The ice has melted on Glen Lake and spring turnover is in process. This is an important time of year because when the ice melts, the water becomes 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) sinks, and turns the water column over, which includes turning over the minerals in the lake.
One of the most important minerals in the lake is phosphorous. We need to know how much dissolved phosphorous is in the lake because it is directly related to how much algae will grow in the lake, which is directly related to the health of the food chain. Phosphorous is a crucial nutrient for plant and algae growth and plays a significant role in lake ecosystems, but excessive amounts can lead to issues like algal blooms and eutrophication (reduced water quality and oxygen levels). We are lucky that our phosphorous level in Glen Lake is very low, which is a sign of a very healthy lake.
Every spring, we go out with bottles and take samples from four different deep water basins to measure phosphorous. We share this data with the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, which tracks data on inland lakes in Michigan.