BAY MILLS - "The Back Bay is looking good," said Amanda Bosak, water quality specialist for Bay Mills Indian Community for the past year. "I'm surprised that it is so good as I expected less oxygen in the water due to so many plants."
Bosak is speaking of the results of the large study she has been conducting this year at 21 local sites. She takes water samples and tests them for chlorophyll (an algae indicator), nutrients (such as phosphorus), and the presence of benthic invertebrates (bottom-dwelling insects). So far, her studies indicate a healthy ecosystem.
"All sites look good," said Bosak. "Even the South Pond, which has a little more outside impact from being so close to the pavement."
Last year, she studied zooplankton, microscopic creatures responsible for keeping algal growth controlled. That study will be done every second year, but the algae (chlorophyll) study will be done annually. "They change very quickly," explained Bosak.
Another site will be added next year - the Waishkey River. This is one of the main inputs into the Back Bay; it is a big river that flows through many farming areas, Bosak pointed out. She plans to test the water near the Brimley Bridge before it flows into the bay and any nutrients are diluted.
Although she found the waters of the Back Bay and other local ponds and streams to be well-oxygenated, Bosak does not test for the presence of pesticides nor PCBs. "There is no money for that," she said, "but once the basic program is going, I hope to add more studies on each year. I hope to do that (pesticide and PCB studies) eventually as they are big health risks People just did not know what effects new technology would have."
Another concern she has is the use of lawn fertilizers. She recommends that homeowners do not fertilize their lawns when rain is forecast, nor should they over-water the lawn afterward. Water washes the chemicals away into puddles and streams and eventually into the Back Bay and Lake Superior. Another tip is to only fertilize a small portion at a time thus reducing the amount of any chemical runoff. Homeowners should consider natural fertilizers such as ground-up fish or other manures, as well as composted vegetable waste. "Anything is better than chemicals," Bosak pointed out. "And it's free!"
To commemorate World Water Day, which was celebrated on March 22, she has some suggestions to help conserve water and decrease the input of nutrients. The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.
"Some estimates show that every person living in the United States uses up to 70 gallons of water per day, which, with care, could be limited to 40 gallons per day.
"Here are some ways to conserve water:
1) Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth;
2) Keep cold water in the refrigerator so you do not have to run the faucet until it turns cold enough to drink;
3) Fix any faucet leaks;
4) Make sure your toilet is not leaking. Drop food coloring into the tank and if it turns up in the bowl, you may have to clean off any calcium deposits or replace worn valves;
5) Throw away tissues, dead bugs, etc. instead of flushing them down the toilet;
6) Wash only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher;
7) If possible, adjust water level settings for load size on the washing machine;
8) Take showers instead of baths;
9) Install low-flow showerheads.
"Phosphorous is a limiting nutrient in freshwater so as soon as it is added (usually by people), it can cause a decrease in water quality, algal blooms, and a decrease in oxygen for fish and other water creatures.
"Here are some ways to decrease your input of nutrients:
1) Look at the products you use. Some cleaning products, laundry detergents, fabric softeners are regulated for phosphorus content;
2) Check dishwasher brands for phosphorus content, as there is no regulation on these cleaners. At local stores, Palmolive gel dishwasher liquid has the lowest phosphates (1.6 percent). Seventh Generation makes no-phosphate dishwasher liquid. Contact them at www.seventhgeneration.com;
3) If you must fertilize your lawn (which I do not recommend), check the nutrient ratio. Make sure the middle number is low, for example: 15-5-15 (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium);
4) Do proper maintenance on your septic system. Depending on family size, you should have it cleaned out every three years."
Bosak urged everyone to think about the value of the abundance of water in the Great Lakes area. "Think about how lucky we are. Some people would love to have in a year what we use in a day. We need to try to take care of it."
