On a sunny summer day, Lake Nokomis is a vibrant spot with swimmers, sailors, and anglers enjoying the water. However, the lake’s water quality is a concern, with an early season algae bloom announced on June 3. Researchers from the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota are studying the water quality and public perception of it.

Understanding Public Perception

University of St. Thomas biology professor Chip Small and University of Minnesota researcher Becky Forgrave are leading the project, which involves collecting weekly water samples and soliciting opinions from visitors. The survey asks visitors to evaluate the lake’s water quality on a scale of 1 through 10 and provides follow-up questions to gauge their thoughts on the water.

The researchers are also studying how the public’s perception of water quality affects their use of the lakes. According to Forgrave, people’s opinions can guide research, policy, and management of lakes. The project aims to understand how the public feels about the lakes and how that perception can inform decisions about water quality management.

Challenges in Managing Water Quality

Managing the quality of urban lakes is a significant challenge. Lakes are not swimming pools, and their water quality can fluctuate easily. Small and Forgrave note that larger lakes can absorb pollution runoff and changing temperatures more easily than smaller ones. Lake Nokomis is considered middle of the pack in terms of urban water quality, but smaller lakes like Como Lake in St. Paul can be more prone to fluctuations.

The researchers emphasize that people’s expectations for different sizes of lakes should be adjusted accordingly. Forgrave notes that about 80% of the lakes removed from the state’s impaired water database in the past 20 years are in urban areas, demonstrating the power of governance, attention, and action in improving water quality.

Despite the challenges, many lake visitors feel good about the water quality. Robert Xiong, who takes his sons fishing at Lake Nokomis, says, ‘We like the lake; we think it’s a good spot to be with kids.’ Jeremy Bucay, who also enjoys recreation at the lake, says, ‘The water seems clean enough.’ However, the researchers caution that perception does not always match reality, and more work is needed to understand the complex factors affecting water quality.

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.