Past, Present, and Future Nutrient Quality of a Small Southeastern River: A Pre-Dam Assessment

Abstract

Riverine dams alter both the physical environment and water chemistry, thus affecting species assemblages within these environments. In the United States, dam construction is on the decline and there is a growing trend for dam removal. The Choctawhatchee, Pea, and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority had initiated the permitting process for placing a reservoir dam on the Little Choctawhatchee River (LCR), a tributary to the Choctawhatchee River. The purpose of the proposed reservoir was water supply, and while the permit application has been suspended, history shows that this or related projects are likely to arise in the future. This study collected data on nutrient quality seasonally (four times) from 12 sites in the LCR watershed from October 2007 to June 2008 in order to determine pre-dam conditions and to compare these data to historical and regional information. Historical and current nutrient concentrations were elevated throughout the watershed, in most cases above suggested criteria, and indicated that water quality of the river was and continues to be nutrient rich. A future reservoir at recent levels of water quality will likely be highly eutrophic, and anthropogenic influences will further stress this ecosystem and its water quality as the urban region expands.

Effects of landscape on the distributions of nutrients and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an urban river system

“…Water samples were adjusted to pH 7.0 in lab after they were acidified in sampling process, and the concentrations of ammonia (NH 3 -N), nitrate (NO 3 -N), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were analyzed with HACH DR 2800 spectrophotometer (HACH, Loveland, CO, USA) [25]. Average results of three replicates were used for further analyses.…”

Variabilidade climática, qualidade da água para abastecimento público e impactos à saúde

“…Correspondence Analyses confirmed a correlation between higher diatom densities and the increased photic zone following macrophyte removal. most cases above suggested criteria, and (Miller, J. M et al 2013) indicated that water quality of the river was and continues to be nutrient rich. A future reservoir at recent levels of water quality will likely be highly eutrophic, and anthropogenic influences will further stress this ecosystem and its water quality as the urban region expands.…”