Water quality data were collected by the Lake Kanasatka volunteer moni­tors between June 17 and September 14, 2005 while a more in depth water qual­ity survey of the Lake Kanasatka deep sampling stations (Sites 1 Deep, 2 Ani­mal Island and 3 West) was conducted by the Center for Freshwater Biology (CFB) on August 11, 2005 to augment the volunteer monitoring data. Generally speaking, the year 2005 Lake Kanasatka water quality remained high as char­acterized by the high water clarity, the low levels of microscopic plant “algal” growth and the low phosphorus, nutrient, levels in the surface waters (Table 2).
The long-term Lake Kanasatka water quality data, that have been meas­ured since 1983, have varied among years but do not suggest a deffinative tend of increasing or decreasing water quality. However, the annual water transpar­ency comparisons and the annual chlorophyll a comparisons (i.e. greenness) have exhibited short-term cycles during which the water quality has either im­proved or declined over short-term periods. Natural variations in rainfall and temperature can be associated with such short-term cycles while changing ac­tivities within the watershed (i.e. construction activities, heavy fertilizer appli­cations) can also coincide with fluctuating water quality measurements. Future sampling will continue to track the water quality variations in Lake Kanasatka and will better assess whether localized water quality problems exist.
The following section discusses the year 2005 and the historical Lake Kanasatka water quality data. Refer to Appendix A for a complete listing of the year 2005 Lake Kanasatka water quality data and refer to Appendix B for a primer on interpreting the box and whisker plots that are included in this report (Figures 16 -21).

Table 2: 2005 Lake Kanasatka Seasonal Average Water Quality Readings and Wa­ter Quality Classification Criteria used by the New Hampshire Lakes Lay Moni­toring Program.

1) Water Clarity (measured as Secchi Disk transparency) - The 2005 Lake Kanasatka Secchi Disk transparency measurements generally exceeded the visibility of 13.2 feet (4 meters) that is considered the boundary between an unproductive “pristine” and more nutrient enriched “transitional” New Hamp­shire lake through the spring and summer months (Tables 2 & 3 and Figures 10, 12 & 14). A comparison among the three deep sampling locations indicates the water was clearest at the most east­erly and the deepest sampling sta­tion, Site 1 Deep, during the 2005 sampling season (Table 3).
The 2005 median Lake Kana­satka Secchi Disk transparency measurements generally remained within the range of historical water transparency measurements that have been documented since 1983 (Figures 16, 18, & 20). The single exception, or outlier, was a new water trans­parency minimum of 11.6 feet (3.5 meters) that was documented at Site 2 Ani­mal Island on June 30 and again on July 7, 2005 (Figures 12, 13 and 18). The long-term Lake Kanasatka water quality data no not suggest a definitive trend of increasing or decreasing water transparency measurements over the twenty- three year span of water quality monitoring.

2) Microscopic plant abundance “greenness” (measured as chloro­phyll a) - The 2005 Lake Kanasatka seasonal chlorophyll a concentrations gen­erally remained below the concentration of 3 parts per billion, ppb, that is con-
sidered the boundary between an unproductive and more nutrient en­riched “transitional” New Hamp­shire lake (Tables 2 & 4 and Fig­ures 10, 12 & 14). A comparison among the three Lake Kanasatka deep sampling stations indicates the chlorophyll a concentrations were generally higher at the west­erly sampling station, Site 3 Wp~t while lower chlorophyll a concentration (i.e. less algal greenness) were generally documented at the 2 Animal Island sampling station (Table 4).
The 2005 chlorophyll a concentrations documented in Lake Kanasatka, Sites 1 Deep, 2 Animal and 3 West, remained well within the range of historical values documented since 1983 when volunteer water quality monitoring was initiated on Lake Kanasatka (Figures 17, 19 & 21). Chlorophyll a data, collected between 1983 and 1990, did exhibit a trend, or perhaps a short-term cycle, of increasing chlorophyll a concentrations at Sites 1 Deep and 2 Animal (Figures 17 & 19). However, the chlorophyll a concentrations declined in the subsequent years at both Site 1 Deep and 2 Animal and have more recently ossilated among years.
 
3) Background (dissolved) water color: often perceived as a “tea” color in more highly stained lakes - The year 2005 Lake Kanasatka dis­
solved color concentration averaged 21.2 chloroplatinate units (cpu) and fell within the classification of a light “tea stained” lake (Table 5). Dissolved color, or true color as it is sometimes called, is indicative of dissolved organic carbon levels in the water (a by-product of mi­crobial decomposition). Small increases in water color from the natural break­down of plant materials in and around a lake are not considered to be detrimental to water quality. However, increased color can lower water transparency, and hence, change the public perception of water quality.

