Lake restoration with and without dredging of phosphorus-enriched upper sediment layers

Human activity has been the cause of continuing decline of water quality in most Dutch lakes. Development of lake restoration programmes must take into account the lake functions. Major reduction of the nutrient and pollutant loading is the primary step in lake restoration. Still, the recovery of eutrophic lakes is retarded frequently because of internal phosphorus loading by the lakes' sediments. Sediment dredging, as an additional tool for water quality management to accelerate accomplishing the desired water quality, is studied. In this paper we evaluate the preliminary results of eight lake restoration projects in the Netherlands. The lakes are compared in order to estimate the magnitude of the internal phosphorus loading. Dredging as an additional measure was carried out twice in the peatlake Geerplas. In the Nieuwkoop Lakes only the external phosphorus loading was substantially reduced from 0.9 to 0.2 g P m^–2 y^–1. Provisional results of these two shallow peatlake restoration projects focussed on eutrophication abatement with and without dredging, are presented. Both show a decrease in phosphorus concentration in the lakes. The necessity to dredge the lakes is discussed.     

Lake Trehörningen restoration project. Changes in water quality after sediment dredging

An increased load of domestic wastewater to Lake Trehörningen induced oxygen-poor water conditions and the development of a reduced sulphide-rich sediment layer. Severely polluted, the lake did not recover, even after advanced wastewater treatment and sewage diversion. Restoration measures with suction dredging and macrophyte elimination were applied in 1975 and 1976. The loose topmost sediment was pumped into an embanked and overgrown bay which was used as a settling pond. The activities also included a restoration of the shorelines. This project is the largest restoration programme carried out in Sweden on a single lake, corresponding to a cost of about US $2 000 000.

The restoration of Lake Trehörningen was followed by a highly intensive research programme which included water chemistry and algal assays. The concentrations of phosphate and total phosphorus decreased by 73 and 50% respectively, as summer average values, two years after the restoration. However, the concentrations of phosphorus are still too high to permit this element to act as a prime algal growth-limiting nutrient. The algal biomass has also remained at the same magnitude as before the restoration. Nitrate-N concentrations showed a tenfold increase, based on average values for the summer period. However, based on the results of the algal assays, a rapid and marked response was obvious, with a drastic decline in the algal growth potential.

In addition, the water quality of the tributaries was frequently of an objectionable character (0.1–0.2 g P m⁻³). The nutrient loading from these sources exceeds the critical level for the lake, and measures have now been carried out to treat all the inflowing waters for the removal of phosphorus.

     

Lake restoration using a reed swamp to remove nutrients from non-point sources

The reed swamp adjacent to Lake Glumsø was partly separated from the lake by a dam and the inflow to the reed swamp controlled by pumping from the tributary. An investigation of the nutrient balances for the reed swamp showed an average daily denitrification rate of 252 mg/m2 from August 1988 to March 1989. Mineralization of the peat took place simultaneously, in sufficient amounts to supply carbon for the denitrification process. Ammonia and phosphorus were released in the ratio 7:1, corresponding to 111 mg N and 16 mg P/m²/ day. Most of the ammonia was nitrified and denitrified (included in the above mentioned denitrification rate). The net release of phosphorus implies that the method only can be applied satisfactorily in situations where nitrogen is the limiting nutrient. This is the case for Lake Glumso during the summer period, but not during the spring.This paper was presented at the INTECOL IV International Wetlands Conference in Columbus, Ohio, 1992, as part of a session organized by Prof. S. E. Jørgensen and sponsored by the International Lake Environment Committee.Corresponding Editor: Prof K. R. Reddy     

