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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Water Quality - NC Ambient Lakes

Water Quality
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 Ambient Lakes Monitoring

   Lake Burnett

Lakes are valued for the multiple benefits they provide to the public, including recreational boating, fishing, drinking water, and aesthetic enjoyment.  The Division of Water Quality seeks to protect these waters through monitoring, pollution prevention and control, restoration, and public education activities. The Ambient Lakes Monitoring Program (ALMP) originated under EPA's Clean Lakes Program and is designed to identify long-term trends of lakes and reservoirs across North Carolina.  The water quality data collected is used to calculate the state of nutrient enrichment (trophic state) and determine if lakes meet their designated use. 

 Ambient Lake Monitoring Locations

ISU samples approximately 160 lakes on 5-year rotating basin schedule.  Lake stations are located statewide.

Location Map

List of Location Descriptions
Lakes Monitoring Schedule for 2013

Monitoring:

• Monitoring is performed monthly during the summer (May through September).
• Lakes have 1-12 stations depending on the size and the characteristics.
• Database includes chemical and physical results dating back to 1981

Criteria for lakes in the Ambient Lakes Program include:

• Lake must be >10 acres,
• Lake must be accessible to the public,
• Lakes that are a water supply,
• Lake that has significant recreation,
• Lakes as requested depending on its characteristics or water quality concerns.

 

Methods:

Detailed Quality Assurance Program (QAPP) which includes methodology can be found to the left of this page.  Physical data such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and specific conductivity are collected from the surface to bottom. Chemical data are collected in the photic zone (zone of light penetration).  Common chemical parameters include total residue, total suspended residue, turbidity, chlorophyll a, phytoplankton and nutrients.  Hardness is collected at the surface.

NC Trophic State Index:

North Carolina Trophic State Index (NCTSI) is calculated by using chemical and physical parameters to determine the productivity of a lake.  The NCTSI formula for this calculation is as follows:

• NCTSI = TONScore+ TPScore+ SDScore+ CHLScore
• CHL = Chlorophyll a (μg/l)
• TON = Total Organic Nitrogen (mg/l)
• TP = Total Phosphorus (mg/l)
• SD = Secchi Depth (inches)

  NCTSI- North Carolina Trophic State Index Scale:

Score
Tropic State
< -2.0
Oligotrophic
-2 – 0.0
Mesotrophic
0.0 - 5.0
Eutrophic
> 5.0
Hypereutrophic

Staff Contacts
Unit Supervisor 
919.743.8496
NC Lakes Monitoring Program Coordinator
919.743.8495

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 Environmental Sciences Section 1621 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1621

919.743.8400

 

 
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