acid lower water’s carbonated soft drinks. Large amounts of carbonic acid lower water’s pH.pH.

Most fish can tolerate pH values of about 5.0 to 9.0Most fish can tolerate pH values of about 5.0 to 9.0, but serious anglers , but serious anglers look for waters between pH 6.5 and 8.2. The vast majority of American look for waters between pH 6.5 and 8.2. The vast majority of American rivers, lakes and streams fall within this range, though acid rain has rivers, lakes and streams fall within this range, though acid rain has compromised many bodies of water in our environment.compromised many bodies of water in our environment.

Table 5. Effects of pH on fish and aquatic life

pH valueEffects observed under researchMi

nMax

3.8 10.0

Fish eggs could be hatched, but deformed young were often produced.

4.0 10.1

Limits for the most resistant fish species.

4.1 9.5 Range tolerated by trout.

4.3 -- Carp died in five days.

4.5 9.0 Trout eggs and larvae develop normally.

4.6 9.5 Limits for perch.

5.0 -- Limits for stickleback fish.

5.0 9.0 Tolerable range for most fish.

-- 8.7 Upper limit for good fishing waters.

5.4 11.4

Fish avoided waters beyond these limits.

6.0 7.2 Optimum (best) range for fish eggs.

1.0 -- Mosquito larvae were destroyed at this pH value.

3.3 4.7 Mosquito larva lived within this range.

7.5 8.4 Best range for the growth of algae.

Those Those ickyicky invasive species invasive species

Zebra Mussel:Zebra Mussel: Reproduce in very large numbersReproduce in very large numbers No getting rid of them once colonies are establishedNo getting rid of them once colonies are established Carried on boats, ships and motors from lake to lakeCarried on boats, ships and motors from lake to lake Clog water intake structures – threatens public water supplyClog water intake structures – threatens public water supply Cost to Great Lakes from 1993-1999: over 3 BILLION dollars!Cost to Great Lakes from 1993-1999: over 3 BILLION dollars!

Those Those ickyicky invasive species invasive species

Curly Leaf Pondweed:Curly Leaf Pondweed: Perennial – plants re-grow every year and form coloniesPerennial – plants re-grow every year and form colonies Grows in thick beds that out-compete native aquatic plantsGrows in thick beds that out-compete native aquatic plants Interferes with boating, fishing, skiing, and other water activitiesInterferes with boating, fishing, skiing, and other water activities Carried on boats, ships, and motors from lake to lakeCarried on boats, ships, and motors from lake to lake Can be managed through raking, cutting, and herbicidesCan be managed through raking, cutting, and herbicides

Those Those ickyicky invasive species invasive species

Eurasian Water Milfoil:Eurasian Water Milfoil: Also perennial; worst aquatic weed in US; in almost every stateAlso perennial; worst aquatic weed in US; in almost every state Grows in thick beds that out-compete native aquatic plantsGrows in thick beds that out-compete native aquatic plants Interferes with boating, fishing, skiing, and other water activitiesInterferes with boating, fishing, skiing, and other water activities Carried on boats, ships, and motors from lake to lakeCarried on boats, ships, and motors from lake to lake Can be managed through raking, cutting, herbicides, and insectsCan be managed through raking, cutting, herbicides, and insects

Those Those ickyicky invasive species invasive species

Purple Loosestrife:Purple Loosestrife: Also perennial; an herb that was introduced in 1800’s for Also perennial; an herb that was introduced in 1800’s for

decorative and medicinal purposesdecorative and medicinal purposes Expands and replaces native grasses, flowering and wetland Expands and replaces native grasses, flowering and wetland

plants also affecting water quality in these areasplants also affecting water quality in these areas Carried and multiplied by pollinationCarried and multiplied by pollination Can be managed through weed pulling, seed trapping, and Can be managed through weed pulling, seed trapping, and

herbicidesherbicides

SourcesSources

Wisconsin Conservation DepartmentWisconsin Conservation Department Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWisconsin Department of Natural Resources Norway Historical SocietyNorway Historical Society googlemaps.comgooglemaps.com www.h20u.comwww.h20u.com pinemountainlake.compinemountainlake.com U.S. Forest Service (LTBMU)U.S. Forest Service (LTBMU) www.nps.gov/plantswww.nps.gov/plants