Monthly fluorescence, oxygen, and temperature profiles for Moose Pond’s main basin. Chlorophyll concentration (green line), dissolved oxygen concentration (blue line), and temperature data (red line) were collected at every meter from the surface to the bottom from May through September.
Throughout the season, algae concentrations tended to be highest near the thermocline. These higher readings were fairly deep, between 4 and 8 meters, making them below the portion of the water column that people usually use. Because elevated readings tended to be near or below the thermocline, these readings may not be represented in the chlorophyll samples analyzed in the Water Quality figure above. May, June and July’s high readings near the bottom were likely caused by sediment interference
Gloeotrichia echinulata (a type of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) commonly found in low-nutrient waters) can be seen with the naked eye. Gloeo density is reported as a value ranging from 0 – 6, based on the number of Gloeo colonies seen through a Secchi scope. Higher values indicate more Gloeo colonies. The middle basin’s Gloeotrichia echenulata colonies were observed beginning in early July this year with densities ranging from 0.5 – 5 on the Gloeo density scale.
