National Center for Water Quality Research (NCWQR), Heidelberg University
Published June 1, 1973 | Version v1
Conference paper Open

Phosphorus Sources and Transport In an Agricultural River Basin of Lake Erie

Authors/Creators

  • 1. National Center for Water Quality Research

Description

ABSTRACT

The mean annual export of total phosphorus (as P) from a 3237 km2 (1251 mi2) portion of the Sandusky River Basin was determined to be 454 metric tons (500 short tons). Annual point source inputs of phosphorus within the study area were observed to be 118 metric tons (130 short tons). Assuming all point source phosphorus leaves the system, a minimum diffuse source component of the output would be 336 metric tons (370 short tons) or 74% of the total output. This represents a diffuse phosphorus loading coefficient of 103 kg/yr/km2 (591 lb/yr/mi2 ), a value 2.4 times as large as the 44 kg/yr/km2 (250 lb/yr/mi2) which is used to calculate rural runoff in much of the Lake Erie Basin. During 1972, a year of high runoff, in excess of 980 metric tons (1078 short tons) of phosphorus moved out of the study area.


It is suggested that the diffuse source loading coefficient represents a eutrophication index related to land use in the study area. The reduction of phosphorus loading into Lake Erie from diffuse sources will require comprehensive land use planning and implementation. Reduced values for the diffuse phosphorus loading coefficient, corrected for annual variations in runoff, would provide a measure of progress towards less eutrophic land use management in the basin.

Notes

The authors wish to express their appreciation to the George Gund Foundation, the Lubrizol Foundation and the Heidelberg College Science Faculty Research Fund for support for this research. The assistance of several students, including Jeff McGuire, Angela Best and Steve King, is greatly appreciated. The clerical help of Margaret Baker is also gratefully acknowledged.

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References

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