Tuesday October 8, 2024
St George News —
A delicate balance of oxygen levels in Lake Powell affects the fish that live in the water, and scientists are monitoring whether recent changes in the chemical makeup of the lake could affect habitat and water quality.
Bridget R. Deemer, a research ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, told St. George News that Lake Powell’s water quality can experience significant changes, depending on a variety of factors.
Deemer explained that the lake is an “oligotrophic ecosystem,” which is a marine ecosystem with low nutrient levels.
Deemer’s office has reportedly observing larger and more frequent low dissolved oxygen zones developing in the reservoir.
“This is of concern for fish populations and water quality concerns associated with it,” Deemer said. “The water is really clear. It’s what you would picture as an ideal place to swim. That has to do with the fact that it doesn’t get a lot of nutrient input, so there are no high levels of algal production.