Bills Lake
Association
Shortly after the first of the year, we received a graph of our transparency readings over the past decade from Jean Roth of the Michigan Lake and Stream Associations. Although not entirely complete in that it leaves out data from some years (which we have), the document shows that the water clarity of Bills Lake has actually improved at bit.
There are exceptions,of course. For instance, the onslaught of zebra mussels fouled up our water clarity one year and then cleared it up to astonishing proportions the next. But all in all, we are quite stable.
This assessment is relative. In Florida (from where this is being written), water clarity of nearby Lake Hancock is measured in inches, not feet, because of the nutrient glut provided by decades of discharges from sewer plants, industrial plants, and street runoff. On the other hand, our average Seechi disk reading of approximately 12 feet pales in comparison with Upper Peninsula lakes.
You can view the graph by clicking here. The fact that the line is going down is a good thing.