Multi-Point Dissolved Oxygen Buoys - Ford Lake DamProject Overview
The middle reach of the Huron River in Lower Michigan is a resource for municipal drinking water, wastewater disposal, industrial processes, and recreation. Located along the River, Ford Lake is one of the largest impoundments on the Huron and has been used for hydroelectric power purposes since 1932. The Ford Lake Dam was originally constructed by Henry Ford, who was an expert on hydroelectric power generation. It is currently owned and operated by Charter Township of Ypsilanti, MI.
During late summer months, Ford Lake experiences massive algae growths, causing localized fish kills and foul odor. As a result the Lake has been the site of a research study sponsored by the U.S. EPA (2003-2006) and also by the USDA since 2006. The study, led by Professor John Lehman of the University of Michigan, probes the causes and possible corrective measures for the nuisance algal blooms that plague Ford Lake.
Researchers have developed a management plan that will be tested through lake experiments from 2006 to 2009. To complement and help automate these experiments, the Charter Township of Ypsilanti recently deployed two real-time dissolved oxygen monitoring buoys along with a multi-parameter weather station.
System Description
The multi-point dissolved oxygen monitoring buoys are deployed at two locations near the Dam, both in Ford Lake and downstream of the Huron River. Researchers selected the NexSens MB-300 Monitoring Buoy, a 30 inch diameter polymer-coated foam hull buoy with 300 lb. buoyancy. This compact buoy is easily deployable and ideal for deploying monitoring instruments in small reservoirs, lakes, rivers, streams, and protected coastal waters.
YSI 600OMS V2 optical monitoring sondes with ROX Optical Dissolved Oxygen sensors were chosen to continuously measure DO levels at 5 minute sampling intervals. The ROX Optical DO sensor features a self-cleaning wiper that is ideal for long-term deployments. A NexSens T-Node water temperature string collects data from these sondes, along with other T-Node temperature nodes, to obtain a complete vertical water quality profile.
University of Michigan researchers also chose to integrate existing Turner Cyclops-7 and SCUFA submersible fluorometers into the system. NexSens Technology created a connectorized sensor cable with a UW Underwater Connector, making integration to the buoy plug-and-play.
Housed within each buoy, a NexSens 4100-iSIC radio telemetry data logger in a submersible enclosure collects data from the instruments. Data is transmitted via wireless spread spectrum radio telemetry to the Hydroelectric Plant's rooftop. Also mounted on the roof is a Vaisala WXT510 multi-parameter weather sensor. This highly accurate sensor features no moving parts and simultaneously measures wind speed & direction, liquid precipitation air temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure.
By making this data available to all interested parties via the NexSens WQData web datacenter, researchers can investigate the interactions of weather conditions and river water quality in real-time. Combined with historical data, Dr. Lehman and his group hope to develop new theories that can guide future lake management efforts both on the Huron River and nation-wide. | NexSens 1001 | iChart 6 software, licensed per computer | NexSens 4100-iSIC | iSIC data logger with spread spectrum radio telemetry | NexSens A11 | MS2 to AC float charger kit for iSIC data loggers, 12' cable | NexSens A44 | High gain antenna, radio frequency, 3 dBi | NexSens A35 | RF cable, micro-loss, 2' | NexSens A39 | Lightning protection, radio, cellular & satellite | NexSens A35 | RF cable, micro-loss, 2' | NexSens A62 | RS-232 iSIC interface cable, 100' | Vaisala WXT510AAA0AA00B0 | Multi-parameter weather sensor, SDI-12 | NexSens WXT510-M | Mounting kit for Vaisala WXT & WMT sensors, 2" female NPT | LI-COR LI-200SZ | Pyranometer for wideband energy & heat load, 10 ft. cable, cable ends in bare leads | LI-COR 2003S | Mounting & leveling fixture | NexSens M-ARM | LI-COR radiation sensor mounting arm, 3 ft | NexSens MB-300 | Monitoring buoy, polymer-coated foam hull, 300 lb. buoyancy | Carmanah 502-A15 | LED Beacon with solar power, 15 flashes per minute (066), amber | NexSens SDL500R | SDL500 submersible data logger with radio telemetry | NexSens A44-SDL | High gain radio antenna for SDL500 data logger | NexSens SP5 | Solar power pack, 5-watt. Includes solar panel, regulator, 8.5 A-Hr battery & watertight enclosure | YSI 600-01 | 600OMS V2 Sonde with temperature/conductivity sensor | YSI 6150 | ROX optical dissolved oxygen sensor with self-cleaning wiper | YSI 6091 | Field cable, 25 ft. | NexSens T-Node | T-Node connectorized water temperature sensor | NexSens UW-2 | Underwater cable assembly, 2m |
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