GLEC monitored water quality in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, and its tributaries as part of an ongoing initiative to proactively protect this high quality resource. Open Bay monitoring emphasized nutrient concentrations, but also examined metals concentrations and fish contaminant burdens. Tributary monitoring focused on determining mass loadings to the Bay of total phosphorus and nitrate nitrogen. Another task mapped aquatic macrophyte beds in the Bay associated with nutrient enrichment and related them to potential nutrient sources. Storm sewer and marina contributions of nutrients to the Bay were also documented. The final report detailed relative nutrient contributions to the Bay, and outlined a plan for addressing existing problems. In addition, the report discussed the developmental needs of a GIS-based watershed management model in relation to software, hardware, and data requirements.
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