Lake Management Plan

go to PGOLID main pageChapter 1 includes an introduction and abstract
Chapter 2 includes the goals of PGOLID
Chapter 3 history covers geological formation to current district projects
Chapter 4 covers watershed characteristics of most of northwest Minnesota
Chapter 5 covers the main watershed around the Pelican Lakes
Chapter 6 covers the minor watersheds that surround Pelican Lake
Chapter 7 describes the types of data collected and why
Chapter 8 reports the data and water quality of inlets and outlets to Pelican Lake
Chapter 9 reports the water quality data for the Pelican Lakes

Chapter 10
Chapter 11 Safety and Buoys

 

Questions?
PGOLID Water Resource Coordinator
218-846-1465, email

Chapter 9: Lake Water Quality

9.1 Pelican Lake

see lake data summary report

Pelican Lake is among the largest lakes in Ottertail County. It is nearly 8 miles long from East to West. It has an excellent sport fishery and is a popular lake in the area for recreation.

Fig 9.1 Big Pelican Lake depth

9.1.1 Water Level

Big Pelican Lake is 3,986 acres with a maximum depth of 55 feet. The elevation of the water level has been monitored 1343 times from 03/24/1938 to 04/29/2007. The highest water level recorded was at 1319.72 feet above sea level in August 1993. The lowest recorded water level was at 1314.78 feet in March 1938. The variance in level is 4.94 feet. The average elevation is about 1317 feet.

Fig 9.2 Pelican Lake surface water elevation from 1996-2006

9.1.2 Water Clarity

RMB has collected Secchi disk readings at site 206 since 1996 (more info on water clarity). RMB Secchi measurements have been made monthly from June to September. Measurements were taken bimonthly starting in 2006. The approximate same location (site 206) is used for every measurement.

Big Pelican has an average Secchi of 12.5 feet and currently has no trend. The trend is based on yearly averages from 1996.

In 2007, additional sites were added to the monitoring schedule (sites 205, 201). To see a map of sites and the monitoring results, click on the link below.

see secchi data graphs and trend analysis

9.1.3 Chlorophyll A

RMB has collected chemical data on Big Pelican Lakes ChlA since 1996. Big Pelican has an average ChlA of 5.2 ppb, below the average for other lakes in the ecoregion.

see Chlorophyll-a data graphs and trend analysis

9.1.4 Total Phosphorous

RMB has collected chemical data on Big Pelican Lakes TP since 1996. Big Pelican has an average TP of 0.016 mg/L (16 ppb), below the average for other lakes in the ecoregion.

see Total Phosphorus data graphs and trend analysis

9.1.5 Trophic State Index

Average TSI ratings are based on TSI values for ChlA, TP, and Secchi disk. Big Pelican Lakes average TSI is 43. Big Pelican Lake is mesotrophic.

see TSI data graphs and trend analysis

see lake data summary report

next section: 9.2. Little Pelican Lake

 
© Copyright 2007 Pelican Group of Lakes Improvement District