高原湖泊流域国土空间生态修复优先区诊断及修复研究

高原湖泊流域是高原地区人类活动的重要载体,兼具高生态价值和高脆弱性的特点。随着高原湖泊流域城市化和工业化发展加速,湖泊面积萎缩,污染加剧,流域生态环境受损严重,引发了一系列生态环境问题,如水土流失、水污染、湿地退化、生境质量下降等。亟需开展生态修复以平衡经济发展与生态环境保护之间关系,而基于整体保护与系统治理思维诊断并修复生态修复优先区,是科学有序推进国土空间生态保护与修复的重要抓手。基于此,研究以高原湖泊流域典型代表滇池流域为例,利用人类足迹和景观生态风险模型定量评估生态系统所受负向干扰,以最小累积阻力模型和电路理论构建流域生态网络;提取生态网络受负向干扰较高的关键区域为生态修复优先区并提出针对性修复措施。研究表明：(1)滇池流域人类干扰和生态风险整体较高,人类干扰整体呈核心—边缘递减的圈层式分布,中高生态风险占据了绝大部分区域。人类交通网络大幅扩展了人类干扰和生态风险的强度和深度;(2)区域生态网络呈典型湖泊生态网络特点,38条生态廊道呈放射状或环状分布,连通湖区、山区两大生态空间内共23块生态源地,保障区域生态安全;(3)研究共提取生态源地修复优先区73.83km²     

The eutrophication history of Lake Särkinen,Finland and the effects of lake aeration

Lake Särkinen is a small lake in the parish of Sotkamo, Finland. The lake has been strongly enriched since the middle of the 1960's. The nutrient load was greatly reduced in 1969 and aeration was started in 1980.According to ²¹⁰Pb dating sediment accumulation rates are lowest (ca 9 mg cm^–2 yr^–1) between about 1920 and 1960. Thereafter they rise to the present level (22 mg cm^–2 yr^–1).The diatom flora indicates rising eutrophy from the beginning of the 20th century and again in the 1950–60's period. The surface sample, which represents the 1980's, shows a change in diatom flora indicating lake recovery. Changes in nutrient concentrations and in the solubility of phosphorus in the sediments indicate signs of oxygen depletion.     

A mathematical model of the phosphorus cycle in Lake Loosdrecht and simulation of additional measures

The phosphorus cycle in the ecosystem of the shallow, hypertrophic Loosdrecht lakes (The Netherlands) was simulated by means of the dynamic eutrophication model PCLOOS. The model comprises three algal groups, zooplankton, fish, detritus, zoobenthos, sediment detritus and some inorganic phosphorus fractions. All organic compartments are modelled in two elements, carbon and phosphorus. Within the model system, the phosphorus cycle is considered as completely closed. Carbon and phosphorus are described independently, so that the dynamics of the P/C ratios can be modelled. The model has been partly calibrated by a method based on Bayesian statistics combined with a Range Check procedure.Simulations were carried out for Lake Loosdrecht for the periods before and after the restoration measures in 1984, which reduced the external phosphorus loading to the lake from ca. 2 mgP m^–2 d^–1 to 1 mgP m^–2 d^–1. The model outcome was largely comparable withthe measured data. Total phosphorus has slowly decreased from an average 130 µgP l^–1 to ca. 80 µgP l^–1, but chlorophyll-a (ca. 150 µg 1^–1, summer-averaged) and seston concentrations (8–15 mgC 1^–1) hardly changed since the restoration measures. About two-thirds of the seston consisted of detritus, while the phytoplankton remained dominated by filamentous cyanobacteria. The P/C ratio of the seston decreased from ca. 1.0% to 0.7%, while the P/C ratios of zooplankton, zoobenthos and fish have remained constant and are much higher. The system showed a delayed response to the decreased phosphorus loading until a new equilibrium was reached in ca. five years. Major reasons for the observed resilience of the lake in responding to the load reduction are the high phosphorus assimilation efficiency of the cyanobacteria and the high internal recycling of phosphorus. A further reduction of nutrient loading, perhaps in combination with additional measures like biomanipulation, will be the most fruitful additional restoration measure.     

