These photos were taken Aug 31, 2015 on Torch Lake as part of TLA’s GBA-team’s initial use of two new techniques for collecting groundwater samples.

Jan and Becky, new peeper, Aug 31, 2015

Twelve Passive Diffuser Bags inside perforated PVC pipes (two diffuser bags per pipe), shown in the photo with MSU Professor R. Jan Stevenson and TLA-Water Quality Committee Chair) were driven about two feet into the lake bottom.  With these innovative, home-made devices, groundwater samples from 20 and 6 inches below the lake bottom where the golden brown benthic algae is, and is not, growing abundantly can be obtained about a week after driving a device into the lake bottom.  Six of these devices were installed in Torch Lake on August 31, 2015.

Paul & Dean driving the new temp piezometer at Becky’s Beach Aug 31, 2015

Paul Roush and Dean Branson drove a new temporary piezometer (groundwater well) in front of “Becky’s Beach” in an area with very little Golden Brown Benthic Algae, and attempted to collect a sample of groundwater.  The very fine clay & chalk-like material on the lake bottom seemed to plug the screen of the piezometer at this location, but not other, more sandy locations.

New temp piezometer successfully collecting a groundwater sample, Sandy & Ed Gourley, Becky, Jan, and Trish, Aug 31, 2015

Sandy & Ed Gourley overseeing the collection of a groundwater sample in front of their property on August 31, 2015, using TLA’s new temporary piezometer, as accomplished by Becky Norris, Trish Narwold, and Professor R. Jan Stevenson.

For more information on the Golden Brown Algae project, please see this section of our website.