Julita Dunalska

Assessment of multi-year (1956-2003) hypolimnetic withdrawal from Lake Kortowskie, Poland

Abstract Hypolimnetic withdrawal as a restoration method comprises the withdrawal of the nutrient-rich hypolimnion by a pipe directly to the outlet, thus replacing the surface outflow. The method was first applied to Lake Kortowskie in 1956 and continues today. The direct effects of hypolimnetic withdrawal can be observed in the near-bottom waters during the pipes operation (May-Sep). The treatment depends on the quantity of water withdrawn by the pipe. A high withdrawal rate increased the rate of hypolimnetic heating, diminished the water mass stability and shortened summer stagnation. Hypolimnetic withdrawal did not improve the oxygen conditions in Lake Kortowskie, although it shortened the duration of the anaerobic conditions near the bottom and diminished the spatial extent of oxygen deficiency. Increased release of phosphorus from the bottom deposits to the near-bottom water and finally the outlet via the withdrawal pipe has been observed, with a consequent impoverishment of the upper sediments. The amount of mineral phosphorus and ammonium nitrogen in the near-bottom water decreased independent of the withdrawn volume. The decrease of phosphorus and nitrogen during the pipes operation shows that hypolimnetic withdrawal removes nutrients released from bottom deposits so that the lake becomes less enriched in nutrients. Multi-year examination has confirmed that this process is the most positive feature of this restoration method. The restoration can be optimized by maximizing nutrient export and withdrawing throughout the summer stagnation (particularly in August and September), when nutrient concentrations near the bottom are maximal

Total organic carbon as a new index for monitoring trophic states in lakes

Total organic carbon (TOC) can be one of the parameters used to determine trophic state in lakes, as shown by the statistically significant correlation between TOC and chlorophyll, total phosphorus and Secchi disk transparency. Calculation of the TSI index based on TOC according to the formula TSI(TOC) = 20.59 + 15.71 ln(TOC) and its introduction as an additional index to the classification by Carlson may optimize the comparative analysis of lakes and allow a measurable assessment of lakes with respect to the trophic gradient.

Phytoplankton-based recovery requirement for urban lakes in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive’s ecological targets

Abstract This study focused on the determination of the phytoplankton-based recovery requirement, including bloom intensity thresholds in human-affected lakes, helpful in the restoration. The phytoplankton and physicochemical analyses were carried out on seven urban lakes in Kartuzy and Skępe. The Phytoplankton Metric for Polish Lakes was used to assess the ecological status and the Trophic Level Index was used to determine the trophic state. Only one lake had a good ecological status (meeting the WFD requirements for at least good status), whereas other lakes had poor or bad ecological status. All of them were eutrophic or hyper-eutrophic and the summer phytoplankton assemblages were dominated mainly by bloomforming cyanobacteria. The lowest phytoplankton bloom threshold of 2.6 mm3 l-1 (seasonal maximum) and the following thresholds of 5 mm3 l-1 for classes I/II; 8 mm3 l-1 for classes II/III; 21 mm3 l-1 for classes III/IV; 100 mm3 l-1 for classes IV/V were proposed for urban lakes. This could directly refer to the bloom intensity for high, good, moderate, poor and bad ecological status. This all indicates a huge recovery requirement in the majority of urban lakes, and the proposed bloom intensity classification may be helpful in fulfilling the WFD targets for the ecologicallyrelevant lake status.

Influence of restoration methods on the longevity of changes in the thermal and oxygen dynamics of a degraded lake

Abstract The study was conducted on Lake Długie, located in the city of Olsztyn, which for 20 years received raw domestic sewage (400 m3 per day). After preliminary conservation operations, the lake was restored by artificial circulation and phosphorus inactivation methods. During artificial circulation, water temperature in the whole lake volume was equalized. The disconnection of the compressor stimulated the return to typical thermal parameters in the lake. Phosphorus inactivation did not affect the thermal regime in the lake. Artificial circulation caused an increase in the oxygen content in the whole lake, lowered the oxygen-depletion rate during stagnation, and shortened the duration of anaerobic conditions in the near-bottom waters. Phosphorus inactivation did not directly affect the content of oxygen. However, after the coagulant was added to the lake, the oxygenation of the water was further improved owing to the depressed photosynthesis caused by drastically reduced availability of phosphate for primary producers.

Spatial variability of nutrients (N, P) in a deep, temperate lake with a low trophic level supported by global navigation satellite systems, geographic information system and geostatistics

We investigated changes in the spatial distribution of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in the deep, mesotrophic Lake Hańcza. The raw data collection, supported by global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning, was conducted on 79 sampling points. A geostatistical method (kriging) was applied in spatial interpolation. Despite the relatively small area of the lake (3.04 km(2)), compact shape (shore development index of 2.04) and low horizontal exchange of water (retention time 11.4 years), chemical gradients in the surface waters were found. The largest variation concerns the main biogenic element - phosphorus. The average value was 0.032 at the extreme values of 0.019 to 0.265 mg L(-1) (coefficient of variation 87%). Smaller differences are related to nitrogen compounds (0.452-1.424 mg L(-1) with an average value of 0.583 mg L(-1), the coefficient of variation 20%). The parts of the lake which are fed with tributaries are the richest in phosphorus. The water quality of the oligo-mesotrophic Lake Hańcza has been deteriorating in recent years. Our results indicate that inferences about trends in the evolution of examined lake trophic status should be based on an analysis of the data, taking into account the local variation in water chemistry.

