Water Quality
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Septic tanks release nitrogen and phosphorous into the ground which can be pulled into the lake with rainwater. These nutrients promote the growth of water plants and algae. They can also contribute to the overgrowth of toxic cyanobacterial "blooms" commonly called 'toxic algae.
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Protecting water quality is one of the functions of the American Lake Lake Management District #1.
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The cycling of nutrients in the lake has an effect on the growth of plants, algae and cyanobacteria. To understand how the cycle varies according to season CLICK HERE
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Know the difference between toxic algae blooms and green algae blooms
Monthly Water Monitoring
For over 20 years, volunteers have taken measurements of lake quality features including water clarity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, depth, pH, phosphorous and several others.
Using a temperature/dissolved oxygen probe, a Sechi disc and lake chemistry kits, they return to a spot on the lake that is approximately 90' (27meters) in depth. Below are summaries of the monthly findings from 2026.