Phosphorus Retention Capacity of Lakes

Authors:
  • DLD. P. Larsen
    D. P. Larsen
  • HMH. T. Mercier
    H. T. Mercier
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Abstract
Mean annual lake phosphorus concentrations [ ] in a steady state system can be described as a function of two variables, the mean annual influent P concentration and the net annual P sedimentation: [ ] (see Rigler 1975). [ ] is the annual P supply/annual water supply and Rp is that fraction of inflowing P retained by the sediments annually. Since Rp is critical in determining [ ], lake properties were examined for their influence on Rp; the best fit empirical expressions developed related Rp to either areal water supply (annual water inflow rate/lake surface area) or hydraulic washout coefficient (annual water outflow rate/lake volume). The expressions were derived from characteristics of low productivity lakes; their validity for more productive lakes was not examined.A graph of [ ] vs. Rp is proposed to illustrate the relationship between [ ], [ ], and Rp, and, if lake P concentrations are used as measures of trophic state, this graph is useful for predicting trophic state and changes in trophic state caused by altering [ ] and/or Rp. It is conceptually similar to those of Vollenweider (1975) and Dillon (1975) but differs in that it separates the potential lake concentration ([ ] would be equal to [ ] if P were conservative) from those factors acting to reduce [ ], expressed as Rp, to produce lake concentrations.

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