Water sampling tells our quality story
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2022 RMB Lakes Database results. Summary of Leech Lake Phytoplankton Data, 2017-2022 Summary of Leech Lake Phytoplankton Data, 2027-2023 Extensive work has been done to document and monitor the health of the water in our Leech Lake River Watershed. Quality Measures Leech Lake Association (LLA) volunteers have been monitoring water quality on various points of the lake since 2008. Three main water quality characteristics are checked: • Total phosphorus—this nutrient is needed for plant growth. Phosphorus can enter a lake through runoff from manure and fertilizer, or through seepage from leaky septic systems and holding tanks. Shoreline natural buffer zones and septic system maintenance are both critical in preventing unwanted chemicals from flowing into the lake. • Chlorophyll-a—Chlorophyll-a is measured in lakes to determine algal concentration or, how green the water is. • Secchi Depth—this is a measure of water clarity that can indicate the overall health of the lake. A black and white metal disk is lowered into the water on a measured rope until it can’t be seen anymore and then raised to the point it can be seen. The depth of the disk to the surface of the lake is the Secchi Depth. The addition of zebra mussels to a lake can affect water clarity over time. Water quality checks are done from May-September on the third Sunday of the month. Four sites are checked, each with its own waypoint. • In 2024, Kabekona Bay, Walker Bay, Agency Bay and the Main Basin off Stony Point. In each site, the total Phosphorus, Chlorophyll-a and Secchi readings were well within expected range. Leech is known as a “Mesotrophic Lake” lake, which means it has medium level nutrients and is usually clear water with submerged aquatic plants. Fish in Mesotrophic lakes include walleye, muskies, northern pike, perch and bass. (Info from Limnology 101) Results in 2024 • The average for total Phosphorus on Mesotrophic lakes is 15-25 (parts per billion.) The Main Basin had the highest level at 18.8 and Walker Bay had the lowest at 10.7. • The average for Chlorophyll-a is 3-7 (ppb). Again, the Main Basin had the highest levels at 4.5 and Agency Bay had the lowest at 2.6. • In 2024, the average for Secchi readings overall was 8-13 feet of clarity. o Kabekona Bay had a Mean water clarity of 12.7 feet, compared to 12.1 feet in 2023 and 11.1 feet in 2020. o Agency Bay’s Mean clarity reading was 12.5 feet last summer, compared to 12.4 feet in 2023 and 11.4 feet in 2020. o Walker Bay’s Mean clarity reading in 2024 was 11.6 feet. Secchi readings in 2023, Walker Bay was at 11.2 feet. This differed very little from 4 years ago, when the 2020 clarity mean was 11.4 feet. o The Mean clarity in 2024 for the Main Basin at 10.9 feet. In 2023, it was 10.6 feet and 10.7 feet in 2020. o Pump House Bay was being newly monitored for water clarity in 2024 and the mean clarity is 14 feet. **Lake data is taken from the RMB Environmental Laboratories Inc. website in Detroit Lakes, where the LLA sends its water monitoring information. If you are interested in volunteering to help collect water samples or want to learn more about LLA efforts in this area, contact Tom McGovern at [email protected] (Water Quality chairperson). |
Watersheds: A look at the big picture
Minnesota has 80 major watersheds. Leech Lake is part of the Leech Lake River Watershed, which is consists of approximately 854,659 acres (1,335 sq. miles) in the northern part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The watershed includes parts of Beltrami, Cass and Hubbard Counties, as well as the Leech Lake Reservation (Leech Lake Band of Chippewa). The Leech Lake River Watershed has 277 total river miles and contains over 750 lakes with a total acreage of 166,374. The watershed is largely forested, with about 46% of the land owned privately and the remaining portion held by state, county, federal or tribal landowners. There are seven major inlets flowing into Leech Lake and only one outlet controlled by Federal Dam to regulate the water level of the lake. The Leech Lake River eventually flows into the Mississippi River. That is why it’s critical to maintain healthy water quality throughout the Leech Lake Watershed. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the surface water resources within this watershed meet Minnesota water quality standards for conventional pollutants (not including mercury). These resources are prized, and their protection is vital in sustaining the local economy and natural heritage and character of this watershed. The major threats to the watershed include:
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