• Lake Morton had fairly clear water, with low nutrient concentrations and moderate algal growth.
• Lake Morton has experienced considerable variation from year to year. Overall, N:P ratio has been decreasing and Secchi depths have been getting deeper (clear water).
• An algal bloom was sampled for toxin testing in August. Toxin testing found low concentrations of algal toxins, well below the Washington State Recreational Guidelines.
This bathymetric map shows contour lines of equal depth, similar to a topographic map would for mountains and valleys. The red 'X' marks the location where water quality samples are taken.
This map shows the area of the watershed relative to the area of the lake. Generally speaking, the larger a watershed is relative to a lake, the greater the influence land use practices on lake water quality.
The average of these three TSI indicators during the growing season can be used
to place lakes in one of three broad categories:
<40 = oligotrophic (low productivity),
40 to 50 = mesotrophic (moderate productivity)
>50 = eutrophic (highly productive).
