LTL Water Quality Studies
The LTLA Water Quality Committee is working with Ron Reimink of Freshwater Solutions, in coordination with other neighbor lake associations, testing for levels of human fecal pollution through Enteric Bacteria analysis.
2017 E.coli Results
2018 Enteric Bacteria Final Report
2019 Enteric Bacteria Final Report
2020 Enteric Bacteria Study Plan
2020 Enteric Bacteria Final Report
2020 Project Review Zoom Meeting
Other Related Studies
Enteric Bacteria
The LTLA has contracted Dr. Ray Canale to conduct a multi-year water quality monitoring program and develop an EXCEL database. The off-shore program measures algal nutrients, water clarity, chlorophyll, and dissolved oxygen at multiple depths at a deep water site several times per year. The near-shore program measures periphyton (including Cladophora) at nine locations. Near-shore algal growth is a sensitive indicator of nutrient inputs from sources such as septic system drain fields and fertilizer run-off. A report of findings is included below.
- 2016 Baseline Cladophora Survey
- 2017 Water Testing Presentation / Proposal
- 09/2018 Report
- 07/11/2020 Zoom Presentation
- 07/10/2021 Zoom Presentation
- 12/2021 Power Point Final Report Figures
- 12/2021 Final Report
Water Chemistry & Shoreline Periphyton
These studies are coordinated by the Little Traverse Lake Water Quality Committee, a group of volunteers committed to understanding the environmental health of Little Traverse Lake. They continue to partner with regional experts and community organizations in these efforts. Read the latest summary of recent testing efforts by the committee here.
Compatibility: PCs with Excel. The database graphing functions will not run using other programs (eg. Google Docs) or on Macs.
To access the database on your PC please follow these steps:
- Click on "Water Quality Database" above.
- Once the database opens in Google Sheets, left click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "download"
- In the lower corner of your screen you'll see the file has downloaded as an "Excel" file. Left click on the file to open it in Excel.
- Once the file has opened in Excel, click on the Security warning's "Enable Editing" button, then the "Enable Content" button.
- If asked "Do you want to make this file a trusted document?", select YES.
- If you’re unable to view the file’s worksheets or use the buttons within the file to navigate through the worksheets, try selecting the following options from the menu bar in Excel while the file is open: File>More>Options>Add-ins>Analysis ToolPak – VBA>OK.
- An instruction video for how to use the database is HERE.