This fall Winona State University’s Watershed Science course took its lab to Lake Winona to measure water quality at different locations from the lake.
According to geoscience professor, Dylan Blumentritt, the class highlights hands-on learning and exploratory research. The purpose of the lab was to see if there were any change in water quality from the inflow of Gilmore Creek to the outflow near the hospital and if those changes could be tracked over a two-day period.
The class also took measurements midway between the lakes where water passes under Huff Street.
“I had no idea what we would find for this lab,” said Blumentritt. “Which is one of the things that makes this interesting for the students.”
Students measured seven different water quality indicators at each site of the lake. The four parameters measured in the field: pH, conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. After students collected the samples, they brought them back to the lab for further analysis and measured them by looking at Nitrates, Phosphorus and turbidity.
“Our results show that the lake was relatively stable between the 48 hours we took these measurements. The lesson here is that many times big environmental changes don’t occur all at once, and are best detected through longer-term monitoring.” said Blumentritt.
For more information, email Dylan Blumentritt at dblumentritt@winona.edu.
