OCR Text |
Show Water - Quality Much of the earlier work on GSL addresses the water quality of the lake without distinguishing between the lake water's natural chemistry and the presence or absence of introduced contaminants which could affect the biology of the lake or its beneficial uses. The salinity and naturally occurring constituents of the water of GSL are discussed in the section entitled " Water - Chemistry". This section addresses biological and other chemical water constituents, nutrients and the regulation and impacts of introduced contaminants on the GSL system. As an aquatic system, the function and usefulness of GSL is highly dependent upon the chemistry and quality of the lake water. As a terminal basin, the quality of the water in the lake is highly dependent upon the quality of water currently entering the lake, and upon the quality and nature of past inflows and discharges into the lake. A wide variety of organic and inorganic materials enter the lake by both natural and human- induced causes. The sources of potential lake water contaminants include: • Surface and groundwater inflows to the lake • Permitted discharges directly to the lake • Unpermitted and accidental discharges to the lake • Lake sediments which contain non- naturally occurring contaminants • Airborne particulates and precipitants Because of the lake's high salinity and unique aquatic biology, some contaminants which are of great concern in fresher water systems may not be as problematic in GSL, and some may even help support the aquatic ecosystem. Others may be rendered harmless by the lake water's high salinity, but may become more bioavailable when lake water freshens. Despite a great deal of research on the lake's water chemistry and aquatic organisms, little work has been done directly on the effects of non- natural contaminants on the GSL ecosystem, or on the water quality effects of fluctuations in lake water chemistry. The " Water Quality" section considers the presence and impacts of lake water constituents other than naturally occurring salts. Internal and external scoping identified five main areas of interest with regard to water quality. • Discharges to the lake and watersheds are managed by approval of discharge permits which are determined to be protective of primary and secondary contact recreation, aquatic wildlife and mineral extraction, and by development of non- point source management programs. • The potential for future changes of lake water quality through loss of wetland function, non- permitted discharges and non- point source management initiatives are not well understood. • The impacts of non- naturally occurring lake water contaminants 53 |