Volunteer monitoring occurred at Panther Lake in the mid 1980s, with two other years, 1996 and 2000 measured since then. The data indicate this lake is high in primary productivity (eutrophic) with fair water quality. The lake is shallow, and thermal stratification does not remain established in summer, so the water continues to circulate throughout the entire lake. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios were above 20:1 through the summer, which generally favors other algae over bluegreens.
Panther Lake has a public access boat launch, but much of the lake surface is covered by water lilies, which hampers some beneficial uses. Residents should watch the nearshore environment for infestations of Brazilian elodea or other noxious weeds.
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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).
