Nitrates, Nitrites, and Phosphates in our Water: A Comparison Between Lake Lafayette and Lake Munson

1. Nitrates, Nitrites, and Phosphates in our Water: A Comparison Between Lake Lafayette and Lake Munson Philip Barrilleaux Cassie Higgins Kevin Klinkman

2. Problem/Research Question How do the nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate rates of the water compare between Lake Munson and Lake Lafayette. How do they compare before and after a rain??

3. Currently, Lake Munson receives over 50 percent of the runoff from Tallahassee’s urban area. At one point, the lake was labeled the 7th most degraded lake in Florida. After a large-scale restoration effort the lake is still polluted. • Lake Lafayette is located in Northeast Tallahassee. Like Lake Munson, a lot of land within close proximity of Tallahassee lies in its basin. As a matter of fact, the basin is nearly 79 square miles and includes much of the central and northern parts of the city. Similarly to Lake Munson, it once drained into a river but now, because of a series of man-made dikes, the original Lake Lafayette is comprised three smaller lakes, all with a total surface area of about 2.85 square miles. Lake Lafayette has been said to be the most modified lake basin in northern Florida. It no longer functions naturally. • A recent report on Lake Lafayette shows that the water quality in the lake has become degraded. Experts say that a 60% reduction in phosphorus in the lake is needed to improve the water quality. The county has found that the best way to combat the phosphorus is to stop it at its source. Currently, the source of this excess phosphorous is from the use of fertilizers in new development around the lake and in the lake basin.

4. Although, Lake Munson is in much worse shape than Lake Lafayette, there is great concern about Lake Lafayette’s future. The greatest difference between the lakes is that the much of the land in the Lake Munson basin has been developed while a great deal of the land in the Lake Lafayette basin is not. Currently there are plans underway for a new development, Fallschase, on and around the lake’s floodplains.

5. Hypothesis • Both lakes will have a presence of nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates. However, the levels of all the nutrients will be much higher in Lake Munson than in Lake Lafayette.

6. Procedure • We collected water samples from both lakes. • We then analyzed the samples and tested for nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates. • We took samples and performed tests before and after rain.

7. Discussion • The levels of nutrients in lake Munson were consistently higher than in lake Lafayette. • Possibilities for this could be that since the area surrounding lake Lafayette is less developed, natural rainfall pushed out phosphates from man-made nutrients. Furthermore, we performed our tests in February, a time where many do not use fertilizers. • The increase of phosphates in lake Munson could be attributed to run-off from developed areas with a presence of man made nutrients.

8. Lake Munson: Dark red-brown Lots of roots and rocks Sandy Loam Lake Lafayette: Light brown No rocks, roots, or debris Clay Loam The soil characteristics around the lakes could have made a difference.

9. Data and Observations Before Rain After Rain

10. Conclusion • In conclusion, we did find nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates in the water.

11. Improvements • Have more samples • Perform the tests over a longer period of time, throughout the year • Perform these tests over a time span of years, to see what happens with nutrients in lake Lafayette after the area in its basin is developed.

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