Effects of Large-Scale Metalimnetic Migration Events on Phosphorus Dynamics In a North-Temperate Reservoir

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. James ◽  
Robert H. Kennedy ◽  
Robert F. Gaugush

In Eau Galle Reservoir, Wisconsin, early in the stratified period of 1982, hypolimnetic anoxia developed, soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations increased above the profundal sediment surface, and internal total phosphorus loading was high. Shortly thereafter, the passage of a cold front with high wind power resulted in mixing and a pronounced descent of the metalimnion. During this event, previously anoxic water within the metalimnion and upper hypolimnion became reoxygenated, internal total phosphorus loading declined to a minimum, and a loss of total phosphorus mass occurred from the metalimnion and hypolimnion. Total phosphorus mass in the epilimnion remained constant during this period. A similar pattern occurred during a large, wind-driven migration of the metalimnion in early August. During such events, phosphorus sedimentation rates increased in the hypolimnion, reflecting the loss of total phosphorus mass from the water column. In contrast, other investigations of lakes have reported that phosphorus is entrained into the epilimnion during metalimnetic migrations, rather than lost through sedimentation. Phosphorus sedimentation during large metalimnetic migration events in Eau Galle Reservoir may occur because previously anoxic water containing iron becomes reoxygenated, causing the coprecipitation and sedimentation of oxidized iron and phosphorus.

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jéssica Nayara de Carvalho Leite ◽  
Vanessa Becker

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to analyze the water quality of a tropical, semi-arid reservoir after a reflooding. In terms of impact on water quality after a drought event, it is expected that there will be improvements with the reflooding. Less algal biomass, increased water transparency, decreased turbidity and low nutrient concentration. Methods This study was performed in a tropical, semi-arid man-made lake (Dourado Reservoir), during an extended drought period. This study consisted of a comparison of three distinct periods determined by water accumulation. The limnological variables, including water transparency, turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a were analyzed. A principal component analysis (PCA) was also performed to verify the patterns of the variables in relation to the sample units in the studied periods. Results After water renewal, there was an expressive reduction in chlorophyll-a. Electrical conductivity, pH, and turbidity variables also reduced after the reflooding, indicating an improvement in water quality. There was no reduction in total phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus after the reflooding compared to the previous periods. Conclusions The significant reduction in algal biomass after reflooding in Dourado indicates water quality improvement in terms of eutrophication due to the change of the trophic state from eutrophic to mesotrophic.


1986 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. McQueen ◽  
D.R.S. Lean

Abstract Hypolimnetic aerators are now being widely used throughout Europe and are beginning to appear in small and medium sized eutrophic lakes in temperate North America. This activity has produced approximately 42 published reports dealing with experiments conducted at 16 lakes. Taken together, the evidence from these experiments suggests that well designed aerators do not cause significant destratification or warming of hypolimnetic water, but do result in measurable Increases in hypolimnetic oxygen concentration and decreases in dissolved hydrogen sulfide, methane and ammonia. Early experiments suggested that phosphorus sedimentation was unpredictable, but recent work has demonstrated that when the ratio of total iron to soluble reactive phosphorus exceeds 10:1 and pH is < 7.5, phosphorus sedimentation is assured and internal loading greatly reduced. Early experiments also showed that ammonia volatilization was unpredictable, but at pH > 8.0, ammonia volatilization will occur. Because both phosphorus sedimentation and nitrogen reduction are pH dependent, both cannot be optimally removed during the same period of time and so the experimenter is advised to select for the maximum removal of one or the other through pH manipulation. Hypolimnetic aeration induces oxygen consumption and this must be considered when choosing an appropriate compressor size. Most studies show little impact on phytoplankton blomass, but one recent experiment showed that aeration during spring turnover resulted in reduced concentrations of chlorophyll a and TP. Zooplankton populations are, for the most part, unaffected and a number of American studies have shown that hypolimnetically aerated lakes can support cold water fish populations. The aggregate practical and experimental experience suggests that well designed hypolimnetic aeration systems yield measurable improvements in water quality and will almost certainly prove to be one of the major methods used for future in situ lake restoration.


