WATER QUALITY SUMMARY

PUFFERS POND (ECHO LAKE), DEXTER

MIDAS: 0744, Sample Station # 1, center of large area of pond

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME-DEP) and the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) have collaborated in the collection of lake data to evaluate water quality, track algal blooms, and determine water quality trends. This dataset does not include bacteria, mercury, or nutrients other than phosphorus.

Water quality monitoring datasets for Puffers Pond have been collected since 1980. During this period, 6 years of basic chemical information was collected, in addition to Secchi Disk Transparencies (SDT). In summary, the water quality of Puffers Pond is considered average, based on measures of SDT, total phosphorus (TP), and Chlorophyll-a (Chla). The potential for nuisance algal blooms on Puffers Pond is low to moderate.

Water Quality Measures: Puffers Pond is a non-colored lake (average color 13 SPU) with an average SDT of 5.7 m (18.8 ft). The range of water column TP for Puffers Pond is 7-21 parts per billion (ppb) with an average of 12 ppb. Chla ranges from 0.7 - 4.0 ppb with an average of 2.7 ppb. Recent dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles show moderate DO depletion in deep areas of the lake. The potential for phosphorus to leave the bottom sediments and become available to algae in the water column (internal loading) is moderate. Oxygen levels below 5 parts per million stress certain cold water fish, and a persistent loss of oxygen may eliminate or reduce habitat for sensitive cold water species.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife manage this pond as a cold-water fishery.

Puffers Pond drains into Sebasticook Lake whose water quality has been degraded over the years by direct and indirect discharges. As part of the restoration of Sebasticook's water quality, the Soil Conservation Service has helped area farmers control nutrient rich run-off from their farmlands. Data gathered on Puffers Pond will be used to establish the efficiency of watershed controls.

See the Maine DEP Explanation of Lake Water Quality Monitoring Report for measured variable explanations. Additional lake information can be obtained by contacting Maine DEP at 207-287-3901 or VLMP at 207-783-7733, and at these Websites: http://www.lakesofmaine.org and http://www.maine.gov/dep/water/lakes/index.html and http://www.mainevolunteerlakemonitors.org .

Filename: puff0744, Revised: 02, 2/11 By: jp