Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative Analysis of Metal Concentrations and Sediment Accumulation Rates in Two Virginian Reservoirs, USA: Lakes Moomaw and Pelham

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lacustrine sedimentation and trace metal accumulation are naturally occurring processes that can be altered by anthropogenic activities. Indices of sediment or metal dynamics are important for the management and operational use of man-made reservoirs and their drainage basins. In this study, we compared two reservoirs in Virginia, USA, to quantify the effect of varying watershed characteristics on sediment and metal fluxes. Lake Pelham is a human-impacted reservoir surrounded by agricultural fields and anthropogenic developments, whereas Lake Moomaw is an undeveloped reservoir surrounded by moderate to extremely sloping forested landscapes. Three sediment cores were taken from each reservoir to estimate 210Pb-based sediment accumulation rates, organic matter content, and indices of trace metal enrichment and accumulation. The average 210Pb-based sediment accumulation rates were 0.348 ± 0.053 and 0.246 ± 0.043 g cm−2 year−1 for Lake Pelham and Lake Moomaw, respectively. The sediment trace metal results showed strong correlation with sediment organic content, and both reservoirs had moderate to high enrichment of Cu and little enrichment of Zn and Pb. Overall, Lake Moomaw had relatively low sediment accumulation and metal enrichment. Comparatively, Lake Pelham had significantly greater metal concentrations, which were highest in the upper reaches of the reservoir. Lake Pelham also had higher sediment accumulation rates and higher metal enrichment, reflecting the impact of human development within the greater watershed. Results from this study suggest that urbanization can increase reservoir sediment and metal fluxes, but atmospheric deposition is also important in forested watersheds that have not undergone anthropogenic land-use change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abernathy, A. R., Larson, G. L., & Mathews, R. C., Jr. (1984). Heavy metals in the surficial sediments of Fontana Lake, North Carolina. Water Research, 18, 351–354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Appleby, P. G., & Oldfield, F. (1978). The calculation of lead-210 dates assuming a constant rate of supply of unsupported Pb-210 to the sediment. Catena, 5, 1–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Appleby, P. G., & Oldfield, F. (1992). Application of lead-210 to sedimentation studies. In M. Ivanovich & R. S. Harmon (Eds.), Uranium-series disequalibrium: applications to earth, marine, and environmental sciences (pp. 731–778). Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appleby, P. G., & Piliposian, G. T. (2006). Radiometric dating of sediment records from mountain lakes in the Tatra Mountains. Biologia Bratislava, 61(Suppl. 18), S51–S64. doi:10.2478/s11756-006-0119-4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balogh, S. J., Triplett, L. D., Engstrom, D. R., & Nollet, Y. H. (2010). Historical trace metal loading to a large river recorded in the sediments of Lake St. Croix. Journal of Paleolimnology, 44, 517–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, J., Norton, S. A., Beeson, D. R., & Herrmann, R. (1986). Sediment diatom and metal stratigraphy from Rocky Mountain Lakes with special reference to atmospheric deposition. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 43, 1350–1362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brännvall, M. L., Bindler, R., Emteryd, O., & Renberg, I. (2001). Four thousand years of atmospheric lead pollution in northern Europe: a summary from Swedish lake sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology, 25, 421–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chillrud, S. N., Bopp, R. F., Simpson, H. J., Ross, J. M., Shuster, E. L., Chaky, D. A., Walsh, D. C., Choy, C. C., Tolley, L. R., & Yarme, A. (1999). Twentieth century atmospheric metal fluxes into Central Park Lake, New York City. Environmental Science and Technology, 33, 657–662.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colosimo, M. F., & Wilcock, P. R. (2007). Alluvial sedimentation and erosion in an urbanizing watershed, Gwynns Falls, Maryland. JAWRA, 43, 499–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conko, K. M., Rice, K. C., & Kennedy, M. M. (2004). Atmospheric wet deposition of trace elements to a suburban environment, Reston, Virginia, USA. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 4025–4033.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conrad, C. F., Fugate, D., Daus, J., Chisholm-Brause, C. J., & Kuehl, S. A. (2007). Assessment of the historical trace metal contamination of sediments in the Elizabeth River, Virginia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54, 385–395.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crecelius, E. A., & Piper, D. Z. (1973). Particulate lead contamination recorded in sedimentary cores from Lake Washington, Seattle. Environmental Science and Technology, 17, 1053–1055.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dabous, A. A. (2002). Lead-210 geochronology and trace metal geochemistry of sediment cores from Lake Overstreet and Upper Lake Lafayette, Leon County, Florida. Environmental Geosciences, 9, 51–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, W. E. (1974). Determination of carbonate and organic matter in calcareous sediments and sedimentary rocks by loss on ignition: comparison with other methods. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 44, 242–248.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, W. E., & Gorham, E. (1998). Magnitude and significance of carbon burial in lakes, reservoirs, and peatlands. Geology, 26, 535–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demographic Analysis. (2010). Culpeper County Comprehensive Plan. http://web.culpepercounty.gov/Portals/0/Departments/Planning_and_Zoning/Documents/Chapter%202%20-Fina.1.pdf

