SURFACE RUNOFF WATER QUALITY FROM DEVELOPED AREAS SURROUNDING A RECREATIONAL LAKE

Abstract

ABSTRACT During 1980, as part of its Nationwide Urban Runoff Program (NURP), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency entered into a cooperative agreement (P002229-01-1) with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to study urban runoff at Lake George, N.Y., located in the southeastern Adirondack Mountains. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of runoff from a developed watershed on the water quality of the lake and its tributaries. More than 40 storm events were sampled during a 2-year period at six tributary sampling stations to assess the loading of plant nutrients and other contaminants from developed and underdeveloped areas to the open waters of the lake. Additionally, the nearshore and open waters of Lake George were sampled during storm and nonstorm periods, to assess the impact of stormwater runoff on the trophic conditions of the lake. Runoff from developed areas accounts for 13.6 percent of the annual phosphorus loading to Lake George, which is 15.1 percent o...