Artificial destratification effects on nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in a eutrophic impoundment in the northern Great Plains.

Abstract

To determine the influence of artificial destratification on nutrient variations in a small eutrophic impoundment, field monitoring and laboratory analyses were conducted in three consecutive summers (2010, 2011, and 2012). The impact of aeration among sampling locations and across the water column of nutrient concentrations, including total and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) was evaluated under aerated and non-aerated conditions. Aeration eliminated thermal stratification and DO concentrations of bottom waters increased. Nutrients including soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations across the water column did not change significantly during aeration. Nevertheless, under aerated conditions, dissolved inorganic nutrients, TN, TP, and temperature were homogenously distributed throughout the water column as an effect of aeration. Results indicated that artificial destratification resuspended nutrients throughout the water column; however, it did not have a significant effect on nutrient concentrations in the water column, but SRP, TN, and TP concentrations did not reach to the recommended limit as needed by the North Dakota Department of Health requirements. Therefore, alternative aeration methods, for instance, hypolimnetic oxygenation or hypolimnetic aeration are recommended to control nutrient redistribution and/or further releases by existing aeration system.