Nitrogen mass balances and denitrification rates in central Ontario Lakes

Nitrogen mass balances for seven unproductive lakes and 20 forested catchments in central Ontario were measured between 1977 and 1989. Average annual lake denitrification rates calculated with the N/P ratio method were strongly correlated with summer anoxic factor (extent of surficial sediment anoxia) whereas denitrification rates calculated with a²¹⁰Pb sediment N accumulation method were poorly correlated with the anoxic factor suggesting that the N/P method is superior. Substantial denitrification occurred in all lakes — an average of 36% of TN inputs or 75% of the net gain. On a regional area-weighted basis, 67% of bulk atmospheric TN deposition was stored or denitrified terrestrially, 12% was denitrified in lakes, 4% was stored in lake sediments, and 17% was exported from lakes. N/P ratios were generally less in streams than in precipitation suggesting preferential N retention in catchments, whereas the N/P ratios in lake outputs were slightly higher than lake input ratios, suggesting preferential P retention in lakes. This is consistent with the notion that P-limited lakes can exist adjacent to N-limited forests.     

Ecological interactions in a shallow sand-pit lake (Lake Créteil,Parisian Basin,France): a modelling approach

A large data set (n = 154) of phytoplankton production and biomass in relation to physico-chemical environmental factors was collected from 1979 to 1986 in a recently created sand-pit lake (Paris suburbs). These data are well suited to interpret the oligotrophication observed along the 8 years period, characterized by a regular decrease in chlorophyll (from 16 to 4 µg l^-1 as annual averages).A model describing the ecological functioning of the lake has been established. Biological processes related to phyto-, bacterio- and zooplankton as well as sediment-water interactions, are described within several submodels. Most of the parameters involved were determined by in situ measurements in this or similar environments The model provides a good simulation of observed data and confirms that the reduction of nutrient loading, resulting from the diversion — in 1981 — of a sewer previously discharging into the lake, was responsible for the oligotrophication of the system. The model allows to explore the response of planktonic compartments accross a gradient of nutrient loading. The role of hydrology is also tested. The systematic run of the model with and without zooplankton leads to a better understanding of top-down control.     

Response of a eutrophic, shallow subtropical lake to reduced nutrient loading

1. Lake Apopka (FL, U.S.A.) was subjected to decades of high nutrient loading from farms developed in the 1940s on converted riparian wetlands. Consequences included perennially high densities of cyanobacteria, low water transparency, elimination of submerged vegetation, modified fish community, and deposition of nutrient‐rich, flocculent sediments. 2. Initial steps were taken to reduce phosphorus (P) loading. Through strengthened regulation and purchase of farms for restoration, external P loading was reduced on average from 0.56 to 0.25 g P m^?2 year^?1 (55%) starting in 1993. The P loading target for the lake is 0.13 g P m^?2 year^?1. 3. For the first 6 years of P loading reduction the annual sedimentation coefficient (σ) averaged 13% less than the prior long‐term value (0.97 versus 1.11 year^?1). The sedimentation coefficient, σ, was lower in the last 3 years of the study, but this period included extreme low‐water conditions and may not be representative. Annual σ was negative (net P flux to the water column) only 1 year. 4. Wind velocity explained 43% of the variation in σ during the period before reductions in total phosphorus (TP) concentration of lake water, but this proportion dropped to 6% after TP reductions. 5. Annual mean TP concentrations differed considerably from values predicted from external loading and hydraulic retention time using the Vollenweider–Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development relationship. Reductions in lake water TP concentration fit model predictions better when multiyear (3‐year) mean values were used. 6. Evidence available to date indicates that this shallow, eutrophic lake responded to the decrease in external P loading. Neither recycling of sediment P nor wind‐driven resuspension of sediments prevented improvements in water quality. Reductions in TP concentration were evident about two TP‐resident times (2 × 0.9 year) after programmes began to reduce P loading. Improvements in concentrations of chlorophyll a and total suspended solids as well as in Secchi transparency lagged changes in lake‐water TP concentration but reached similar magnitudes during the study.     

