Empirical Methods for Predicting Eutrophication in Impoundments. Report 4. Phase III. Applications Manual.

Abstract : This report describes simplified procedures for assessment and prediction of eutrophication-related water quality conditions on Corps of Engineer (CE) reservoirs. Three computer programs have been written to facilitate data reduction and model implementation. Common measures of eutrophication include total nutrient concentrations (phosphorus and nitrogen), chlorophyll-a (a measure of algal density), Secchi depth (a measure of transparency), organic nutrient forms (nitrogen and carbon), and hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen depletion. The basis of the modeling approach described is to relate eutrophication symptoms to external nutrient loadings, hydrology, and reservoir morphometry using statistical models derived from a representative cross section of reservoirs. For existing reservoirs, the relationships provide a framework for interpreting water quality monitoring data and predicting effects of future changes in external nutrient loadings. The models can also be used to predict water quality conditions in a proposed reservoir.