Water Quality
Testing
Water Quality Committee
Water Quality Committee
Each summer from June through September Toddy Pond water is tested for clarity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. The testing is done at the deepest spot on Toddy with a depth of approximately 125 feet. It is located about 500 feet north of Long Point. A probe is lowered into the water. Starting at the surface, readings are taken every meter down to approximately 30 meters. This procedure measures the water temperature and oxygen in the water.
Water clarity is tested the same day using a device known as a Secchi Disk. This disk is lowered into the water until the white of the disk can no longer be seen. The depth readings for clarity become less as the water temperature increases during the summer. The depth readings for clarity in the fall become more as the water temperature decreases.Wind and bad weather can sometime interfere with the testing date so the next possible day is chosen to proceed.
We welcome new and interested members to our committee.
Summary of Toddy Pond water quality measurements by Matthew Scott
- Present fishery. Conditions at Toddy are very satisfactory. The lake is multi basin of three and labeled as North, Central and South. The North basin is considered to be very good habitat for Cold water species, i.e., salmon and trout. Lake trout were stocked until 1991 and was determined that a natural population became established, and stocking was curtailed. The Central and South basins provide good warm water fish habitat and these fisheries have been evaluated by Fishery Biologists from IF&W, Jonesboro Field Office. Also, there is a historical natural run of alewives into Toddy and their young of the year (spawn) provide good forage for all species of adult fish.
- Water quality. There is a very good historical record of Secchi Disk Transparency for Toddy since 1977. These data show the Maximum, mean and minimum STD readings up to 2018. The 2019-2021 data are not available. I have talked to Scott Williams and the answer to this data gap is due to current epidemic from Covid19. Linda Bacon who does the QA/QC work and she is behind. This is true for all remaining data. However, it will be assured and controlled very soon, we hope? The SDT is very good for Toddy. The average or mean value is what we look at for trends in any Maine lake with comparable data. So, for Toddy we see a very good average over the 31 years to be 19.0 feet or 5.6 meters. The threshold for concern is less than, 2.0 meters or 6.6 feet. Toddy is doing well.
- The next parameter of concern is total phosphorus (TP). For Toddy the average TP is 5.0 ug/L or parts per billion. The threshold of concern is about 12-15 parts per billion. Again, the average of the upper water layer that we call the epilimnion. Toddy is safe, so far.
- Another question you had on water chemistry was color. Toddy has a measure of 28 platinum units and any number over 25 is considered a tea color by lay persons. This represents the watershed and its surrounding wetlands; peat bogs and forest type as lend color to the water from natural leachates to the lake. Since this is a natural phenomenon, we should accept it as factual. It probably interferes with other chemical measures that I do not have time to elaborate on in this brief. So, color is not a bad thing
Respectfully submitted,Matthew Scott, Aquatic Biologistmscottafs@gmail.com