Fish manipulation as a lake restoration tool in shallow,eutrophic temperate lakes 1: cross-analysis of three Danish case-studies

The use of fish manipulation as a tool for lake restoration in eutrophic lakes has been investigated since 1986 in three shallow, eutrophic Danish lakes. The lakes differ with respect to nutrient loading and nutrient levels (130–1000 μg P l⁻¹, 1–6 mg N l⁻¹). A 50% removal of planktivorous fish in the less eutrophic cyanobacteria-diatom dominated Lake V?ng caused marked changes in lower trophic levels, phosphorus concentration and transparency. Only minor changes occurred after a 78% removal of planktivorous fish in eutrophic cyanobacteria dominated Frederiksborg Castle Lake. In the hypertrophic, green algae dominated Lake S?byg?rd a low recruitment of all fish species and a 16% removal of fish biomass created substantial changes in trophic structure, but no decrease in phosphorus concentration. The different response pattern is interpreted as (1) a difference in density and persistence of bloomforming cyanobacteria caused by between-lake variations in nutrient levels and probably also mixing- and flushing rates, (2) a difference in specific loss rates through sedimentation of the algal community prevaling after the fish manipulation, (3) a decreased impact of planktivorous fish with increasing mean depth and (4) a lake specific difference in ability to create a self-increasing reduction in the phosphorus level in the lake water. This in turn seems related to the phosphorus loading.     

湖泊生态恢复的基本原理与实现

当前我国湖泊污染及富营养化问题非常严重。湖泊治理的一个有效途径就是恢复水生植物,通过草型湖泊生态系统的培植来达到控制富营养化和净化水质的目的。但是,迄今为止,只有在局部水域或滨岸地区获得成功,恢复的水生植物主要是挺水植物或漂浮植物。鲜有全湖性的水生植物恢复和生态修复成功的例子。原因是对湖泊生态系统退化及其修复的机理了解甚少。实际上,环境条件不同决定了生态系统类型的不同,只有通过环境条件的改变才能实现生态系统的转变。利用草型湖泊生态系统来净化水质,其实质是利用生态系统对环境条件的反馈机制。但是,这种反馈无法从根本上改变其环境条件,因此其作用是有限的,不宜过分夸大。以往许多湖泊生态修复的工作之所以鲜有成功的例子,原因就是过于注重水生植物种植本身,而忽视了水生植物生长所需的环境条件的分析和改善。实施以水生植物恢复为核心的生态修复需要一定的前提条件。就富营养化湖泊生态恢复而言,这些环境条件包括氮磷浓度不能太高,富含有机质的沉积物应该去除,风浪不能太大以免对水生植物造成机械损伤,水深不能太深以免影响水生植物光合作用,鱼类种群结构应以食肉性鱼为主等等。因此,在湖泊污染很重或者氮磷负荷很高的情况下,寻求以沉水植物为核心的湖泊生态恢复来改善水质是不切实际的。为此,提出湖泊治理应该遵循先控源截污、后生态恢复,即先改善基础环境,后实施生态恢复的战略路线。     

Nitrogen dynamics and microbial food web structure during a summer cyanobacterial bloom in a subtropical,shallow, well-mixed,eutrophic lake (Lake Taihu,China)

Nitrogen dynamics and microbial food web structure were characterized in subtropical, eutrophic, large (2,338 km²), shallow (1.9 m mean depth), and polymictic Lake Taihu (China) in Sept–Oct 2002 during a cyanobacterial bloom. Population growth and industrialization are factors in trophic status deterioration in Lake Taihu. Sites for investigation were selected along a transect from the Liangxihe River discharge into Meiliang Bay to the main lake. Water column nitrogen and microbial food web measurements were combined with sediment–water interface incubations to characterize and identify important processes related to system nitrogen dynamics. Results indicate a gradient from strong phosphorus limitation at the river discharge to nitrogen limitation or co-limitation in the main lake. Denitrification in Meiliang Bay may drive main lake nitrogen limitation by removing excess nitrogen before physical transport to the main lake. Five times higher nutrient mineralization rates in the water column versus sediments indicate that sediment nutrient transformations were not as important as water column processes for fueling primary production. However, sediments provide a site for denitrification, which, along with nitrogen fixation and other processes, can determine available nutrient ratios. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) was important, relative to denitrification, only at the river discharge site, and nitrogen fixation was observed only in the main lake. Reflecting nitrogen cycling patterns, microbial food web structure shifted from autotrophic (phytoplankton dominated) at the river discharge to heterotrophic (bacteria dominated) in and near the main lake.     

