WATER QUALITY SUMMARY

Bunganut Pond, Lyman

MIDAS: 3980, Sample Station # 1

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 data for bacteria, mercury, or nutrients other than phosphorus.

Water quality monitoring datasets have been collected from Bunganut Pond since 1974. During this period, 10 years of basic chemical information was collected in addition to 22 years of Secchi Disk Transparencies (SDT). In summary, the water quality of Bunganut Pond is considered slightly below average based on measures of SDT, total phosphorus (TP), and Chlorophyll-a (Chla). The potential for nuisance algal blooms on Bunganut Pond is moderate to high.

Water Quality Measures: Bunganut Pond is a non-colored lake (average color 24 SPU) with an average SDT of 4.2 m (13.8 ft). The range of water column TP for Bunganut Pond is 9 - 13 parts per billion (ppb) with an average of 10 ppb. Chla ranges from 3.2 -10.1 ppb with an average of 5.7 ppb. Recent dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles show high 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 to high.

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: 3980bung, Revised: 10/04, By jp