Seneca Lake Limnology & Hydrogeochemistry
Lake & Stream Monitoring Program:
- Initiated in 1990's
Four Lake Sites, sampling weekly from April, through November:
- Aa SeaBird SBE-19 CTD - Temperature, Conductivity, Light Transmission vs.
Depth
- Upgraded to a SeaBird SBE-25 in 2008- Temperature, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation), Fluorescence (Algal Concentrations), Turbidity vs.
Depth
- Horizontal (discontinued after 2013) & Vertical Plankton Tows & Abundance Enumerations
- Secchi Disk Depth
- Surface & Bottom (few meters above lake floor) Water Samples analyzed
for:
- Total Coliform and E. coli bacteria (in 2003 - 2005)
- Dissolved Nutrients (Phosphates, Nitrates, & Silica)
- Total Phosphates (starting in 2006)
- DO, pH, Conductivity (Specific Conductance)
- Chlorophyll a
- Total Suspended Solids
- Major Ions (Cl, SO4, Na, K, Ca, Mg by IC) & Alkalinity (by titration)
- Up to 16 Streams Annually, 7 Streams Weekly (tan watersheds) in May & June (less frequently recently), collecting:
- Stream Discharge (volume water / time)
- Water Samples analyzed
for:
- Total Coliform and E. coli bacteria (in 2003 - 2005)
- Dissolved Nutrients (Phosphates, Nitrates, & Silica)
- Total Phosphates (starting in 2006)
- DO, pH, Conductivity (Specific Conductance)
- Total Suspended Solids
- Major Ions (Cl, SO4, Na, K, Ca, Mg by IC) & Alkalinity (by titration)
Lake Data: Click Here
Stream Data: Click Here
Water Quality Report (2008):
Water Quality of Seneca Lake, New York: A 2007 Update. Halfman, J.D., and C.K. Franklin. Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, 28 pg.
Seneca Lake Watershed Characterization for the 2014 Watershed Plan Water Quality Report (2012):
Seneca Lake Watershed Management Plan: Characterization and Evaluation. Halfman, J.D., D. Zorn, C. Roberson, L Cleckner and S. Meyer, 2012. 139 pg.
Lake & Stream Sample Sites:
Site Locations & Water Depths:
Lake Site Water Depth (m) Latitude Longitude
Seneca 1 22 42° 50.80 N
76° 57.56 W
Seneca 2 25 42° 46.82 N
76° 55.99 W
Seneca 3 116 42° 46.28 N
76° 57.00 W
Seneca 4 25 42° 45.79 N
76° 58.01 W
Watershed Land Use Map:
Other Near Real Time Data & Owasco Lake/Watershed
Study
