Smithtown Bay (DNR ID: 27-0133-05)
Sampling Location GPS Coordinates: Surface Area: 112 acres Max. Depth: 80 ft
|
|
|
Smithtown Bay is located near the city of Victoria. 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.
Smithtown Bay is on Lake Minnetonka which is a class 2B lake protected for aquatic life and recreation. Water quality information is available beginning in 1997. MCWD staff have been monitoring the site on Smithtown 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 below the thermocline and one meter above the bottom were collected with a Van Doran water sampler. Surface samples were analyzed for total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total nitrogen (TN), where bottom and thermocline 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) | 1.7 - 3.3 | 2.4 | 48 | B |
| Surface TP (µg/L) | 16 - 35 | 23.7 | 50 | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (µg/L) | 2 - 14 | 8.4 | 52 | A |
| Overall Score | 50 | B+ |
The following summary refers to Figure 3.43 (a-d).
- Secchi disk depth increased from 2.4 m to 4.7 m by early May. From late May to early July, Secchi disk depth declined but remained above the standard limit (standard > 1.4 m). The rest of the season Secchi disk depth fluctuated between 1.9 m and 3.3 m.
- There is an overall increase in chlorophyll-a concentrations throughout the season. Concentrations were greater than 10 μg/L four times: early June, early July, late August, and late September (standard < 14 μg/L). The rest of the season chlorophyll-a
concentrations ranged between 2 μg/L and 9 μg/L. - Surface TP concentrations remained below the standard limit throughout the season and concentrations fluctuated between 16 μg/L and 35 μg/L. Surface SRP concentrations were below detection limit (< 0.005 μg/L) for the entire season.
- Both bottom TP & SRP concentrations increased from late April to late June, and then declined slightly through July. The maximum concentrations for both nutrients occurred in late August (TP = 250 μg/L; SRP = 227 μg/L). Concentrations for both nutrients declined throughout the rest of the season, and by early October both nutrients were at concentrations similar to late April concentrations.
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)