Carbon burial by shallow lakes on the Yangtze floodplain and its relevance to regional carbon sequestration

Floodplain lakes may play an important role in the cycling of organic matter at the landscape scale. For those lakes on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze (MLY) floodplain which are subjected to intense anthropogenic disturbance, carbon burial rates should, theoretically, be substantial due to the high nutrient input, increased primary production and high sediment accumulation rates. There are more than 600 lakes >1 km² on the Yangtze floodplain including 18 lakes >100 km² and most are shallow and eutrophic. ²¹⁰Pb‐dated cores were combined with total organic carbon (TOC) analyses to determine annual C accumulation rates (C AR; g C m^?2 yr^?1) and the total C stock (since ~1850). The sediment TOC content is relatively low with an average <2% in most lakes. C AR ranged from ~5 to 373 g C m^?2 yr^?1, resulting in C standing stocks of 0.60–15.3 kg C m^?2 (mean: ~5 kg C m^?2) since ~1850. A multicore study of Chaohu lake (770 km²) indicated that spatial variability of C burial was not a significant problem for regional upscaling. The possible effect of changes in lake size and catchment land use on C burial was examined at Taibai lake and indicated that lake shrinkage and declining arable agriculture had limited effects on C AR. The organic C standing stock in individual lakes is, however, significantly dependent on lake size, allowing a simple linear scaling for all the MLY lakes. Total regional C sequestration was ~80 Tg C since ~1850, equivalent to ~11% of C sequestration by soils, but in ~3% of the land area. Shallow lakes from MLY are a substantial regional C sink, although strong mineralization occurs due to their shallow nature and their role as C sinks is threatened due to lake drainage.     

Impact of drying and re-wetting on N,P and K dynamics in a wetland soil

As increased nutrient availability due to drainage is considered a major cause of eutrophication in wetlands rewetting of drained wetlands is recommended as a restoration measure. The effect of soil drying and rewetting on the contribution of various nutrient release or transformation processes to changed nutrient availability for plants is however weakly understood. We measured effects of soil drying and re-wetting on N mineralization, and denitrification, as well as on release of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), phosphorus, and potassium in incubated soil cores from a wet meadow in southern Sweden. Additionally, the impact of re-wetting with sulphate-enriched water was studied. Soil drying stimulated N mineralization (3 times higher) and reduced denitrification (5 times lower) compared to continuously wet soil. In the wet cores, denitrification increased to 20 mg N m^–2 d^–1, which was much higher than denitrification measured in the field. In the field, increased inorganic-N availability for plants due to drainage seemed primarily to be caused by increased N mineralization, and less by decreased denitrification. Soil drying also stimulated the release of DON and K, but P release was not affected. Re-wetting of dried soil cores strongly stimulated denitrification (up to 160 mg N m^–2 d^–1), but N mineralization was not significantly decreased, neither were DON or K release. In contrast, the extractable P pool increased upon soil wetting. Re-wetting with sulphate-enriched water had no effect on any of the nutrient release or transformation rates. We conclude that caution is required in re-wetting of drained wetlands, because it may unintendently cause internal eutrophication through an increased P availability for plants.     

Trophic status of Tilitso,a high altitude Himalayan lake

The trophic status and water quality of Lake Tilitso (4920 m above sea level) in a high altitude region in central Nepal were surveyed in September, 1984. The lake is rather large with a maximum depth of 95 m and a surface area of 10.2 km². The lake water was turbid due to glacier silt and the euphotic layer was only 5 m deep. The nutrient concentration was very low with total phosphorus concentration 1–6 μg l⁻¹, and DTN concentration 0.10–0.22 mg l⁻¹. The phytoplankton biomass and chlorophyll-a concentration were also low. Primary production was estimated to be about 12 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹. The concentrations of particulate matter and most cations and bacterial number were higher in the epilimnion than in the hypolimnion. The trophic status of this lake was estimated as ultraoligotrophic.     

