Logo image
Effects of Small Ponds on Stream Water Chemistry
Journal article

Effects of Small Ponds on Stream Water Chemistry

G. Winfield Fairchild and David J. Velinsky
Lake and reservoir management, v 22(4), pp 321-330
01 Dec 2006

Abstract

headwater streams impoundments N:P ratios nutrient retention ponds
In many regions, small constructed ponds greatly exceed natural lakes in number and aggregate area. Many of these ponds are impoundments of small streams. Their effect in modifying stream water chemistry, however, remains poorly understood. Here we compare 19 physicochemical variables upstream vs. downstream of 11 ponds, sampled in March, May and July. The ponds greatly reduced inflow concentrations of SiO 2 (by 71%), NO 3 − (by 82%) and PO 4 3− (by 46%), while exporting water of higher pH, alkalinity and dissolved oxygen content, and much higher quantities of particulate and dissolved organic C, N and P than were present upstream. Higher % removals of NO 3 − and SiO 2 were observed in ponds with longer hydraulic residence times. Based on ambient N:P ratios, algal periphyton below the ponds were likely P limited, but differential transformations of the components of total N vs. total P within the ponds greatly reduced N:P ratios downstream.

Metrics

9 Record Views
50 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#15 Life on Land
#6 Clean Water and Sanitation
#14 Life Below Water

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Limnology
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Water Resources
Logo image