Phytoplankton dominance structure and abundance as indicators of the trophic state and ecological status of Lake Kortowskie (northeast Poland) restored with selective hypolimnetic withdrawal

Abstract The objective of the study was to identify seasonal changes in phytoplankton taxonomic structure and development rates to characterize phytoplankton communities as determinants of the trophic and ecological conditions of Lake Kortowskie in northeast Poland which has been undergoing restoration with selective hypolimnetic withdrawal. The lake was designated as being of high trophic state and bad ecological status based on intense phytoplankton growth, the strong dominance and persistent occurrence of blue-green algae, and seasonal modifications in phytoplankton taxonomic structure and assemblage growth rates. The ecological status of the lake assessed in 2011 corresponds to that determined in 1987-1990 and 1999 and indicates that eutrophication in Lake Kortowskie is progressing.

Variation of nitrogen forms in lakes with different intensity of anthropogenic pressure

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of nitrogen and trace the dynamics of its changes in two lakes with different intensity of anthropogenic pressure. The dominant land use of Lake Paskierz catchment is built-up areas, while in Lake Sajmino, wasteland is the dominant land use. The total amount of nitrogen in Lake Paskierz ranged from 1.68 to 6.58 g Ntot m-3, while in Lake Sajmino it was from 1.03 to 1.84 g Ntot m-3. The organic fraction was a dominant form in the surface water layers of the examined lakes. A slightly different situation was found in near-bottom water layers of Lake Paskierz, where ammonium nitrogen was the dominant form in the summer stagnation. In other cases organic nitrogen was a dominant form in each of the reservoirs. Concentrations of nitrites and nitrates were low and did not affect essentially the overall amount of nitrogen in the studied lakes. Based on the results, it can be concluded that Lake Paskierz is overfertilized. The high concentrations of ammonia measured in near-bottom layers of the lake indicate that the internal supply may be a very important process affecting the trophic status. Lake Sajmino was characterized by significantly less nitrogen abundance, although the periodically increasing nitrogen concentration reveals the presence of adverse anthropopressure on the lake.

Comparison of coagulation behaviour and floc characteristics of polyaluminium chloride (PAX 18, PAX XL19H, ALCAT) with surface water treatment

Abstract Coagulation behaviour of polyaluminium chloride (PACl) was comparatively investigated in terms of the removal of turbidity and colour with surface water. The growth of flocs was also compared. The results show that the decrease in saturation and values of dissolved oxygen was ca. 20% for ALCAT and PAX 18 at both dosages and 15% for PAX XL 19H, respectively. The floc formation growth indicated that PACl coagulation occurred not only by charge neutralization but also by a form of sweep flocculation. Besides, flocs formed by ALCAT had better sizes than the flocs formed by PAX 18 and PAX XL19H. The rate of sedimentation was stable during coagulation with higher doses, and it was dependent on the substance used.

Sediment phosphorus fractions in an urban lake and its usability for predicting of the internal loading phenomenon

The object of present study was Sukiel Lake (area 20.8 ha, max. depth 25 m), localised in north–eastern Poland (Mazurian Lake District), in Olsztyn city. The aim of this study was to analyse the phosphorus fractions in the sediments of two lake bottom zones - profundal (25 m) and sublittoral (7 m). Observed high P concentrations in the deposits of Sukiel Lake and quantitative domination of hard mobile P fractions (NaOH–TP, HCl–P and res–P) suggest that the sediments of Sukiel Lake are the effective trap for phosphorus and that limits excessive internal loading in this lake.

Bottom sediments as a potential source of phosphorus in the riverine-lacustrine system of the Kośna River (Northeastern Poland)

Abstract Sediments from hypereutrophic Lake Łajskie localized in northeastern Poland were examined on the basis of P-fraction. The sediments were collected at five sampling sites. In the investigated lake, the rank order of P-fractions was HCl-P > BD-P > NH4Cl-P > NaOH - nrP. The loosely sorbed phosphorus NH4Cl-P represented < 3% of the sedimentary inorganic phosphorus, while the reductant phosphorus (BD-P) ranged from 2 to 10%. The calcium bound phosphorus (HCl-P) showed considerable contribution (59-74%) to the sedimentary inorganic P-loads. BDP was the most reactive fraction in Lake Łajskie. Iron compounds and organic matter seem to play a significant role in regulating this labile P-budget.