Retention of nutrients in river basins

In Denmark, as in many other European countries, the diffuse losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the rural landscape are the major causes of surface water eutrophication and groundwater pollution. The export of total N and total P from the Gjern river basin amounted to 18.2 kg ha^–1 and 0.63 kg P ha^–1 during June 1994 to May 1995. Diffuse losses of N and P from agricultural areas were the main nutrient source in the river basin contributing 76% and 51%, respectively, of the total export.Investigations of nutrient cycling in the Gjern river basin have revealed the importance of permanent nutrient sinks (denitrification and overbank sedimentation) and temporary nutrient storage in watercourses. Temporary retention of N and P in the watercourses thus amounted to 7.2–16.1 g N m^–2 yr^–1 and 3.7–8.3 g P m^–2 yr–1 during low-flow periods. Deposition of P on temporarily flooded riparian areas amounted from 0.16 to 6.50 g P m^–2 during single irrigation and overbank flood events, whereas denitrification of nitrate amounted on average to 7.96 kg N yr^–1 per running metre watercourse in a minerotrophic fen and 1.53 kg N yr^–1 per linear metre watercourse in a wet meadow. On average, annual retention of N and P in 18 Danish shallow lakes amounted to 32.5 g N m^–2 yr^–1 and 0.30 g P m^–2 yr^–1, respectively, during the period 1989–1995.The results indicate that permanent nutrient sinks and temporary nutrient storage in river systems represent an important component of river basin nutrient budgets. Model estimates of the natural retention potential of the Gjern river basin revealed an increase from 38.8 to 81.4 tonnes yr^–1 and that P-retention increased from –0.80 to 0.90 tonnes yr^–1 following restoration of the water courses, riparian areas and a shallow lake. Catchment management measures such as nature restoration at the river basin scale can thus help to combat diffuse nutrient pollution.     

Whole-lake food-web manipulation as a means to study community interactions in a small ecosystem

Whole-lake food-web manipulation was carried out in the hypertrophic Lake Zwemlust (The Netherlands), with the aim of studying the effects on the lake's trophic status and to gain an insight into complex interactions among lake communities. Before manipulation this small (1.5 ha) and shallow (1.5 m) lake was characterized byMicrocystis blooms in summer and high chlorophyll-a concentrations were common (ca. 250 μg 1⁻¹). In March 1987 the planktivorous and benthivorous fish species in the lake were completely removed (ca. 1000 kg ha⁻¹), a new simple fish community (pike and rudd) was introduced and artificial refuges were created. The effects of this manipulation on the light climate, nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, macrophytes, and macrofauna were monitored during 1987, 1988 and 1989. Community interactions were investigated in phytoplankton bioassays and zooplankton grazing experiments. After the manipulation, despite the still high P and N loads to the lake (ca. 2.2 g P m⁻² y⁻¹ andca. 5.3 g N m⁻² y⁻¹), the phytoplankton density was low (Chl-a<5μg l⁻¹), due to control by large-sized zooplankton in spring and N-limitation in summer and autumn. A marked increase in the abundance of macrophytes and filamentous green algae in 1988 and 1989, as well as N loss due to denitrification, contributed to the N limitation of the phytoplankton. Before manipulation no submerged macro-vegetation was present but in 1988, the second year after manipulation, about 50% of the lake bottom was covered by macrophytes increasing to 80% in 1989. This led to substantial accumulation of both N and P, namely 76% and 73% respectively of the total nutrients in the lake in particulate matter. Undesirable features of the increase in macrophytes were: 1) direct nuisance to swimmers; and, 2) the large scale development of snails, especiallyL. peregra, which may harbour the parasite causing ‘swimmers' itch’. But harvesting of only about 3% of the total macrophyte biomass from the swimmers' area, twice a year, reduced the nuisance for swimmers without adversely affecting the water clarity.     

