Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services has 30 monitoring sites on the lakes.  The data collected helps keep track of water quality trends and pinpoint specific water quality problems.  We check:

• Water temperature
• Depth
• Dissolved oxygen (can the fish breathe?)
• Conductivity (the chemical makeup of polluted water allows electricity to flow through it more easily)
• pH (is the water acidic, alkaline or neutral?)
• Turbidity (how murky is the water?)
• Chlorophyll, Total Phosphorus, Nitrate-Nitrogen (any algae blooms?)
• Fecal coliform (any sewage spills affecting the water?)
• Toxic Metals (hazards to fish and other aquatic life)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (such as petroleum additives that pollute waterways)

Lake Water Quality Ratings:

Using Fusilier's Lake Water Quality Index, which ranks lakes from Very Poor to Excellent, the most recent ratings are:

Lake Norman: Good to Excellent
Mountain Island Lake: Good to Excellent
Lake Wylie: Good to Excellent 

What's the water quality of the lake or stream in my backyard?

Click here for the Lake Watershed Booklet  (NOTE: This document is an Adobe PDF and requires Adobe Reader to view. You may download a free copy by visiting Adobe.com.)