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<br />~~-.~ <br />Ib~~ <br /> <br />The temperature simulation also indicates that any persistent strati- <br />fication that becomes established will be shallow and relatively unstable. <br />When the spring pool level is at about 15 meters or less, no persistent <br />stratification will form. At greater pool depths, shallow stratification <br />will form and may persist for up to three months. In such case there <br />is still evidence of surface exchange with the deeper waters. This is <br />because of the unstable nature of such shallow stratification. It <br />appears from the results of the simulation that the entire reservoir <br />should remain aerobic. <br /> <br />The biological studies indicate that the reservoir would be highly <br />productive. The algal assays indicate that there may be nutrient <br />limitation, but at a large algal standing crop. The results of the <br />temperature simulation show summer inflow to be at the surface. There- <br />fore, there would be a continual influx of nutrients to the phytoplankton, <br />making such nutrient limitation unlikely in the impoundment. <br /> <br />Although the reservoir would be highly productive, the algae should <br />undergo aerobic decomposition. As a result, there should be no toxic <br />or noxious substances, such as methane or hydrogen sulfide, formed <br />from decomposition. <br /> <br />The State is currently proposing a standard for algae in recreational <br />waters. No fixed numerical standards are being proposed. The standard <br />as currently proposed relates to certain blue-green algae. There is <br />no way to be certain that such organisms would not predominate. How- <br />ever, none were collected during the survey. In addition, most of the <br />reservoirs in the area appear to be dominated by diatoms. There is <br />what appears to be an annual bloom of the blue-green alga Aphanizomenon <br />sp. each autumn in the mainstem reservoirs on the North Platte River <br />with no apparent detriment. As a generalization, blue-greens do <br />not dominate where ample nutrients will support other algae, e.g. <br />diatoms. It seems likely that the reservoir would be dominated by <br />diatoms which would not hinder recreation. <br /> <br />When all things are considered, it seems likely that the reservoir <br />would be highly productive, i.e. eutrophic. It is concluded that <br />this would be compatible with recreational use and would not cause <br />any significant aesthetic problems. <br /> <br />24 <br />