Water Quality Improvement Projects (TMDLs) > WRIA 3 > Campbell Lake Area Total Phosphorus Project

Water Quality Improvement Project
Campbell Lake Area:
Total Phosphorus

Introduction

Campbell Lake is located on Fidalgo Island in Skagit County, Washington. It is a shallow kettle lake carved by glacial activity.  It receives water overflow from Erie Lake, Whistle Lake, and Trafton Lake, along with input from intermittent streams.  Campbell Lake discharges into Puget Sound.

Land use around the lake is a mixture of rural and residential.  The watershed is in the Olympic Mountain rain shadow, and receives about 26 inches of rain yearly.

Water quality issues

Campbell Lake, along with Erie Lake, was listed on Washington State's 303(d) list for exceeding water quality standards for phosphorus. This violated the standards' beneficial uses, based on Phase I and Phase II restoration projects.

© Chris Jamieson.

Why this matters

Excessive nutrient inputs to lakes provide aquatic plant and algae dominance, making lakes unsuitable for recreation or viewing enjoyment.  Phosphorus is one of the nutrients.  When it is discharged into a water body, like a lake, it fuels the growth of algae.

Excessive algae growth reduces water clarity, increases oxygen demand in the bottom sediments severely impacting coldwater aquatic habitat, and can, depending on the dominant algae present, pose a human health risk.

Status of the project

TMDL studies based on lake restoration plans for both Campbell and Erie lakes were submitted by Ecology. The Environmental Protection Agency approved the TMDLs in 1997.

Alum treatments were applied to the lake for phosphorus control.  Monitoring showed that the process was a success, but must be repeated on a recurring basis to maintain the water quality standard for aesthetics.

The TMDL studies on both Campbell and Erie lakes indicated restoration activities were successful, and the lakes were in compliance with the TMDL goals set for total phosphorus.

Technical information

Campbell Lake Total Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/9710201.html

Lake Campbell and Lake Erie Total Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load - Water Quality Effectiveness Monitoring Report (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0703011.html

Quality Assurance Project Plan:  Total Maximum Daily Load Effectiveness Monitoring Study:  Lakes Erie and Campbell (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403206.html

Related information

Reducing Phosphorus Pollution to Improve Water Quality (Water Quality Program web site)
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/nonpoint/phosphorus/PhosphorusBan.html

WRIA 3: Lower Skagit-Samish Watershed Information (Environmental Assessment Program web site)
www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/watersheds/wriapages/03.html

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