L-Lake water quality: L-Lake/Steel Creek Biological Monitoring Program, November 1985--December 1987

The objectives of this portion of the L-Lake Biological Monitoring Program are to document the physical and chemical characteristics of the developing L-Lake ecosystem, evaluate the effect of reactor operation upon water quality, and identify physical and chemical relationships that may be useful in interpreting the biotic conditions observed. The data presented in this report cover the period from November 1985 through December 1987. Thermal discharges from L-Reactor could induce stratification during winter, but thermal stratification during spring and summer was mainly due to climate. Relatively unstable thermal conditions in summer 1987 were caused by discharge of bottom water through the dam. Summer stratification had a profound effect on water quality. In the hypolimnion dissolved oxygen became depleted, the oxidation-reduction potential became negative, and pH and the concentrations of nitrate and sulfate were lowered.