Lake Monitoring Program

Since 1993, the District has conducted a comprehensive Lake Monitoring Program on priority Hamilton County lakes. Lake Pleasant is one of several lakes that is sampled once a month May through October at its deepest point. The objective of the program is to collect chemical and physical data on high priority waterbodies for the effective analysis of long-term trends. The data is used to document the current limnological condition of each lake and determine if any significant changes in water quality are occurring over time. Long-term trend analysis of water quality data allows county agencies and partners to manage lakes more efficiently and alleviate pollution problems. Water samples are analyzed for calcium, sodium, chloride, nitrate-nitrite, total nitrogen, ammonia, total phosphorus, alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, and chlorophyll-a. Vertical profile data is collected using a YSI DSS Pro Multiparameter Meter that records pH, temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and chlorophyll, at 1-meter increments. Lake Pleasant can best be classified as mesoligotrophic. The surface waters of the lake are circumneutral and the lake continues to have moderate acid neutralizing capabilities. Data indicate that the lake is moderately influenced by the application of road salt within the watershed. Nitrate levels vary throughout the sampling season due to rapid utilization of the nutrient by primary producers. Lake Pleasant is a rather large, deep lake, with a shoreline populated with houses and some state land. The lake has a maximum depth of 21 meters or 69 feet, and a retention time or flushing rate of approximately 2 years. The lake is suitable for recreation such as swimming, fishing, and boating.