4) Total Phosphorus: the nutrient considered most responsible for elevated microscopic plant growth in our New Hampshire Lakes. - Total phosphorus concentrations, measured in the surface waters (epilimnion), were low when collected by the University of New Hampshire Center for Freshwa­ter Biology on August 11, 2005 and ranged from 8.7 to 10.7 parts per billion, ppb. As little as 10 ppb of phosphorus is considered sufficient to stimulate an al­gal “bloom”. The relatively low total phosphorus concentrations that were docu­mented in the Lake Kanasatka surface waters corresponded to the relatively low chlorophyll a concentrations, discussed previously, as one would expect.
Asupplemental total phosphorus concentration reached 33.4 ppb near the lakebottom of Site 1 Deep on August 11, 2005 and was over three times higher than the corresponding surface water concentration of 9.3 ppb. Such elevated to­tal phosphorus concentrations are commonly associated with low dissolved oxy­gen concentrations near the lakebottom (see discussion of dissolved oxygen) and the phenomenon known as internal nutrient loading. During the periods of spring and fall mixing, when the lakewater circulates freely from the surface to the lakebottom, the higher deep water phosphorus concentrations can become available to the microscopic plants “algae” and can stimulate short-term spring and fall algal blooms.

5) Resistance against acid precipitation (measured as total alkalin­
ity) - The year 2005 Lake Kanasatka alka­linity of 14.0 milligrams per liter (mg/l) is characteristic of a lake with a low vulner­ability to acid precipitation according to the standards devised by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (Ta­ble 6). Generally speaking, the geology of the region does not contain the mineral con­tent (e.g. limestone) that increases the buff ering capacity in our surface waters. As are result of natural geological condi­tions, most lakes in the vicinity (i.e. Squam Lake, Lake Winnipesaukee and Mir­ror Lake) have naturally low alkalinities that are near/less than 7.0 mg/L. How­ever, the Lake Kanasatka alkalinity is nearly double that of other nearby lakes and is indicative of localized mineral deposits within the Lake Kanasatka Wa­tershed. Thus, Lake Kanasatka is less susceptible to acid rain than other nearby lakes.
Lake acidity (measured as pH) - The August 11, 2005 Lake Kanasatka pH data, collected in the surface waters by the Center for Freshwater Biol­ogy, ranged from 7.5 to 7.7 units and remained well within the tolerable range for most aquatic organisms.

6) Dissolved salts: measured as specific conductivity - The August 11, 2005 specific conductivity levels, documented in Lake Kanasatka, were moderate to high and ranged from 91.0 to 110.0 micro-Siemans (uS) when measured at the deep, open water, sampling stations. High specific conductivity values can be an indication of problem areas around a lake where failing septic systems, heavy fertilizer applications and sedimentation contribute “excessive” nutrients that make their way into Lake Kanasatka. High specific conductivity values can also be associated with road salt runoff that is flushed into our New Hampshire Lakes. On the other hand, high conductivity values can be associated with natu­ral mineral deposits that can increase the conductivity of our surface waters. Considering the higher alkalinity measurements that are characteristic of Lake Kanasatka, the relatively high conductivity measurements that have been char­acteristic of Lake Kanasatka appear to be, at least in part, naturally occurring.

7) Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles - Temperature profiles collected by the volunteer monitors indicate Lake Kanasatka becomes stratified into three distinct thermal layers during the summer months; a warm upper wa­ter layer, the epilimnion, overlies a deep cold-water layer, the hypolimnion. The upper and lower thermal zones are then separated by a third layer of rap­idly decreasing temperatures that is known as the thermocline. The formation of thermal stratification limits the replenishment of oxygen in the deeper waters and under adverse conditions can result in oxygen depletion near the lake- bottom.  8) Comparisons between the Center for Freshwater Biology Group and lay monitor data indicate the Lake Kanasatka volunteer monitors are doing an excellent job of collecting water quality data.

9) Based on the current and historical water quality data, Lake Kanasatka would be considered an unproductive “pristine” lake that borders the conditions more characteristic of a moderately nutrient enriched (i.e. greener and less clear water) productive New Hampshire Lake. A first step towards preserving high water quality in Lake Kanasatka is to take action at the local level and do your part to minimize the number of pollutants (particularly sediment and the nutri­ent phosphorus) that enter the lake. Whenever possible, maintain riparian buffers (vegetative buffers adjacent to the water body). These buffers will bio­logically “take up” nutrients before the nutrients enter the lake and will also provide physical filters that allow materials to settle out before reaching the lake. Reduce fertilizer applications. Most residents apply far more fertilizers than necessary which can be a costly expense to the homeowner and can also be detrimental to the lake since the same nutrients that make our lawns green will also stimulate plant growth in our lakes. Make sure your septic system is well maintained. Have your septic system pumped out on a regular basis. An improperly functioning septic system can contribute "excessive" nutrients into the lake and result in early failure, costing thousands of dollars to repair or re­place. Future volunteer monitoring efforts should be directed at pinpointing problematic regions around the lake where corrective and educational efforts should be focused.