U.S. Geological Survey
Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4025
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Sediment Deposition and Occurrence of Selected Nutrients, Other Chemical
Constituents, and Diatoms in Bottom Sediment, Perry Lake, Northeast Kansas,
1969–2001
By Kyle E. Juracek
A combination of bathymetric surveying and bottom-sediment coring was used
to investigate sediment deposition and the occurrence of selected nutrients
(total nitrogen and total phosphorus), organic and total carbon, 26 metals and
trace elements, 15 organochlorine compounds, 1 radionuclide, and diatoms in
bottom sediment of Perry Lake, northeast Kansas. The total estimated volume
and mass of bottom sediment deposited from 1969 through 2001 in the original
conservation-pool area of the lake was 2,470 million cubic feet (56,700 acre-feet)
and 97,200 million pounds (44,100 million kilograms), respectively. The estimated
sediment volume occupied about 23 percent of the original conservation-pool,
water-storage capacity of the lake. Mean annual net sediment deposition since
1969 was estimated to be 3,040 million pounds (1,379 million kilograms). Mean
annual sediment yield from the Perry Lake Basin was estimated to be 2,740,000
pounds per square mile (4,798 kilograms per hectare).
The estimated mean annual net loads of total nitrogen and total phosphorus deposited
in the bottom sediment of Perry Lake were 7,610,000 pounds per year (3,450,000
kilograms per year) and 3,350,000 pounds per year (1,520,000 kilograms per year),
respectively. The estimated mean annual yields of total nitrogen and total phosphorus
from the Perry Lake Basin were 6,850 pounds per square mile per year (12.0 kilograms
per hectare per year) and 3,020 pounds per square mile per year (5.29 kilograms
per hectare per year), respectively. A statistically significant positive trend
for total nitrogen deposition in the bottom sediment of Perry Lake was indicated.
However, the trend may be due solely to analytical variance. No statistically
significant trend for total phosphorus deposition was indicated. Overall, the
transport and deposition of these constituents have been relatively uniform
throughout the history of Perry Lake.
On the basis of nonenforceable sediment-quality guidelines established by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, concentrations of arsenic, chromium, copper,
and nickel in the bottom sediment of Perry Lake typically exceeded the threshold-effects
levels, which represent the concentrations above which toxic biological effects
occasionally occur. Most nickel concentrations also exceeded the probable-effects
level, which represents the concentration above which toxic biological effects
usually or frequently occur. Sediment concentrations of metals and trace elements
were relatively uniform over time. Statistically significant positive depositional
trends for arsenic and manganese and statistically significant negative depositional
trends for beryllium, chromium, titanium, and vanadium were indicated. However,
the trends may be due solely to analytical variance. Organochlorine compounds
either were not detected or were detected at concentrations less than the threshold-effects
levels. Evidence of a negative depositional trend for DDE (degradation product
of DDT) was consistent with the history of DDT use. Other organochlorine compounds
detected were DDD and dieldrin.
Diatom occurrence in the bottom sediment of Perry Lake was dominated by species
that are indicators of eutrophic (nutrient-rich) conditions. Thus, it was concluded
that eutrophic conditions have existed during much of the history of Perry Lake.
However, an increase in the relative percentage abundance of the oligotrophic
(nutrient-poor) species, combined with the significant positive depositional
trends for two oligotrophic species (Aulacoseira islandica and Cyclotella
radiosa) and the significant negative depositional trend for one eutrophic
species (Stephanodiscus niagarae), indicated that conditions in Perry
Lake may have become less eutrophic in recent years.
Notable changes in human activity within the basin included a substantial decrease
in alfalfa production and a substantial increase in soybean production from
1965 to 2000. These and other changes in human activity may have had some effect
on the deposition of chemical constituents and diatoms in the bottom sediment
of Perry Lake. It is uncertain whether changes in human actitivity may account,
in part, for the possibility of Perry Lake becoming less eutrophic over time
as indicated by trends in the deposition of several diatom species in the lake-bed
sediment.
CONTENTS
Abstract
Introduction
Previous Investigations
Current Study
Description of Perry Lake Basin
Acknowledgments
Methods
Bathymetric Survey
Estimation of Bottom-Sediment Volume, Mass, Mean Annual Net Deposition, and
Mean Annual Yield
Sediment-Core Collection, Processing, and Analysis
Quality Control
Trend Analysis
Sediment Deposition in Perry Lake
Occurrence of, and Trends in, Selected Chemical Constituents and Diatoms
Nutrients and Total Organic Carbon
Metals and Trace Elements
Organochlorine Compounds
Diatoms
Comparison of Depositional Trends to Streamflow and Human Activity
Summary and Conclusions
References
Supplemental Information
Juracek, K.E. 2003, Sediment deposition and occurrence of selected
nutrients, other chemical constituents, and diatoms in bottom sediment, Perry
Lake, northeast Kansas, 1969-2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations
Report 03-4025, 56 p.
For additional information about USGS reservoir sediment studies in Kansas,
please visit the Web site at:
http://ks.water.usgs.gov/studies/ressed/
For additional information contact:
Kyle Juracek
U.S. Geological Survey
4821 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, KS 66049-3839
Telephone: (785) 832-3564
Fax: (785) 832-3500
Email: kjuracek@usgs.gov
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