-71°46’24.5”, 43°39’24.7”
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LATEST CONDITIONS: |
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Measured: |
8/23/2023 |
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Water Clarity: |
8.65 meters |
28.38 feet |
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Surface Temperature: |
21.50 °C |
70.70 °F |
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Depth to Thermocline: |
8.00 meters |
26.25 feet |
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Temperature at Thermocline: |
21.00 °C |
69.80 °F |
Lake scientists around the world use the simple method of lowering a black and white Secchi Disk into the water and recording the depth at which it can no longer be seen. Clarity is affected by sediment, algae, and plankton in the water column. The deeper you can see the better.
Surface temperature tells us more than whether we should go swimming or not. When the surface water warms it alters the growth rate of algae and changes the chemistry of the upper layer of the lake. Seasonal changes are a normal occurrence, but cooler temps are generally healthier for the lake.
If you ever jumped into Newfound and dived deeper than a few feet, you’ve likely noticed a layer where the water temperature changes rapidly. This area is known as the thermocline and is the boundary between the warmer surface layer, called the epilimnion, and cooler denser water of the hypolimnion. Most of Newfound’s algae and plankton thrive in the warm water layer, while most fish species tend to prefer the oxygen rich cool water, with very little mixing between the top and bottom layers.
Chlorophyll a is a light absorbing pigment naturally found in all green plants and algae that convert the sun’s energy into food through photosynthesis. It is one of the most abundant chemical compounds on earth! Levels below 3.3 parts per billion (ppb) are best for lakes like Newfound.
Phosphorus is the key nutrient controlling the growth of freshwater plants and algae. It occurs naturally in soils but human activities like applying fertilizers and leaky septic systems have a significant contribution. More phosphorus leads to increased algae and decreased water quality. Levels below 7.2 ppb are best for Newfound.
Use the dropdown and slider arrows to explore trends
This figure shows individual readings of water clarity (blue dots) taken during the summer season from 1978 to the present. The solid black line is with a statistically fitted trendline and the grey shading describes how well the trendline fits the data.
Note: in areas with more data, the shading tends to be narrower indicting a more accurate placement of the trendline.
Phosphorus is the key nutrient controlling the growth of freshwater plants and algae. It occurs naturally in soils but human activities like applying fertilizes and failing septic systems have a significant contribution. Impervious surfaces associated with development also concentrate stormwater runoff leading to increased erosion and the transport of phosphorus in soils to the lake. More phosphorus leads to increased algae and decreased water quality.
Chlorophyll a is a light absorbing pigment naturally found in all green plants and algae that convert the sun’s energy into food through photosynthesis. It is one of the most abundant chemical compounds on earth! Levels below 3.3 parts per billion (ppb) are best for lakes like Newfound.