  • Eakins, J. D., & Morrison, R. T. (1978). A new procedure for the determination of Lead-210 in lake and marine sediments. International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 29, 531–536.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engstrom, D. R., & Swain, E. B. (1997). Recent declines in atmospheric mercury deposition in the upper Midwest. Environmental Science and Technology, 31, 960–967.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Releases: Facility Report. <http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?zipcode=24426>. Accessed 07 June 2011

  • F’inkenbine, J. K., Atwater, J. W., & Mavinic, D. S. (2000). Stream health after urbanization. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA), 36(5), 1149–1160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fayyad, M.J. (2010). Appalachian power company Smith Mountain Project No. 2201: Sedimentation monitoring plan. A report for the USA Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Project No. 2210–197, 23p.

  • Fichet, D., Radenac, G., & Miramand, P. (1998). Experimental studies of impacts of harbour sediments resuspension to marine invertebrates larvae: bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn and toxicity. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 36, 509–518.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Förstner, U., & Wittmann, G. T. W. (1979). Metal pollution in the aquatic environment. Berlin: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, I. D. L., & Charlesworth, S. M. (1996). Heavy metals in the hydrological cycle: trends and explanation. Hydrological Processes, 2(2), 227–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, T. M., Rabenhorst, M. C., & Fanning, D. S. (1989). Iron and trace metals in some marsh soils of the Chesapeake Bay. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 53, 1010–1019.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Groeger, A. W., & Kimmel, B. L. (2009). Organic matter supply and processing in lakes and reservoirs. Lake and Reservoir Management, 1, 282–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guevara, S. R., Meili, M., Rizzo, A., Daga, R., & Arribere, M. (2010). Sediment records of highly variable mercury inputs to mountain lakes in Patagonia during the past millennium. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 10, 3443–3453.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartwell, S.I., & Hameedi, J. (2007). Magnitude and Extent of Contaminated Sediment and Toxicity in Chesapeake Bay. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 47, Silver Spring, MD. Available http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/publications/NCCOSTM47.pdf

