The Lake Improvement Association aims to promote cooperation among local stakeholders to improve Grand Lake St. Marys in Ohio. The lake suffers from excessive phosphorus leading to hypereutrophic conditions with total phosphorus over 100 mg/L and chlorophyll a over 50 mg/L. Sources of phosphorus include agricultural runoff, developed land, infrastructure, wildlife, and sediments. Reducing external phosphorus loads and continued management are needed to improve ecological sustainability. Collaboration between public agencies, universities, and companies supports water quality data collection and testing. Implementations to address the issue include alum application, dredging, organic waste management, treatment stations, rough fish removal, aeration, and water level management. Financial support comes from grants and

1. Lake Improvement Association
The purpose of the Lake Improvement
Association is to promote closer fellowship and
cooperation among farmers, landing owners
and park operators; to advance the general
improvement of the lake, its shores, channels,
creeks, landings, parks and land in order to
promote good health, soil stability, and clean,
wholesome recreation for the public and
private use of the area adjacent to the shores of
the Grand Lake St. Marys, located in Mercer
and Auglaize counties in the State of Ohio.

2. GLSM has a problem…
Too much phosphorus!
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3. Grand Lake St. Marys Current Condition
GLSM is very hypereutrophic :
Hypereutrophic is defined by
having
Total Phosphorus (TP) > 100
mg/L
Chlorophyll a (Chl) > 50 mg/L
GLSM has summer TP that
ranges from
TP ~ 170 to 200 mg/L
GLSM has Chl that can reach
Chl ~ 250 mg/L
3

4. Sources of Phosphorus to GLSM
External P Sources Include:
Agricultural
Landscape
All land-uses including yards
Infrastructure – roads/builds/homes
Wildlife
Streams and Rivers
Atmosphere
Groundwater
Internal P Sources
Lake Sediments
Lake Biota – fish, algae, plants,
waterfowl
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6. Ecological Sustainability of GLSM is Dependent
Upon External Phosphorus Load Reduction and
Continued Management
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7. Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed

9. Commission Members/Agency Affiliation
Tom Knapke-Facilitator Julie Miller-Auglaize/Mercer CVB
Kevin Bettinger-Ag Milt Miller-LDC
Kent Bryan-Celina Com. Dev. Ron Puthoff-Community Dev. Services
Jared Ebbing-Mercer Cty. Economic Tom Rampe-LIA
Dev.
Greg Schumm-LDC & WSU-Lake
Todd Fleagle-St. Marys Economic Dev. Campus
Scott Fries-TruePoint Doug Spencer-Auglaize Cty.
Commissioner
Tom Hitchcock-St. Marys Service Dir.
Mike Sudman-Celina Water Treatment
Glenn Hux-Mercer Cty Civic Plant
Foundation
Jeff Vossler-LIA
Bill Knapke-Cooper Farms
Laura Walker-Grand Lake/Wabash
Tim Lovett-LIA Watershed
Linda May-Bruns Realty Jerry Will-Mercer Cty Pork Producers
Brian Miller-Grand Lake St. Marys Darwin Zeigler-St. Marys Community
State Park Foundation

11. Collaboration of Public/Private Data
Collection & Testing of Water Quality
Universities Company Partners
Wright State University Battelle Institute
Lake Campus
Mad Scientists
Heidleberg University
KCI
Ohio Northern University
Bowling Green
State University
University of
Dayton

12. Testing

14. Implementations
1. Alum application 2. Dredging

15. Implementations
3. Alternative and
Beneficial Uses of
Organic Waste
~ Create economic
incentives to attract
private investment &
development
4. Treatment Train
Establishment &
Monitoring Stations

16. Implementations
5. Rough Fish Removal 6. Micro Nutrient
Modification

17. Implementations
7. Aeration & Circulation 8. Water Level
Management
~ Sediment Collectors
and Spillway Tubes

19. Prairie
Creek
Treatment Plan
Project

20. Barnes Creek
Sediment Collector
installed in Barnes Creek
on January, 12, 2011.

21. Southmoor Shores Airy Gator

22. Floating Wetland Plantings
Spearheaded by Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed

23. Over 5,000
floating
wetland
plantings will be
supplied and
managed by
volunteers in
2011!

24. Dredging on Grand Lake St. Marys

25. Rough Fish Removal
Local Carp Derby
Arrangements for fish disposal
First tournament was held in June

26. Alum Treatment Project

27. FINANCIALS

28. Grants Leveraged
EPA 319 (2010 $577,000, 2011 $500,000)
SWIF ($60,000)
ODA / USDA ($100,000)
OEPA/ODNR--$5 million for Alum treatment

29. EXPENSES (as of 12/31/2010)
Dollars Spent $468,583
Equipment 355,693
Infrastructure 47,153
Scientists/Consultants 65,142
Fundraising Costs 595

30. INCOME (as of 12/31/2010)
Cash on Hand $ 44,652
Pledges 146,000
Total Donated 659,235
In-Kind Donations 11,500
Grants Received 634,000
Total to Benefit GLSM $1,304,735

31. Public Awareness Campaign