Jody, UR.... Guess what I found out during my chlorophyll sampling!!!

Graph from Chlorophyll Class

First of all my chlorophyll readings were the highest (surprise!!) of all the samples submitted for lab class with Pond#1 at 35.76 µg/L, and Pond#2 at 34.891µg/L with an average of the two samples at 35.326 µg/L. Here is my graph from class as a comparison. This sample was taken from a pond that is surrounded by golf course on all sides and cannot get it's water from any other source than surface runoff from our property.

 I chose this site having a suspicion that it would have higher numbers because it is surrounded buy golf course on all sides and only has one point of overflow, also it does not get treated (more on that to come). Also we have very recently put down granular fertilizer on the tee's and have had two rain events since, so I am sure the runoff from those rain events has had an opportunity to get in the pond and begin to exacerbate the organic growth.
My future water samples will, I'm sure be more specific for phosphates and nitrates and possibly copper among others, to get a better understanding as to what is going on in these lakes water chemistry with input from these anthropogenic impurities.

In my attempt to not be totally negative on golf course impacts on the environment I have to try and balance my blogs so here is an article I found in my research regarding water birds and golf courses. Even if it is a study sponsored by the US Golf Association I know it has some value because we have a lot of aquatic birds constantly feeding in our lakes. MORE TO COME>>>