First, Pollution: the phosphorus-rich discharge would promote the growth of plant life, intensifying existing algal blooms and weed infestations. Second, the heat that would be released into the lake by the warmed water discharge could allow algae and aquatic weeds to grow for longer or different periods and could otherwise upset the sensitive ecological balance of plant and animal species in the lake. Third, the large-scale construction activities associated with the project would release silt into the lake and increase existing turbidity problems. Numerous toxic sites pose known or potential threats to the lake, including former utility sites, leaking petroleum tanks and abandoned landfills.
1. Describe the attributes of the Lake Cayuga ecosystem (biotic & abiotic subcomponents; matter and energy exchanges between components; interaction & interdependencies; autogentic, allogenic & biogenic processes; etc.) Lake Cayuga is New Yorks second largest finger lake, with an area of 42,956 acres and length of 40 miles long. Lake Cayugas max depth of 435 feet and volume of 2.5 trillion gallons creates a very unique ecosystem for many biotic and abiotic organisms. Up state New York has very dramatic seasons where the weather and temperature changes dramatically throughout the year. Deep lakes contain three distinct zones, each with different types of organisms. The Littoral Zone is the areas closest to the shore where light reaches all the way to the bottom. With available sunlight plants and algae are able to survive. The temperatures of the shallow areas of the lake fluctuate with the seasons consistently freezing thick in the winters and remaining warmer in the summer months. The next zone is the Limnetic zone where the amount of available light decreases the further you go down. The Limnetic zone is where photosynthesis can occur. Floating microorganisms called plankton and other swimming animals call nekton survive in this zone. The lakes extensive depths are the profundal zone where very little light is able to reach. Lake Cayuga has depths over 400 feet which water is not reaches but the light so these deep areas remain very cold throughout the year, called morphometry. Bottomdwelling animals called benthos survive down here off of organic matter that drifts down to the bottom. The dramatic depths of Lake Cayuga and fluctuating temperatures in the area produce distinct division in the lake. In the warmer seasons the shallow areas become oxygen rich but because the deeper areas remain very cold the warmers oxygen rich water doesnt mix with the deeper water. When the surface water begins to cool and become denser, it sinks to the bottom making the deeper areas contain more oxygen. 2. Independently investigate some of the benefits and drawbacks of the Lake Source Cooling Project by exploring the following questions. Try to do your own calculations rather than just repeating information from the websites By this we mean assess the
magnitude of the numbers and use them to extend to a consideration of the significance of the effects of project the as addressed below.
How does the project impact on the university's use of electrical energy? Provide a quantitative estimate of net effects. What kinds of impacts does the project have in terms of CO2 discharges? Provide a quantitative estimate of increase/decrease. What is the magnitude of lake flows (inflow & outflow) resulting from LSC and from non-LSC activities? Compare your results and comment.
After thoroughly analyzing this case study, I honestly believe that the Lake Cooling project has benefits that outweigh the draw backs. Energy is something that is completely overuses and not used effectively. So much is going to waste and by some how preserving this energy it will bring forth serious benefits. The calculations and numbers below support my conclusion: Even though the price tag for the Lake source cooling is between 55-60 million, which is more than it would cost to replace the existing chiller with new ones the over all outcome will be a significantly better investment for the universitys use of electrical energy. The LSC will reduce the campus energy use for cooling by 80%, which is 20 million kWh/year of electricity. The price per kWh for the state of New York is $.1673, so by multiplying NYs price per kWh by 20 million it will show how much the university will save a year. $.1673 * 20,000,000= $3,346,000 a year. This project does have impact in terms of CO2 discharge which some view as a disadvantage. Specifics from the Cayuga Lake Defense Fund article state that the LSCP will pump out the cold water from the depths and pump water back into the lake which is slightly warmer. The change in the water temperature will promote the growth of algae and aquatic weeds. The magnitude of lake flows resulting from LSC and non-LSC have many different components and effects which I will explain below. The Lake source cooling project pumpes up to 46 million gallons of cold water per day, roughly 41F. The cold water after uses for its cooling purposes are reissued back into the lake (inflow) as a much higher temperature. The warmer water causes a variety of effects to the lake such as changing the temperature, the climate, altering the lakes phosphorous and releasing toxic waste from the plants. This process and the heat exchange will raise the lakes water temperatures by as much as 15F. Even though there are some negative effects of the LSC, the LSC has benefits on the larger scale. The LSC operates at .01KW/ton which is 13% less electric power used by the original campus cooling system. The LSC is economically efficiency, reduces the overuse of unnecessary electrical energy and among all saves the environment. The previous cooling systems significantly harmed the world we live in and even though the LSC might have some minor side effects it is the right alternative. 3. Describe the actual and potential influence/impacts of various natural and human disturbances in the Lake Cayuga ecosystem.
4. Your final task is to examine the 'facts' in the case as presented by two groups in opposition. Based on your assessment: