Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, Iran
Lakes/reservoirs are rapidly deteriorating from cultural eutrophication due to anthropogenic factors. In this study, we aimed to (1) explore nutrient levels in the Sabalan dam reservoir (SDR) of northwest Iran, (2) determine the reservoir water fertility using the total phosphorus (TP) based and tot...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/20/2874 |
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| author | Roohollah Noori Elmira Ansari Yong-Wook Jeong Saber Aradpour Mohsen Maghrebi Majid Hosseinzadeh Sayed M. Bateni |
| author_facet | Roohollah Noori Elmira Ansari Yong-Wook Jeong Saber Aradpour Mohsen Maghrebi Majid Hosseinzadeh Sayed M. Bateni |
| author_sort | Roohollah Noori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lakes/reservoirs are rapidly deteriorating from cultural eutrophication due to anthropogenic factors. In this study, we aimed to (1) explore nutrient levels in the Sabalan dam reservoir (SDR) of northwest Iran, (2) determine the reservoir water fertility using the total phosphorus (TP) based and total nitrogen (TN) based Carlson trophic state indices, and (3) specify primary limiting factors for the reservoir eutrophication. Our field observations showed a state of hyper-nutrient enrichment in the SDR. The highest variation of TN in the reservoir water column happened when the reservoir was severely stratified (in August) while the highest variation of TP took place when the thermocline was attenuated with the deepening of the epilimnion (in October). Both TP and TN based trophic indicators classified the SDR as a hypereutrophic lake. TN:TP molar ratio averaged at the epilimnion indicated a P–deficiency in the reservoir during warm months whilst it suggested a co–deficiency of P and N in cold months. Given the hyper-nutrient enrichment state in the reservoir, other drivers such as water residence time (WRT) can also act as the main contributor of eutrophication in the SDR. We found that WRT in the SDR varied from hundreds to thousands of days, which was much longer than that of other reservoirs/lakes with the same and even much greater storage capacity. Therefore, both hyper-nutrient enrichment and WRT mainly controlled eutrophication in the reservoir. Given time consuming and expensive management practices for reducing nutrients in the watershed, changes in the SDR operation are suggested to somewhat recover its hypereutrophic state in the short-term. However, strategic long-term recovery plans are required to reduce the transition of nutrients from the watershed to the SDR. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:08:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-814a98a1240d41c3b6548851ce838e19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:08:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-814a98a1240d41c3b6548851ce838e192023-11-22T20:22:01ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-10-011320287410.3390/w13202874Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, IranRoohollah Noori0Elmira Ansari1Yong-Wook Jeong2Saber Aradpour3Mohsen Maghrebi4Majid Hosseinzadeh5Sayed M. Bateni6School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran 1684613114, IranSchool of Environment, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417853111, IranDepartment of Architecture, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, KoreaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USASchool of Environment, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417853111, IranSchool of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran 1684613114, IranDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USALakes/reservoirs are rapidly deteriorating from cultural eutrophication due to anthropogenic factors. In this study, we aimed to (1) explore nutrient levels in the Sabalan dam reservoir (SDR) of northwest Iran, (2) determine the reservoir water fertility using the total phosphorus (TP) based and total nitrogen (TN) based Carlson trophic state indices, and (3) specify primary limiting factors for the reservoir eutrophication. Our field observations showed a state of hyper-nutrient enrichment in the SDR. The highest variation of TN in the reservoir water column happened when the reservoir was severely stratified (in August) while the highest variation of TP took place when the thermocline was attenuated with the deepening of the epilimnion (in October). Both TP and TN based trophic indicators classified the SDR as a hypereutrophic lake. TN:TP molar ratio averaged at the epilimnion indicated a P–deficiency in the reservoir during warm months whilst it suggested a co–deficiency of P and N in cold months. Given the hyper-nutrient enrichment state in the reservoir, other drivers such as water residence time (WRT) can also act as the main contributor of eutrophication in the SDR. We found that WRT in the SDR varied from hundreds to thousands of days, which was much longer than that of other reservoirs/lakes with the same and even much greater storage capacity. Therefore, both hyper-nutrient enrichment and WRT mainly controlled eutrophication in the reservoir. Given time consuming and expensive management practices for reducing nutrients in the watershed, changes in the SDR operation are suggested to somewhat recover its hypereutrophic state in the short-term. However, strategic long-term recovery plans are required to reduce the transition of nutrients from the watershed to the SDR.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/20/2874Carlson trophic state indexlimiting factordam reservoirfertilizersIran |
| spellingShingle | Roohollah Noori Elmira Ansari Yong-Wook Jeong Saber Aradpour Mohsen Maghrebi Majid Hosseinzadeh Sayed M. Bateni Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, Iran Water Carlson trophic state index limiting factor dam reservoir fertilizers Iran |
| title | Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, Iran |
| title_full | Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, Iran |
| title_fullStr | Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, Iran |
| title_short | Hyper-Nutrient Enrichment Status in the Sabalan Lake, Iran |
| title_sort | hyper nutrient enrichment status in the sabalan lake iran |
| topic | Carlson trophic state index limiting factor dam reservoir fertilizers Iran |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/20/2874 |
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