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COVE LAKE NEWS

Lake news from the University of Florida's LakeWatch program

June 2008 Report

April 2008 Report

December 2007 Report

September-November 2006

Phosphorus-  50 micrograms/liter
Nitrogen- 1200 micrograms/liter
Chlorophyll- 31 micrograms/liter

A survey of the uses of Florida's lakes (including our Cove Lake) showed the following "uses."

	Sit and enjoy, 89% of the respondents
	Fishing 78%
	Wildlife watching 76%
	Bird watching 70%
	Swimming, only 38%

Florida LakeWatch sent these figures on the Cove Lake's water quality over the past 9 years. Here are the averages for the past 9 years, followed by the past three summer months (June-August), and the median values for all lakes sampled in the Tampa Plain Region.

Past 9 years Cove Lake Cove Lake Median value

	Chlorophyll 26 20 9 micrograms per liter
	Phosphorus 61 42 27 micrograms per liter
	Nitrogen 1081 1025 812 micrograms per liter
	Water clarity 3.5 2.8 8 vertical visibility in feet

The report included the following statement: "Don't be alarmed if your lake is at one end of the spectrum (high or low range)...this merely indicates there are factors you might want to take a closer look at." The highest values found in the Tampa Plain Region were 43, 136, and 1450 microgramps per liter for chlorophyll, phosphorus, and nitrogen--much higher than those found in our lake.

March-August 2006

	47 mcg/L Phosphorus
	1080 mcg/L Nitrogen
	19 mcg/L Chlorophyll

Our lake nutrients and chlorophyll levels continue to be in the mid-eutrophic range.

Jan-March 2006

	56 ug/L phosphorus
	1250 nitrogen
	21 chlorophyll

(not significantly different from the December figures)

December 2005
The Florida Lakewatch sent the following information on the quality of our lake water.

	Phosphorous 52 mcg/l
	Nitrogen 1250 mcg/l
	Chlorine 28 mcg/l

	Phosphorus 49 mcg/liter
	Nitrogen 1000 mcg/liter
	Chlorophyll 29 mcg/liter

As expected during the summer months with the warmest water temperatures, the chlorophyll level increased considerably.

May and June 2005.
Total phosphorus 57 micrograms/liter
Total nitrogen 1000 micrograms/liter
Total chlorophyll 17 micrograms/liter
(these continue to be in the eutrophic ranges)

We had our annual meeting of "lake watchers" in August, and were given the complete past records for our lake. Here are some of the extremes (lake sampling began in July 1997).

	Highest phosphorus reading, 149 on April 22, 1998. This was before lake treatment had begun.
	Lowest reading 26 on January 28, 2000
	Highest nitrogen reading, 2020 on July 23, 1998. Lake treatment began soon after this.
	Lowest reading 640 on August 4, 2003
	Highest chlorophyll reading 204 on July 23, 1998
	Lowest reading, 3 on December 28, 1997, at the end of the wettest December in history.
	Greatest secchi depth (visibility down into the lake) 9 feet on January 28, 2000
	Least secchi depth 1.3 feet on July 23, 1998

January-March 2005

Our lake is still classified as Eutrophic (high levels of nutrients)

October-December 2004 Lake Report

Phosphorus 68 micrograms per liter
Nitrogen 1120 mg/l
Chlorophyll 26 mg/l

The nitrogen content was down slightly from its multi-year high of 1250 mg/l last summer. The others were unchanged.

August 2004 Lake Report

This covers the period May-August 2004, and isn't too different from the previous report. Our lake is considered to be Eutrophic (relatively high levels of nutrients in the water)

Total phosphorus 68 micrograms per liter (normal 25-100)
Total nitrogen 1250 (normal 600-1500)
Chlorophyll 26 (normal 7-40).

June 2004 Lake Report

For the four months December 2003 through March 2004, here are the values in micrograms per liter and the percent increase from the previous period:

Phosphorous 87- 18% increase
Nitrogen 900- 34% increase
Chlorophyll 38- 81% increase

NOTE- the levels of each of the phosphorous, nitrogen and chlorophyll have increased significantly from the last period.

January 2004 Lake Report

The University of Florida Lakewatch report for Cove Lake for July-November 2003 showed

Phosphorus 74 micrograms/liter
Nitrogen 900 ug/l.
Chlorophyll 21 ug/l.

These are over 10 percent below the readings for the previous period, and well within the normal range for eutrophic lakes. The lake appears free of all algae, and most cattails with roots in the lake have died.

July 2003 Lake Report
The Univ. of Florida's Water Chemistry Lab report on our Cove Lake's water quality from April through June 2003.

Phosphorous 57 micrograms per liter (it was 89 in the previous period)
Nitrogen 900 micrograms per liter (was 1020)
Chlorophyll 21 micrograms per liter (it was 17)

These values are still within the normal range for eutrophic lakes.

June 2003 Lake Report
The Univ. of Florida's Water Chemistry Lab report on our Cove Lake's water quality from November 2002 through March 2003.

Phosphorous 89 Normal 25-100
Nitrogen 1020 Normal 600-1500
Chlorophyll 17 Normal 7-40

Perhaps the Phosphorous was a bit high due to fertilizer applied to trees during the winter and spring. The chlorophyll level is just over half as high as the last report indicated. The water has actually looked quite good during May and early June.

Link to Hillsborough County Lake Information Website

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The Cove Home Owners Association 2005