TSD for U.S. EPA’s Proposed Numeric Nutrient Criteria for FL Inland Surface Fresh Waters

Appendix A-3: FDEP’s Summary of Chl. a Literature Pertinent to 

Lake Numeric Nutrient Criteria Development 
TSD for U.S. EPA’s Proposed Numeric Nutrient Criteria for FL Inland Surface Fresh Waters

A3-1 

Appendix A-3. FDEP’s Summary of Chl. a Literature Pertinent to Lake 

Numeric Nutrient Criteria Development 

Table A3-1. Summary of Chl. a Literature Pertinent to Establishment of Protective Thresholds 

Resource 

Chl. a

Threshold Basis Citation 

Virginia lakes 25 μg/L as 

monthly 

average, 50 

μg/L as single 

time maximum 

TAC recommendation, 

Delphi technique 

Gregory, J. 2007. Virginia Enriched Water 

Designation. Virginia Department of 

Environmental Quality, Richmond, VA. 4 pp. 

Florida clear 

lakes 

2 to 8 μg/L 75%ile Reference lake 

distribution and contour 

plot interpolation 

Tetra Tech. 2003. Development of Florida 

Lake Nutrient Criteria: Summary and 

Synthesis. Tetra Tech Inc., Fairfax, VA. 12 pp. 

Minnesota 

lakes by region 

and use 

3 to 5 μg/L for 

designated 

trout fisheries, 

9-22 μg/L for 

deep lakes, 

20-30 μg/L for 

shallow (<4.5 

m) lakes 

Multiple lines of evidence, 

including regional 

patterns, reference lakes, 

fish response, lake user 

perception, 

paleolimnolgy, nuisance 

algal bloom and 

macrophyte frequency 

Heiskary, S. and B. Wilson. 2008. Minnesota’s 

approach to lake nutrient criteria development. 

Lake and Reservoir Management 24:282-297. 

Florida colored 

lakes 

9 to 18 μg/L 75%ile Reference lake 

distribution and contour 

plot interpolation 

Tetra Tech. 2003. Development of Florida 

Lake Nutrient Criteria: Summary and 

Synthesis. Tetra Tech Inc., Fairfax, VA. 12 pp. 

Virginia lakes 

Region 14 

(coolwater 

fisheries) 

25 μg/L Median chlorophyll value 

in lakes with Good to 

Excellent fisheries 

Gregory, J. 2010. Rulemaking Information. 

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 

Richmond, VA. 

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wqs/rule.html#NUT

2. Accessed January 2010. 

Virginia lakes 

Region 14 

(warmwater 

fisheries) 

60 μg/L Median chlorophyll value 

in lakes with Good to 

Excellent fisheries 

Gregory, J. 2010. Rulemaking Information. 

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 

Richmond, VA. 

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wqs/rule.html#NUT

2. Accessed January 2010 

Virginia lakes 

Region 9 

(coolwater 

fisheries) 

25 μg/L Median chlorophyll value 

in lakes with Good to 

Excellent fisheries 

Gregory, J. 2010. Rulemaking Information. 

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 

Richmond, VA. 

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wqs/rule.html#NUT

2. Accessed January 2010 

Virginia lakes 

Region 9 

(warmwater 

fisheries) 

35 μg/L Median chlorophyll value 

in lakes with Good to 

Excellent fisheries 

Gregory, J. 2010. Rulemaking Information. 

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 

Richmond, VA. 

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wqs/rule.html#NUT

2. Accessed January 2010 
TSD for U.S. EPA’s Proposed Numeric Nutrient Criteria for FL Inland Surface Fresh Waters

A3-2 

Resource 

Chl. a

Threshold Basis Citation 

Virginia lakes 

Region 11 

(coolwater 

fisheries) 

25 μg/L Median chlorophyll value 

in lakes with Good to 

Excellent fisheries 

Gregory, J. 2010. Rulemaking Information. 

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 

Richmond, VA. 

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wqs/rule.html#NUT

2. Accessed January 2010 

Virginia lakes 

Region 11 

(warmwater 

fisheries) 

35 μg/L Median chlorophyll value 

in lakes with Good to 

Excellent fisheries 

Gregory, J. 2010. Rulemaking Information. 

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 

Richmond, VA. 

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wqs/rule.html#NUT

2. Accessed January 2010 

Texas 

reservoirs with 

Secchi depth of 

1-2 m 

20-25 μg/L Recommendation based 

on full contact 

recreational users 

perceptions 

Glass, P. 2006. Development of Use Based 

Chlorophyll a Criteria for Recreational Use of 

Reservoirs. Water Environment Federation’s 

Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference 

(WEFTEC). 13 pp. 

Iowa lakes 25 μg/L Nutrient Science Advisors 

Class A Lake Nutrient 

Recommendations 

Wilton. T. 2008. Nutrient Criteria and its 

Connection to Local Water Quality. Iowa 

Department of Natural Resources, Des 

Moines, IA. 

http://www.iowadnr.com/water/standards/nutrie

nts.html. Accessed January 2010. 

Iowa lakes 

TMDL 

reduction target 

33 μg/L or 7.2 

μg/L as 

alternate 

(based on TSI) 

TSI of 65 Wilton. T. 2008. Nutrient Criteria and its 

Connection to Local Water Quality. Iowa 

Department of Natural Resources, Des 

Moines, IA. 

http://www.iowadnr.com/water/standards/nutrie

nts.html. Accessed January 2010. 

Maryland lakes 20 μg/L TSI of 60 to prevent 

excessive eutrophication 

Rule. T. Nutrient Criteria in Lakes and 

Reservoirs: Maryland's Approach. Maryland 

Department of the Environment, Watershed 

Modeling Division, Annapolis, MD. 28 pp. 

