Horseshoe Pond
True to its name, Horseshoe Pond is shaped like a horseshoe; carved out as a result of glaciation 12,000 years ago. At 136 acres it is technically a lake, a beautiful clear one at that on which to swim, kayak, canoe, or paddle board. Motorboat engines are limited to 6 HP and are rarely seen making it a calm and quiet refuge. The fishing ain't bad either; Yellow Perch, Pickerel, Smallmouth Bass, Horned Pout, and an occasional Brown or Brook trout.
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Covering 136 acres, with an average depth of 12 feet, and a maximum depth of 40 feet, Horseshoe pond (Midas #3196) drains into Moose Pond, which in turn drains into Kezar Lake.
Water Quality
water clarity
Since 1974, water clarity at Horseshoe Pond has remained stable with no statistically significant trend.
total phosphorus
Since 1998, total phosphorus at Horseshoe Pond has increase by about 1 ppb. Horseshoe Pond experiences consistently low phosphorus compared to the other ponds.
chlorophyll-a
Since 1997, chlorophyll-a at Horseshoe Pond has decreased by about 0.5 ppb. Sampling year 2012 saw a marked rise in chlorophyll-a. Nutrient-rich runoff entering the lake during wetter years, combined with warmer air temperatures, can fuel algae growth.
anoxic extent
Dissolved oxygen profiles show oxygen depletion from 8 to 12 meters below the water surface in late summer. The extent of anoxia is overall good at Horseshoe Pond (sometimes affecting >10% of pond area). Dissolved oxygen at depth should continue to be monitored closely in the future.
temperature
The volume-weighted average surface water temperature for the top 2 meters does not show a statistically significant trend.
ph
Since 1997, pH at Horseshoe Pond has degraded by nearly 0.5. Mean annual pH falls within acceptable ranges for aquatic life, but hit record low in 2016. Low alkalinity makes Horseshoe Pond susceptible to changes in pH, particularly from acidic deposition in the form of rain or snow, which can jeopardize the health of freshwater fish species.
total alkalinity
Since 1997, total alkalinity at Horseshoe Pond has degraded by more than 2 ppm. Horseshoe Pond experiences the lowest (worst) alkalinity compared to the other ponds. The region has naturally-low alkalinity (or buffering capacity) as a result of its contributing geology (i.e., granite) that lacks carbonates, bicarbonates, and carbonic acid.
color
Since 1997, color at Horseshoe Pond has remained stable with no statistically significant trend. Color is highly related to summer precipitation; wetter years show higher color as more materials are washed off the landscape to the lake. This likely explains the spike in color for 2023.