Whereas Turtle Lake Secchi average depth in 1999 was 8.78' we have already had a Secchi clarity depth of 16' in June of 2000. We have had Secchi readings of 18' and 21' at various times in the past five years.

For a point of interest, on June 30 of 1999 the water temp at 3' was 78 deg. and at 25' the temp was 60 degrees. The deeper temperatures are uniformly in the low 60s all year, until Nov., when we had a 10' temp. of 46 degrees.

Our lake generally has a green cast to it ... blue cast is best. Our Trophic State Index=TSI (which translates into the overall health of Turtle Lake being an average of: depth clarity; cholorophyll content; and, total phosphate accumulations) is at the high average of the Mesotrophic range. The range of mesotrophic goes from greater than 40 to less than 50. Our mesotrophic rating was 49 plus.

These numbers are a bit high but I was just informed by the DNR that this is quite good because there are practically no oligotrophic lakes left in Wisconsin. The range of the oligotrophic lakes runs from a score of 40 on down. An oligotrophic lake is very deep, very clear and not very weedy. Occasionally Turtle Lake has had some oligoptrophic characteristics-namely, in its depth and clarity. Several of the DNR folks have referred to our Turtle Lake as a "jewel" that is being well-protected and getting the right care.

Yes, we did chemically treat Turtle Lake against Eurasian Water Nilfoil specifically and fairly heavily in the channel and down by Turtle Inn. A month later, Elaine and I performed a few inspections but saw very little evidence of Eurasian Water Milfoil. The good weed growth is strong and is prevalent in the channel and everywhere we see coontail and chara. That's very good. We do have quite a bit of curly pondweed (a nuisance) but it is heavily combatted by chara growth. Chara and "water celery" are very healthy weeds for a lake and we have this good growth just about everywhere in Turlte Lake.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN TURTLE LAKE is ONE OF WISCONSIN BEST KEPT SECRETS!!

Let's all hand pull Milfoil and not touch coontail, or chara or water celery!

Respectfully submitted,

Dick Gronert & Elaine Gronert