MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION OF NUTRIENT LOADING AND DISCHARGE FOR SEVERAL VIRGINIA LAKES

Nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay must be reduced to meet the requirements of the 2010 Chesapeake Bay TMDL. Lake fertilization is both an accepted management tool for fisheries enhancement and necessary when allochthones sources are limited. The problem is whether or not the addition of fertilizers to recreational fishing lakes is contributing to the nutrient loading of the Bay. This research project is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of four lakes in the watershed of the Bay: Lake Brittle, Lake Burke, Huntsman Lake and Lake Shenandoah. A fifth lake outside of the Bay watershed (Lake Keokee) is also being studied. The water chemistry of samples taken from the feeder streams, tail water, and locations within the lake is assayed and compared for the evaluation. This project involves both extensive field work for sample collection and laboratory analytical methods. Parameters include: total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, chlorophyll a, nitrogen nitrate, nitrogen ammonia, nitrogen TKN, pH, alkalinity, base cations, acid anions and physical measurements. Data obtained from the water chemistry analyses will be used to determine any significant release of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds due to fertilization and to better estimate the amount of fertilizer necessary for future applications to achieve the goals of fisheries management.

Additional Abstract Information

Student(s): Olivia Swahn

Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Downey, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Mr. William Latham, Dept. of Biology

Type: Poster

Year: 2018