Denitrification Potential in Lake Sediment Increases Across a Gradient of Catchment Agriculture

Intensification of catchment agriculture has increased nutrient loads and accelerated eutrophication in some lakes, often resulting in episodic harmful algal blooms or prolonged periods of anoxia. The influence of catchment agriculture on lake sediment denitrification capacity as a nitrogen (N) removal mechanism in lakes is largely unknown, particularly in contrast to research on denitrification in agricultural streams and rivers. We measured denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) to assess sediment denitrification potential in seven monomictic and three polymictic lakes that range in the proportion of agriculture in the catchment from 3 to 96% to determine if there is a link between agricultural land use in the lake catchment and sediment denitrification potential. We collected sediment cores for DEA measurements over 3 weeks in austral spring 2008 (October–November). Lake Okaro, with 96% catchment agriculture, had approximately 15 times higher DEA than Lake Tikitapu, with 3% catchment agriculture (232.2 ± 55.9 vs. 15.9 ± 4.5 μg N gAFDM⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively). Additionally, sediment denitrification potential increased with the proportion of catchment in agriculture (R ² = 0.85, P < 0.001). Our data suggest that lakes retain a high capacity to remove excess N via denitrification under increasing N loads from higher proportions of catchment agriculture. However, evidence from the literature suggests that despite a high capacity for denitrification and longer water residence times, lakes with high N loads will still remove a smaller proportion of their N load. Lakes have a denitrification potential that reflects the condition of the lake catchment, but more measurements of in situ denitrification rates across lake catchments is necessary to determine if this capacity translates to high N removal rates.     

Modeling impacts of Yangtze River water transfer on water ages in Lake Taihu, China

To improve water quality and alleviate eutrophication in Lake Taihu, the third largest freshwater lake in China, a Yangtze River water transfer project was initiated in 2002 to bring water from the Yangtze River to Lake Taihu to dilute and divert pollutants out of the lake. We used a three-dimensional numerical model, Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code, to study the impacts of water transfer on the transport of dissolved substances in the lake by using the concept of water age. In particular, the influences of inflow tributaries and wind forcing on water age were investigated. Model results showed that the effect of water transfer on transport processes in the lake is strongly influenced by hydrodynamic conditions induced by wind and inflow/outflow tributaries. During the simulation year (2005), the water ages in Lake Taihu were highly variable both spatially and temporally, with a mean of approximately 130 days in summer and 230 days in the other seasons. Southeasterly winds—dominant in the summer—could improve the quality of water by reducing the water age in the eastern areas of the lake, which are used as a drinking water source, and in Meiliang Bay, the most polluted bay. In terms of dilution, the most efficient flow rate for transferred water was predicted to be approximately 100 m³/s. The spatial distribution of water ages showed that water transfer may preferentially enhance exchanges in some areas of the lake unless nutrient concentrations in the transferred water are reduced to a reasonable level. This study provides useful information for a better understanding of the complex hydrodynamic and mass transport processes in the lake, which is important for developing and implementing effective ecological restoration strategies in the region.     

Paleolimnological evaluation of historical trophic state conditions in hypereutrophic Lake Thonotosassa, Florida, USA

We used paleolimnological methods to evaluate historical water quality in Lake Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Sediment mapping shows that organic deposits are unevenly distributed in the lake. Two short (<130 cm) sediment cores from the depositional zone were analyzed for radioisotopes (²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁶Ra, and ¹³⁷Cs), bulk density, organic matter concentration, nutrients (C,N,P), and diatoms. ²¹⁰Pb results indicate that the profiles represent > 100 years of sediment accumulation. There is an abrupt change in sediment composition at about the turn of the century (80 cm depth), above which bulk density decreases and concentrations of organic matter, total C, total N, total P, and ²²⁶Ra activity increase. Diatom-based reconstructions of historical water-column trophic conditions indicate progressive nutrient enrichment in the lake during the past 100 years. Stratigraphic changes in diatom assemblages suggest that anthropogenic nutrient loading converted Lake Thonotosassa from a naturally eutrophic system to a hypereutrophic waterbody after 1900. Given the edaphic setting of Lake Thonotosassa, efforts to mitigate recent anthropogenic impacts will, at best, yield the eutrophic conditions that characterized the lake prior to human disturbance. This study illustrates the importance of paleolimnological data for targeting realistic water quality conditions when lake restoration is contemplated.Journal Series No. R-05019 of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station