*** MEDIA OPPORTUNITY***
State Rep. David Farhat will be on hand, as will Al Steinman, director of Grand Valley State Universitys Annis Water Resources Institute and Jim Duncan, president of the White Lake Association, when the Mucksucker, a pontoon research vessel, is launched at the Montague Municipal Boat Launch at 7:30 am. The possibility of inclement weather could delay the launch by one day, though the representatives will be at the site to address the media on Wednesday. Call (616) 502-3419 that morning to determine if the launch will take place. The rain date is the following day, Thursday, June 22, same time and location.
Directions to the ramp are simple. Take 31 north to Colby/Whitehall exit. Take Colby over the lake into Montague. Make left at first stoplight, make next left (toward lake), which leads to ramp.
The study will be led by Steinman. A team of scientists from Grand Valley's AWRI, located in Muskegon, will spend the day collecting sediment cores from throughout White Lake, taking water quality data and bringing the sediment cores back to their labs for further study.
Studies are currently underway in White Lake to look at the importance of external sources of phosphorus, but we do not know if internal sources of phosphorus, such as the sediments, are affecting water quality," said Steinman. "Weve conducted previous studies on internal phosphorus loading in Mona Lake and Spring Lake, and found that the sediments were a major source of nutrients to the water column, and contributed to algal bloom formation. We need to know if a similar phenomenon is occurring in White Lake.
The sediment cores will be placed in special tubes and transported to AWRI labs where they will be observed over the following three weeks. The amount of phosphorus that diffuses out will be measured and results will determine if further action should be recommended.
I am happy that Grand Valley is able to help complete this very important study of one of our most cherished resources, said Rep. David Farhat, R-Fruitport. Through their research, I am confident that the expertise Grand Valley brings to the table will yield results in determining the source of the nutrient loading. This effort would not have been possible without the hard work of GVSU President Mark Murray and Director Al Steinman. My special thanks go out to both of them.
