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Biologist Report - Environmental Committee

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Biologist Report September 8 & 20, 2021


Greetings, Lake Vilbig Residents


This letter is to discuss our September 2021 management efforts.

I came out twice in September, on the 8th and 20th.


On the 8th water temp was 83 F. I think it rained about an hour before I arrived. This is enough to throw off temperatures, making it a bit cooler than usual.


Alkalinity was 120, which is right around where it should be. Visibility was 24 inches, about what it has been the past few months, and a little clearer than it has been. This is normal. The typical life cycle is to die off a little as water temperatures heat up in the summer. Water is very fertile. This is a good thing as it helps to shade out deeper water, helping to manage excess vegetation growth.


Things were a bit different on the 20th. Water temp was back up to 86 F, so it is rising. Visibility was 33 inches. pH was still high. 8.0. The water was murky. It is an off-brown color, much more dismal than it has been in recent months. Visibility was around 20 inches.


Still unable to find anything that resembles bushy pondweed. There is a little bit of chara growing but not enough to worry about. We have been very fortunate this year, and everything looks great. Water levels have been relatively stable, and they have dropped a little in September but overall much better than last year.


August and September have been relatively rain-free. A pop-up thunderstorm here and there, but even with that, we have been fortunate to have minimal water level drop this summer.


Alkalinity was stable at 120. Alkalinity helps us determine how fertile water is and how receptive it is for plant growth, microscopic and otherwise. Anything over 100 is good, and I don’t think I have ever had a reading under 100 at Vilbig.


Fall is coming. We’ve already seen some cooler nighttime temperatures in late September, which should equate to cooler lake temps in October.


Thanks, Vilbig Residents!


Chad FikesFisheries biologist

Julie Skotak
Oct 05, 2021

Nice report!

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