Priests Bay (DNR ID: 27-0133-05)
Sampling Location GPS Coordinates: Surface Area: 120 acres Max. Depth: 46 ft
|
|
|
Priests Bay is located near the city of Minnetrista. Head east on Minnetonka Blvd, and turn right on Co Rd 101 S. Turn right MN-7 and turn right at Hwy 44. Next turn right at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park and follow the path towards the public boat access.
Priests Bay is on Lake Minnetonka which is a class 2B lake protected for aquatic life and recreation. Water quality information is available beginning in 2004. MCWD staff have been monitoring the site on Priests Bay on a bi-weekly basis from the time of ice out (April) to the time of fall mixing (mid-October) since 2006.
See Previous Reports.
Monitoring season started in late April and ended in late October. A YSI multi-probe sonde was used to measure dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature (oC), pH, and specific conductivity (µS/cm) at each meter depth from the water surface to the bottom. Additionally, water samples were collected within the first two meters of the surface with a 2-meter composite sampling tube. Samples one meter above the bottom were collected with a Van Doran water sampler. Surface sample were analyzed for total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total nitrogen (TN), where the bottom samples were analyzed for TP and SRP. Surface concentrations of chlorophyll-a were also analyzed and measurements of Secchi disc depth were recorded.
| 2009 Summer Water Quality Summary |
| Parameters | Range | Mean | TSI Value | Lake Grade |
| Months | June - Sept. | May - Sept. | ||
| Secchi Depth (m) | 0.7 - 2.4 | 1.5 | 54 | C |
| Surface TP (µg/L) | 18 - 61 | 34.6 | 55 | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (µg/L) | 10 - 41 | 19.5 | 60 | B |
| Overall Score | 56 | C+ |
The following summary refers to Figure 3.39 (a-d).
- Secchi disk depth increased from 2.0 m to 4.4 m by late May, and then decreased to below the standard limit (> 1.4 m) by early August. From late August to early October, Secchi disk depth increased from 1.1 m to 1.8 m.
- Chlorophyll-a concentrations were less than 10 μg/L from late April to late May and then increased in June. Chlorophyll-a concentrations declined to 10 μg/L in early July, and then increased to 41 μg/L by early August (standard < 14 μg/L). The rest of the season there was an overall decline in chlorophyll-a ranging between 16.5 μg/L and 26 μg/L.
- Surface TP concentrations were greater than the standard (< 40 μg/L) in early May, late June, early and late September and early October. The rest of the season TP concentrations fluctuated between 18 μg/L and 32 μg/L. Surface SRP concentrations
were below detection limit (< 0.005 μg/L) except in late early September and early October. - Bottom TP concentrations declined from 59 μg/L to 36 μg/L by early June. Bottom TP ranged between 36 μg/L and 44 μg/L from the middle of June and late July, and then by early September the maximum concentration occurred for the season at 89 μg/L. By early October, TP concentrations were down to 63 μg/L. Bottom SRP concentrations were greater than the detection limit (< 0.005 μg/L) from early May to early June and from early September to early October.
Lake Grades and Historical Monitoring Summaries
When available, previous reports are linked to applicable year. Additional lake data previous to 2007 may be available in the applicable year's hydrodata report. If you have additional questions or you are looking for specific information please contact MCWD's Water Quality Staff.
|
|
Links to PDF documents in this site require Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free by clicking on the image below. (this will open in a separate browser window)
