Sediment resuspension: rescue or downfall of a thermally stratified eutrophic lake?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of sediment resuspension, a common phenomenon in many lakes, on the phosphorus budget of a eutrophicated lake. We used two different approaches, mass balance calculations and spatially comprehensive resuspension measurements, to determine the level of phosphorus loading from which rehabilitation action is started in a dimictic north temperate lake. The effect of resuspension was assumed to be significant, since it often is a governing process for cycling of material in lakes. Internal loading was multifold to that of external loading as determined by the budget calculation. Spatially comprehensive sedimentation and resuspension measurements were necessary, since deep site versus spatially comprehensive measurements had a marked difference in their results. Resuspension of P slightly exceeded the internal loading assessed by budget calculations and thereby proved its significance as a governing in-lake process that influences P cycling strongly. The shallow areas were of importance, since most of the total P load originated from there. The fate of P after resuspension depends on the retention capacity of resuspended particles in addition to prevailing biological and physico-chemical conditions. Therefore, sediment resuspension can either strengthen or diminish internal nutrient load and the processes of the shallow zones are of importance.