This past year, all the tributary sampling, in-lake and sediment cores were used to create a nutrient budget for Moose Lake.

What is a nutrient budget?

A nutrient budget is created by looking at sources and losses of phosphorous within the watershed. Phosphorous is one of the main nutrient drivers of algal growth including blue-green algae (cyanobacteria).

This budget breakdown of phosphorous helps make lake stewardship and management decisions.

Phosphorous in the watershed

Phosphorous usually enters the lake with the movement of water. External sources of this nutrient include:

• atmospheric
• forests
• agriculture
• residential
• waterfowl

Excess phosphorous entering the lake are bound in the sediments. The phosphorous in the sediments can be released back into the water column through natural (chemical and biological) processes, sediment resuspension (wave action), and through small animals stirring them up.

Go to read the full Moose Lake Nutrient Budget report here