Poster Details
GROUNDWATER SEEPAGE AND LAKESHORE PRODUCTIVITY: A CASE STUDY AT ONEIDA LAKE, NY.
Cultural eutrophication is considered one of the most important anthropogenic problems on aquatic ecosystem. Excess nutrient loading into waterbodies, as a result of human activity, is considered one of its major drivers. Groundwater (GW) contribution to nutrient budgets has been generally overlooked compare to surface water, mainly due to difficulties in its quantification. However, in many lakes, groundwater can play a key role in hydrological and biogeochemical processes related to nutrient cycles. In this study, we first identify areas with varied GW fluxes at Oneida Lake and aim to analyze the role of GW dynamic on biogeochemical processes occurring at the sediment-water interphase, with a focus on phosphorus release and availability. We measure GW seepage, oxygen conditions, and nutrients concentrations in the pore and lake water during summer 2018. Preliminary results suggest groundwater seepage as a significant source of phosphorus into the lake. Moreover, preliminary analysis of water chemistry showed a weak negative correlation between Total Phosphorus and Dissolved Oxygen. We expect our results to be a significant contribution to the effort on dealing with nutrient excess runoff to water bodies, and its ecological impact.
Maria Lisboa (Primary Presenter/Author), Cornell University, msl282@cornell.edu;