Water Quality Assessment for the Proposed Water Supply Reservoir, Duck River, Cullman, Alabama

摘要

Enrichment of lakes with nutrients, organic matter, and sediment is a natural, long-term process referred to as eutrophication. This process often results in decreased water clarity, excessive algal production, reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations in bottom waters during stratified periods, and decreased volume. This process is greatly accelerated for lakes that are impacted by human activity in the watershed. Since reservoirs typically have relatively large and often extensively developed watersheds, they receive elevated loads of nutrients and sediment and are, therefore, highly susceptible to accelerated eutrophication (Kennedy, Thornton, and Ford 1985). Water quality studies conducted by TFL, Inc. and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) indicated that the proposed reservoir on the Duck River in Alabama has a potential for water quality problems associated with eutrophication. Excessive nutrients from the watershed were considered to be the source of the problems and a watershed management plan is in preparation to address the potential water quality problem and to develop control measures to reduce the nutrient loading to the proposed reservoir.