Author(s):  
Alan D. Steinman ◽  
Michael Hassett ◽  
Maggie Oudsema

Reducing nonpoint source pollution is an ongoing challenge in watersheds throughout the world. Implementation of best management practices, both structural and nonstructural, is the usual response to this challenge, with the presumption that they are effective. However, monitoring of their efficacy is not a standard practice. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of two wetland restoration projects, designed to handle runoff during high flow events and serve as flow-through retention basins before returning flow further downstream. The Macatawa Watershed is located in west Michigan, is heavily agricultural, and drains into Lake Macatawa, a hypereutrophic lake with total phosphorus concentrations usually exceeding 100 µg/L. We measured turbidity, total phosphorus, and soluble reactive phosphorus both upstream and downstream of these wetland complexes during base flow and storm events. While both turbidity and phosphorus increased significantly during storm events compared to baseflow, we found no significant difference in upstream vs. downstream water quality two years following BMP construction. We also measured water quality in Lake Macatawa, and found the lake remained highly impaired. Possible reasons for the lack of improved water quality: (1) The restored wetlands are too young to function optimally in sediment and phosphorus retention; (2) the scale of these BMPs is too small given the overall loads; (3) the locations of these BMPs are not optimal in terms of pollutant reduction; and (4) the years following postconstruction were relatively dry so the wetlands had limited opportunity to retain pollutants. These possibilities are evaluated.


2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1342-1354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry J Scrimgeour ◽  
Patricia A Chambers

Large-scale patterns in epilithic biomass and nutrient status were evaluated at 33 sites located upstream and downstream of point-source anthropogenic effluents in the Athabasca and Wapiti-Smoky rivers in Alberta, Canada. Multiple regression showed that epilithic chlorophyll a was significantly (p < 0.0001) related to concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and marginally (p = 0.06) significantly related to soluble reactive phosphorus. Epilithic biomass was up to 50 times higher immediately downstream of point-source inputs compared with sites upstream and those 20-150 km downstream. Data from nutrient diffusing substrata showed that the epilithon at 18 of the 33 sites was nutrient limited, while 14 sites showed no nutrient limitation; interpretation of the remaining site was inconclusive. Of the 18 nutrient-limited sites, six were nitrogen limited, five were phosphorus limited, and seven were co-limited. Multiple discriminant function analysis showed that the combined concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved inorganic nitrogen was a significant discriminator between deplete and replete sites.


1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1093-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Taylor ◽  
J. W. Barko ◽  
W. F. James

Very different diel patterns of vertical migration in Ceratium hirundinella were observed during two midsummer periods of study in a north temperate reservoir. During the first study (29–30 July), Ceratium migrated within a 2-m-deep oxygenated zone, moving upward near to the surface during the day and downward to the oxic–anoxic interface at night. During the second study (7–8 August), Ceratium did not migrate towards the surface during the day. High photosynthetic oxygen production and mixing processes increased oxygen distribution from 2 to 3 m providing Ceratium with access to a significantly greater water volume, with a greater nutrient content. Riverine phosphorus loading during the week prior to the first study was about 10 times greater than during the week prior to the second study. Limiting cell phosphorus concentrations and no measurable soluble reactive phosphorus in the upper (0–3 m) water column suggested a relationship between phosphorus limitation and the cessation of positive phototaxis. Diel patterns of vertical migration in this species may be influenced by episodic variations in phosphorus and/or other nutrient loadings via riverine inputs as interflows to this reservoir.


1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 2059-2068 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. J. Stevens ◽  
M. A. Neilson

Total phosphorus (TP) loading to Lake Ontario has declined from 14 600 t∙yr−1 in 1969 to 8900 t∙yr−1 in 1982. Midlake spring TP has responded rapidly to these reductions, decreasing at the rate of 1.09 μg∙L−1∙yr−1 from a maximum of 30.6 μg∙L−1 in 1973 to 12.8 μg∙L−1 in 1982. Spring soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) exhibited a proportionally larger decrease than TP such that 1982 SRP was 33% of 1973 levels, compared with 42% for TP. A multiple regression equation indicated an 80% response time of spring TP within 2 yr and a 90% response time within 4 yr. Spring nitrate plus nitrite has increased since 1969 at the rate of 9.5 μg∙L−1∙yr−1 causing N:P ratios to increase from 10 to 32. Mean summer epilimnetic TP declined at the rate of only 0.3 μg∙L−1∙yr−1 from 1977 to 1982 so that mean summer TP levels now exceed spring TP by 1–2 μg∙L−1. This suggests that loading to the lake during the stratified period has not shown a similar decline and may be responsible for the lack of a trend in algal biomass indicators during this period.


