Methods

We collect water samples for color at the deepest part of the lakes. The samples are surface water, filtered in the field through 0.45u polycarbonate membrane filters. We run a wavelength scan from 800 to 200nm, using a 5cm rectangular quartz cell in a Beckman Coulter Model DU800 spectrophotometer. Any samples that display absorbance values above 2AU are run again from 400 to 200nm using a 1cm quartz cuvette. Inititally the full range of wavelengths were run again and two values may be found in the database even if the original measurement with the large cuvette did not exceed 2AU. The user should discard values above 2AU and use values from the smaller cuvette instead. All values are given as measurements at the path lenth of the employed cuvette and need to be devided by the cuvette length for a comparable value at a pathlength of 1 cm.

The single beam Beckman Coulter DU800 spec is blanked first on a sample of DI water. Additional blank values are from a scan run on DI after that blanking as a check and are reported alongside the scans but are not subtracted from the scan values.

Methods

Secchi monitoring records (1938 – 2012) were obtained from Illinois Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, Indiana Clean Lakes Program, Iowa Secchi Dip-In Project, Michigan Clean Water Corps, Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program, Minnesota Citizen Lake Monitoring Program, Ohio Citizen Lake Awareness Program, and Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Records. Data were obtained from above monitoring groups and merged with the high resolution National Hydrography Dataset (www.nhd.usgs.gov) based on citizen proved latitudeorlongitude coordinates to verify the location of individual lakes and size of lake (hectare). [R] code used to estimate annual average Secchi depth (m) provided in metadata.

Methods

G. Reading Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen 1. Before leaving to sample a lake, check to make sure that there are no air bubbles under the probe membrane of the YSI TemperatureorDissolved Oxygen meter. If there are air bubbles or if it has been several months since changing the membrane (or if the instrument does not calibrate well or the oxygen readings wander), change the membrane as explained in the manual. Note: We have always used the Standard membranes. If adding water to new membrane fluid bottle (KCl), make sure to add Milli-Q water and not the CFL distilled water. 2. Be sure to always store the probe in 100percent humidity surrounded by a wet sponge or paper towel. 3. Turn on the temperatureordissolved oxygen meter at least 30 minutes before using it. It is best to turn it on before leaving to sample a lake as it uses up batteries slowly. 4. Calibrate the meter using the chart on the back of the instrument (adjusted to the Madison altitude - 97percent oxygen saturation). Leave the plastic cap on the probe (at 100percent humidity). The temperature should not be changing during the calibration. Zero the instrument. When the temperature equilibrates, adjust the oxygen to correspond to the chart. After calibrating the instrument, switch the knob to percent oxygen saturation to make sure it is close to 97percent. 5. Take readings at 1 meter intervals making sure to gently jiggle the cord when taking the oxygen readings (to avoid oxygen depletion). Jiggling the cord is not necessary if using a cable with a stirrer. Take half meter readings in the metalimnion (when temperature andoror oxygen readings exhibit a greater change with depth). A change of temperature greater than 1degreeC warrants half-meter intervals. 6. Record the bottom depth using the markings on the temp.oroxygen meter cord and take a temperature and dissolved oxygen reading with the probe lying on the lake bottom. Dont forget to jiggle the probe to remove any sediment. 7. If any readings seem suspicious, check them again when bringing the probe back up to the surface. You can also double check the calibration after bringing the probe out of the water (and putting the cap back on).

