Organic Matter in Sediment

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Organic Matter in Sediment
A presentation by Lyndsey Weimer, Nic Parsons,
Seth Walker, David Kant-Rauch, Alan Hess, Kyle
Stringer, Millie Milton, Shalini Bethala, Jenna
Nichols, Ross Nichols, and Neal Kerchoff
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Research Problem and HypothesisThe aim of this
study is to determine the percent organic matter
in the sediment of Lake Munson.The percent
organic matter will be higher near the slough and
the coast because the slough is where a larger
amount of fertilizers enter the lake, and also
higher in the center where that matter would
settle. The percent organic matter will be lower
the closer to the dam and the draining portion of
the lake. The percent organic matter will be even
lower in the water beyond the dam because the dam
would act as a filter.
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Collecting Samples

• We collected our samples using a core sampling
  unit on loan from the USGS.
• Samples were taken of the top 8 inches of
  sediment.

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Sample Scope

• We collected 14 samples from many areas of the
  lake and slough.
• These include the dam, open water, edge marsh and
  middle of the slough.

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Lab Work

• Each sample containing organic matter was dried,
  weighed, combusted, and then weighed again.
• This allowed us to determine the percent organic
  matter in each sample.

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Combustion!
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Results
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Conclusion

• Our hypothesis was partly correct--the organic
  concentrations were low at the dam and were high
  in the middle of the lake. However, unlike we
  thought, the concentration in the slough was very
  low.

• The slough was low due to recent dredging. The
  high areas were due to the decomposition of trees
  and other plants. The dams concentration was
  low as the lake acted as a filter.

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Acknowledgements

• Grateful thanks go out to
• Department of Environmental Protection
• Russell Frydenborg
• Dana Fields
• Jane McDonald
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Christy Crandall

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Group 4 Memories