Lake August

Lake August is a small, shallow man-made lake located just south of Lake June in the Town of Lake Placid.  Water quality in the lake has declined dramatically in the past two years, partly due to an increase in nitrogen concentrations in the lake water that have caused algae blooms.  Phosphorus levels in Lake August are generally high, ranging from 44 to 326 ppb, and averaging 101 ppb (parts per billion).  P levels are generally between 50 and 100 ppb, but the average P concentration is high due to a dramatic increase in 1998.  Nitrogen levels are low to moderately high, ranging from a very low 320 ppb up to 1740 ppb and averaging 919 ppb.  Nitrogen concentrations were very high through 1999 and 2000, though levels seem to have dropped somewhat since then.  The high levels of both of these nutrient have led to algae blooms in the lake that have resulted in a decline in water clarity.  Algae populations, as measured by the concentration of chlorophyll, ranged from a very low 1 ppb to a very high 132 ppb, averaging only a low 9 ppb.  This indicates that most of the time algae populations were at moderate levels with occasional (1998-2000) extreme blooms.  Water clarity, as measured by the depth to which a standardized 'secchi' disc can be seen when lowered into the water, has ranged from good to poor.  Secchi depths have ranged from 0.7 to 6.8 feet and averaged 2.6 feet.  Nutrients may be somewhat high in this lake due to the presence of muck soils in the area.  Stormwater may also be contributing to the high level of nutrients.  Click here to view water quality graphs by year.

Lakewatch water quality data through 1999