Methods

Light (PAR) extinction coefficient is calculated by linearly regressing ln (FRLIGHT (z)) on depth z where the intercept is not constrained. FRLIGHT(z) = LIGHT(z) or DECK(z) where LIGHT(z) is light measured at depth z and DECK(z) is light measured on deck (above water) at the same time. For open water light profiles, the surface light measurement (depth z = 0) is excluded from the regression. For winter light profiles taken beneath the ice, the first light data are taken at the bottom of the ice cover and are included in the regression. The depth of uppermost light value is equal to the depth of the ice adjusted by the water level in the sample hole, i.e., the depth below the surface of the water. The water level can be at, above or below the surface of the ice. If the water level was not recorded, it is assumed to be 0.0 and the calculated light extinction coefficient is flagged. If ice thickness was not recorded, a light extinction coefficient is not calculated. For light data collected prior to March, 2007, light values less than 3.0 (micromolesPerMeterSquaredPerSec) are excluded. For light data collected starting in March 2007, light values less than 1.0 (micromolesPerMeterSquaredPerSec) are excluded. Except for bog lakes before August 1989, a light extinction coefficient is not calculated if there are less than three FRLIGHT values to be regressed. For bog lakes before August 1989, a light extinction coefficient is calculated if there are least two FRLIGHT values to be regressed. In these cases, the light extinction coefficient is flagged as non-standard. FRLIGHT values should be monotonically decreasing with depth. For light profiles where this is not true, a light extinction coefficient is not calculated. For samples for which light data at depth are present, but the corresponding deck light are missing, a light extinction coefficient is calculated by regressing ln (LIGHT (z)) on depth z. Note that if actual deck light had remained constant during the recording of the light profile, the resulting light extinction coefficient is the same as from regressing ln(FRLIGHT(z)). In these cases, the light extinction coefficient is flagged as non-standard.

Methods

Light (PAR) extinction coefficient is calculated by linearly regressing ln (FRLIGHT (z)) on depth z where the intercept is not constrained. FRLIGHT(z) = LIGHT(z) or DECK(z) where LIGHT(z) is light measured at depth z and DECK(z) is light measured on deck (above water) at the same time. For open water light profiles, the surface light measurement (depth z = 0) is excluded from the regression. For winter light profiles taken beneath the ice, the first light data are taken at the bottom of the ice cover and are included in the regression. The depth of uppermost light value is equal to the depth of the ice adjusted by the water level in the sample hole, i.e., the depth below the surface of the water. The water level can be at, above or below the surface of the ice. If the water level was not recorded, it is assumed to be 0.0 and the calculated light extinction coefficient is flagged. If ice thickness was not recorded, a light extinction coefficient is not calculated. For light data collected prior to March, 2007, light values less than 3.0 (micromolesPerMeterSquaredPerSec) are excluded. For light data collected starting in March 2007, light values less than 1.0 (micromolesPerMeterSquaredPerSec) are excluded. Except for bog lakes before August 1989, a light extinction coefficient is not calculated if there are less than three FRLIGHT values to be regressed. For bog lakes before August 1989, a light extinction coefficient is calculated if there are least two FRLIGHT values to be regressed. In these cases, the light extinction coefficient is flagged as non-standard. FRLIGHT values should be monotonically decreasing with depth. For light profiles where this is not true, a light extinction coefficient is not calculated. For samples for which light data at depth are present, but the corresponding deck light are missing, a light extinction coefficient is calculated by regressing ln (LIGHT (z)) on depth z. Note that if actual deck light had remained constant during the recording of the light profile, the resulting light extinction coefficient is the same as from regressing ln(FRLIGHT(z)). In these cases, the light extinction coefficient is flagged as non-standard. Oxygen and Temperature: We sample at the deepest part of the lake, taking a temperature and oxygen profile at meter intervals from the surface to within 1 meter of the bottom using a YSI Pro-ODO temporDO meter. We sample biweekly during open water and approximately every five weeks during ice cover. Protocol Log: Prior to 2011, we used a YSI Model 58 temporDO meter.

Methods

For details of the process used to create these data, see: Chipman, J. W., T. M. Lillesand, J. E. Schmaltz, J. E. Leale, and M. J. Nordheim. 2004. “Mapping Lake Water Clarity with Landsat Images in Wisconsin, USA.” Invited paper, Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, Special Issue on Remote Sensing and Resource Management in Nearshore and Inland Waters, 30(1):1-7. Polygons for each lake were taken from the WDNR 1:24,000-scale Hydrography GIS data set (version 2). Several existing fields were deleted, and new ones were added.