Ecosystem Modeling Applied to Nutrient Criteria Development in Rivers |
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Authors: | James N Carleton Richard A Park Jonathan S Clough |
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Institution: | (1) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA;(2) Eco Modeling, Diamondhead, MS 39525, USA;(3) Warren Pinnacle Consulting, Inc., Warren, VT 05674, USA |
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Abstract: | Threshold concentrations for biological impairment by nutrients are difficult to quantify in lotic systems, yet States and
Tribes in the United States are charged with developing water quality criteria to protect these ecosystems from excessive
enrichment. The analysis described in this article explores the use of the ecosystem model AQUATOX to investigate impairment
thresholds keyed to biological indexes that can be simulated. The indexes selected for this exercise include percentage cyanobacterial
biomass of sestonic algae, and benthic chlorophyll a. The calibrated model was used to analyze responses of these indexes
to concurrent reductions in phosphorus, nitrogen, and suspended sediment in an enriched upper Midwestern river. Results suggest
that the indexes would respond strongly to changes in phosphorus and suspended sediment, and less strongly to changes in nitrogen
concentration. Using simulated concurrent reductions in all three water quality constituents, a total phosphorus concentration
of 0.1 mg/l was identified as a threshold concentration, and therefore a hypothetical water quality criterion, for prevention
of both excessive periphyton growth and sestonic cyanobacterial blooms. This kind of analysis is suggested as a way to evaluate
multiple contrasting impacts of hypothetical nutrient and sediment reductions and to define nutrient criteria or target concentrations
that balance multiple management objectives concurrently.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the authors alone, and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or of the U.S. Government. |
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Keywords: | AQUATOX Cyanobacteria Ecosystem model Nutrient criteria Periphyton Phytoplankton Water quality standards |
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