Health of Lake Minnetonka Study Guide
Plant Growth Experiment
Date: Tuesday, September 30
Experiment Description:
A gardener planted 3 identical plants in equal amounts of soil and provided the same amount of water.
Research Questions:
Which plant grew the tallest after 20 days?
Which plant grew the slowest during days 0 - 20?
Predict the height of Plant 3 after 25 days of growth.
Health of Lake Minnetonka
Agenda for September 30:
Homework: Study Guide & Review due tomorrow.
Upcoming Academic Achievement Assessment scheduled for Friday.
Factors Affecting Health of Bays
Issue: Minnesota's waterways face a significant problem with salinity.
Importance of a low-salt diet for Minnesota waters.
Chloride contamination coming from:
De-icing salts
Water softener salts
Chloride introduction into lakes, streams, and groundwater.
Statistic:
1 teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute 5 gallons of water.
Impact of Chloride on Aquatic Life
Natural Occurrence: Chloride is essential for many organisms in lakes and streams.
Hazard of Elevated Chloride Levels:
Causes cells to dehydrate and lose nutrients, leading to mortality in:
Fish
Amphibians
Plants
Other aquatic organisms.
On Land: Excessive chloride can harm:
Pets
Soil
Infrastructure (cars, bridges).
Minnesota's Chloride Conditions
Statistical Overview: Minnesota demonstrates increasing chloride levels in water bodies.
50 waterbodies exceed water quality standards for chloride.
Several additional waterbodies are close to exceeding the standard.
Data Analysis:
Watersheds with over 18% road density identified as critical areas for chloride reduction efforts.
Efforts to mitigate chloride pollution encouraged statewide.
Depth of Lake Minnetonka Bays
The text details various depths of bays within Lake Minnetonka.
Depth Averages:
Examples include depths such as 20 ft, 30 ft, 43 ft, 57 ft, 40 ft, and up to 100 ft.
Biodiversity
Definition: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within a particular environment.
Importance: Greater biodiversity contributes to ecosystem stability, making it more resilient to changes.
Consideration: Examine the types of organisms around Lake Minnetonka to understand its biodiversity better.
Native Species of Lake Minnetonka
Fish Species:
Black bullhead
Black crappie
Bluegill
Brown bullhead
Green sunfish
Hybrid sunfish
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass
Tiger muskellunge
Walleye
White crappie
Yellow bullhead
Yellow perch
Bowfin (dogfish)
White sucker
Central mudminnow
Common shiner
Golden shiner
Vegetation Species:
Northern watermilfoil
Clasping-leaf pondweed
Coontail
Bladderworts
Lily pads
Water marigold
Sago pondweed
Native stonewort
Water stargrass
Wild celery
Sagittaria
Invasive Species in Lake Minnetonka
Ecological Threats from Invasive Species:
Cited species include:
Purple Loosestrife
Zebra Mussels
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Common Carp
Curly Pondweed
Flowering Rush
Definition of Invasive Species: Organisms that cause ecological or economic harm in environments where they are not native.
Study Guide & Review Outline
Directions: Stepwise approach for preparing the study guide.
Questions:
Classifications of atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds with examples.
Process of eutrophication and nutrient origins.
Importance of wetlands to lake health.
Levels of nutrients critical for bay health identified including phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, general hardness, and pH.
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) framework outlined for evaluating scientific arguments and conclusions.
Essential Study Tips
Plan study time effectively, minimizing distractions and using interactive methods with notes.
Engage in peer study sessions and transparent discussions about the content.
Develop vocabulary fluency for scientific concepts.
Consistent review of material is encouraged, and students are assured of support for educational success.