Lake Life Water Warrior
Shutterstock.com
Lake aging is natural But, you can help slow the process by Dr. Nate Bosch, director of the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams
Did you know that lakes age? Although they do not retire from a full-time job or become a bit forgetful, they do change in several important ways while aging. And, our actions can either speed up or stabilize the process.
20
LakeLife Magazine June 2020
First phase Lakes typically begin as oligotrophic lakes with few nutrients, and few aquatic weeds and algae. With minimal plant production, there is little buildup of mucky sediment at the bottom of the lake. Thus, the lake remains deeper and has cooler water temperatures. Due to the lack of algae, the water is very clear, as well. And without algae growth, fewer fish inhabit the lake to eat the algae. Second phase The next stage in the lake aging process occurs with the mesotrophic lake. There are more nutrients in the lake, which leads to more plant production. Sediment accumulates on the bottom of the lake, creating a shallower and warmer habitat.
The water clarity is decreased from the higher populations of algae in the water, giving it a greenish coloration. And more fish can live in the lake as their food sources increase. Final phase A eutrophic lake is the final stage in the aging. This kind of lake is characterized by intense weed and algae growth. Sediment builds at the bottom of the lake quickly — such that it eventually becomes a wetland with shallow depths and different plant communities. As a result, water clarity is minimal. High decomposition rates of the dead plant material at the bottom of the lake uses up oxygen, which fish need to breathe. Consequently, the diversity of fish species is reduced while less desirable species remain.