Maryland lakes 10 μg/L, with 

30 μg/L as an 

instantaneous 

measurement 

TSI of 53, to prevent 

eutrophication 

Rule. T. Nutrient Criteria in Lakes and 

Reservoirs: Maryland's Approach. Maryland 

Department of the Environment, Watershed 

Modeling Division, Annapolis, MD. 28 pp. 

North Carolina 

lakes and 

reservoirs 

40 μg/L Point of departure where 

some lakes showed 

adverse response 

NCDENR. 2007. North Carolina Administrative 

Code 15A NCAC 02B .0100, .0200 and .0300 

Surface Waters and Wetlands Standards. 

North Carolina Department of Environment 

and Natural Resources, Division of Water 

Quality, Raleigh, NC. 145 pp. 

Alabama lakes 

and reservoirs 

Lake or 

reservoir 

specific, range 

from 5 to 27 

μg/L 

Existing Condition Macindoe. J. 2006. Why Establish Nutrient 

Criteria for Alabama Lakes? Presentation to 

Tallapoosa Watershed Conference. Alabama 

Department of Environmental Management, 

Montgomery, AL. 
TSD for U.S. EPA’s Proposed Numeric Nutrient Criteria for FL Inland Surface Fresh Waters

A3-3 

Resource 

Chl. a

Threshold Basis Citation 

West Virginia 

Lakes 

33 μg/L or 7.2 

μg/L as 

alternate 

(based on TSI) 

TSI >65 deemed 

impaired, TSI = 50 

potential alternate 

criterion based on shift 

from meso to eutrophic 

Hansen, E and M. Christ. 2003. Suggested 

Next Steps to Develop Nutrient Criteria for 

Lakes and Reservoirs in West Virginia. West 

Virginia Rivers Coalition, Elkins, WV. 

http://www.cacaponinstitute.org/lake_criteria.ht

m. Accessed January 2010. 

Colorado Lakes 

and Reservoirs 

<5 μg/L –

direct use 

water supply; 

<6 μg/L –

preserve 

hypolimnetic 

DO; 20 μg/L –

bloom 

threshold; <25 

μg/L –high 

quality 

fisheries 

Protect water supply, 

fisheries, and full contact 

recreation 

Saunders, J. 2009. Colorado Lake Nutrient 

Criteria - Update. Colorado Department of 

Public Health and Environment, Water Quality 

Control Division, Standards Unit, Denver, CO. 

24 pp. 

Maine Use color cutoff of 30 

PCU to establish 

chlorophyll expectations 

Taylor, W. 2003. Letter from William Taylor to 

Dawn R. Gallagher, Commissioner, State of 

Maine. 

European lakes Chlorophyll was found to 

vary with lake type and 

geographical region, and 

to be naturally highest in 

low-altitude, very shallow, 

high alkalinity, and humic 

lake types and naturally 

lowest in clear, deep, and 

low alkalinity lakes. The 

results suggest that light 

and mineral availability 

are important drivers of 

chlorophyll concentrations 

in undisturbed lakes. 

Carvalho, L., A. Solimini, G. Phillips, M. van 

den Berg, O-P. Pietiläinen, A. Lyche Solheim, 

S. Poikane, and U. Mischke. 2008. Chlorophyll 

reference conditions for European lake types 

used for intercalibration of ecological status. 

Aquatic Ecology 42:203-211. 

Arizona 

sedimentary 

lakes, full body 

contact 

20-30 μg/L TSI and weight of 

evidence 

ADEQ. 2008. Narrative Nutrient Standard 

Implementation Procedures for Lakes and 

Reservoirs. Arizona Department of 

Environmental Quality, Phoenix, AZ. 20 pp. 

Lost Island 

Lake, IA 

33 μg/L TSI of 65, approved by 

EPA 

USEPA. 2008. U.S. EPA Region 7 TMDL 

Review. Memo,10-24-08. U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency Region 7, Kansas City, KS. 
TSD for U.S. EPA’s Proposed Numeric Nutrient Criteria for FL Inland Surface Fresh Waters

A3-4 

Resource 

Chl. a

Threshold Basis Citation 

Lakes Haines, 

Conine and 

May, EPA lake 

Region 75-36 

8-17 μg/L, and 

16-19 μg/L 

Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a

concentrations. 

Paleolimnological 

evidence suggests that 

the lowest practical 

restoration target for Lake 

Haines, and perhaps 

other lakes in region 75-

36, is approximately 42 

μg/L limnetic total 

phosphorus. 

Whitmore, T. 2003. Water Quality Trends 

Associated with Algal Changes in Florida 

Lakes: Historic Evidence for Defining Nutrient 

Criteria Conditions in EPA Defined Florida 

Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 29 pp. 

Florida lake 

Wauberg 

38-48 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a 

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp. 

Florida lake 

Bonny 

15-16 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp. 

Florida lake 

Haines 

17-19 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp. 

Florida lake 

Conine 

8-19 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a 

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp. 

Florida lake 

May 

13-20 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a 

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp. 

Florida lake 

Shipp 

18-29 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp. 
TSD for U.S. EPA’s Proposed Numeric Nutrient Criteria for FL Inland Surface Fresh Waters

A3-5 

Resource 

Chl. a

Threshold Basis Citation 

Florida lake 

Lulu 

14-19 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a 

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp. 

Florida lake 

Hancock 

74-133 μg/L Diatom inferred predisturbance limnetic chl. a 

concentrations 

Whitmore, T. and M. Brenner. 2002. 

Paleologic Characterization of Pre-disturbance 

Water Quality Conditions in EPA Defined 

Florida Lake Regions. University of Florida, 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 

Sciences, Gainesville, FL. 30 pp.