2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Wade ◽  
P. G. Whitehead ◽  
D. Butterfield

Abstract. A new model has been developed for assessing the effects of multiple sources of phosphorus on the water quality and aquatic ecology in heterogeneous river systems. The Integrated Catchments model for Phosphorus (INCA-P) is a process-based, mass balance model that simulates the phosphorus dynamics in both the plant/soil system and the stream. The model simulates the spatial variations in phosphorus export from different land use types within a river system using a semi-distributed representation, thereby accounting for the impacts of different land management practices, such as organic and inorganic fertiliser and wastewater applications. The land phase of INCA-P includes a simplified representation of direct runoff, soilwater and groundwater flows, and the soil processes that involve phosphorus. In addition, the model includes a multi-reach in-stream component that routes water down the main river channel. It simulates Organic and Inorganic Phosphorus concentrations in the land phase, and Total Phosphorus (dissolved plus particulate phosphorus) concentrations in the in-stream phase. In-stream Soluble Reactive Phosphorus concentrations are determined from the Total Phosphorus concentrations and the macrophyte, epiphyte and algal biomasses are simulated also. This paper describes the model structure and equations, the limitations and the potential utility of the approach. Keywords: modelling, water quality, phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, basin management


2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Fundneider ◽  
L. Alejo ◽  
S. Lackner

Abstract Higher standards in the European Water Framework Directive and national directive demand advanced wastewater treatment for removal of nutrients and organic micropollutants before the discharge into water bodies. Systematic investigations regarding relative dosage and filtration processes for removal of flocculated solids are currently lacking. In this study, the performance of technologies for advanced removal of total phosphorus down to &lt;100 μg/L with pile cloth-filtration (CF) and membrane filtration was verified and synergy effects for the removal of other contaminants were identified. The results show that an over-stoichiometric addition of coagulants of &gt;5 mol Me3+/mol sRP was necessary to achieve soluble reactive phosphorus (sRP) concentrations of &lt;50 μg/L in the effluent. After the coupled process of tertiary phosphorus removal and solids removal, the soluble non-reactive phosphorus (sNRP) concentration regulates the lowest total phosphorus effluent concentration. sNRP is also partially, but not completely, removed by the use of coagulants. CF has proven to be an alternative technology for the removal of phosphorus and total suspended solids below the detection limit.


2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1813-1822 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Gabriel ◽  
D. Balla ◽  
T. Kalettka ◽  
S. Maassen

The cultivated riverine wetland region Spreewald faces detrimental changes in the hydrological conditions due to a significant discharge reduction. With its dense network of impounded waterways and a forced tendency of sedimentation of soluble reactive phosphorus adsorbed to large amounts of FeOH/FeOOH available from mining water and groundwater discharges the 320 km2 region is favoured to accumulate large amounts of total phosphorus (TR) and thus act as an effective phosphorus sink. The change of conditions strongly challenges this function hereafter. This is especially important because eutrophication of lakes downstream the Spreewald region is controlled by phosphorus. Phosphorus balances at a testfield situated in a polder area typical for the central Spreewald region point out that hydrological and consequently hydraulic conditions are the key factors for the phosphorus sink or source behaviour. This is true for the main processes determine P retention and release at the sediment-surface water transition zone as well as for the dominant phosphorus release and retention pathways: groundwater emissions and sedimentation. In the context of hydrological changes in the Spree river catchment results from point scale and river reach scale point out the need for an adapted water management in the Spreewald region to prevent risk of extended eutrophication tendencies downstream due to forced SRP emissions.


1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 804-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Basu ◽  
F. R. Pick

Planktonic chlorophyll a (chl-a) concentrations in the Rideau River, Ontario showed longitudinal and seasonal variation and ranged from 2 to 19 μg∙L−1. Chlorophyll a concentrations in the river were not simply a reflection of the concentrations in the headwaters. On movement from the lentic headwaters into the lotic river waters there was usually a significant decrease in chl-a concentration. Downstream there were reaches of net increase in chl-a (sources), reaches of no change in concentration, and reaches of net decrease (sinks). Increases in concentration only occurred over reaches with retention times of 72 h or longer. No increases in chl-a concentration occurred over a reach with a retention time less than 50 h. Chlorophyll a concentration was not significantly correlated with discharge. Chlorophyll a concentration was positively related to total phosphorus concentration (R2 = 0.15, p = 0.016). About 50% of the variation in chl-a concentration could be accounted for by a combination of total phosphorus, nitrate, and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations.


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