  • Heiri, O., Lotter, A. F., & Lemcke, G. (2001). Loss on ignition as a method for estimating organic and carbonate content in sediments: reproducibility and comparability of results. Journal of Paleolimnology, 25, 101–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homer, C., Dewitz, J., Fry, J., Coan, M., Hossain, N., Larson, C., Herold, N., McKerrow, A., VanDriel, J. N., & Wickham, J. (2007). Completion of the 2001 National Land Cover Database for the Conterminous United States. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 73, 337–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houser, J. N., Mulholland, P. J., & Maloney, K. O. (2006). Upland disturbance affects headwater stream nutrients and suspended sediments during baseflow and stormflow. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35, 352–365.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger, J. M., Mehta, A., Faas, R., & Grella, M. (2009). Anthropogenic impacts on sedimentary sources and processes in a small urbanized subtropical estuary, Florida. Journal of Coastal Research, 25, 30–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, J. R., Knowlton, M. F., Obrecht, D. V., & Cook, E. A. (2004). Importance of landscape variable and morphology on nutrients in Missouri reservoirs. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 61, 1503–1512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kraus, T. E. C., Bergamaschi, B. A., Hernes, P. J., Doctor, D., Kendall, C., & Downing, B. D. (2011). How reservoirs alter drinking water quality: organic matter sources, sinks, and transformations. Lake and Reservoir Management, 27, 205–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, G. M., & Kinsman, J. D. (1990). Atmospheric pollutant deposition to high-elevation ecosystems. Atmospheric Environments, 24A(11), 2767–2786.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, E., & Wong, C. S. (1977). Heavy metal sedimentation in Saanich Inlet measure with 210Pb technique. Journal of Geophysical Research, 82, 5477–5481.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Middleton, A. P. (1953). Tobacco coast: Richmond. Whittet and Shepperson: Virginia. 482 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, H. H. (1988). Surficial geology and geomorphology of the Mountain Lake area, Giles County, Virginia, including sedimentological studies of colluviums and boulder streams. US Geological Survey Professional Paper No., 1469, 62 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizugaki, S., Nakamura, F., & Araya, T. (2006). Using dendrogeomorphology and 137Cs and 210Pb radiochronology to estimate recent changes in sedimentation rates in Kushiro mire, northern Japan, resulting from land Use change and river channelization. Catena, 68(1), 25–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mmolawa, K. B., Likuku, A. S., & Gaboutloeloe, G. K. (2011). Assessment of heavy metal pollution in soils along major roadside areas in Botswana. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 5(3), 186–196.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, C. S., Ramelow, G. J., & Beck, J. N. (1989). Spatial and temporal variation of heavy metals in sediment cores from the Calcasien River/Lake complex. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 43, 213–230.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, D. J., Perault, D. R., & Shahady, T. D. (2006). Watershed development and sediment accumulation in a small urban lake. Lake and Reservoir Management, 22, 303–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu, J. O. (1979). Global inventory of natural and anthropogenic emissions of trace metals to the atmosphere. Nature, 279, 409–411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Odhiambo, B. K., & Boss, S. K. (2004). Integrated Eco Sounder, GPS, and GIS for Reservoir Sedimentation Studies: Examples from two Arkansas Lakes. Journal of American Water Resources Association, 40, 981–997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odhiambo, B. K., & Boss, S. K. (2006). Watershed physiography, land use and sediment yield: case study from NW Arkansas, USA. Journal of Spatial Hydrology, 6(1), 29–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odhiambo, B. K., & Ricker, M. C. (2012). Spatial and isotopic analysis of watershed soil loss and reservoir sediment accumulation rates in lake Anna, Virginia, USA. Environmental Earth Science, 65, 373–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odhiambo, B. K., Macdonald, R. W., O’Brien, M. C., Harper, J. R., & Yunker, M. B. (1996). Transport and fate of mine tailings in a coastal fjord of british columbia as inferred from sediment record. Science of the Total Environment, 191, 77–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Odhiambo, B. K., Brown, V., Armentrout, G., Giancarlo, L. C., & Wegner, C. (2013). Sediment trace metals and PCB input history in Lake Anna, Virginia, USA. Environmental Earth Science, 69, 2103–2117. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2500-2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortt, R.A., Kerhin, R.T., Wells, D., & Cornwell, J., (2000). Bathymetric survey and sedimentation analysis of Loch Raven and Prettyboy Reservoirs: Maryland Geological Survey, Coastal and Estuarine Geology File Report No.99–4.

  • Pope, I., & Odhiambo, B. K. (2013). Soil erosion and sediment fluxes analysis:a watershed study of the Ni Reservoir, Spotsylvania County, VA. USA. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-013-3488-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qi, S., Leipe, T., Rueckert, P., Di, Z., & Harff, J. (2010). Geochemical sources, deposition and enrichment of heavy metals in short sediment cores from the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China. Journal of Marine Systems, 82, S28–S42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regional Water Supply Plan. (2011). Town of Culpeper, Virginia and County of Culpeper, Virginia. 83 p. http://web.culpepercounty.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YM5k0GdU6Ek%3D&

  • Renberg, I. (1986). Concentration and annual accumulation values of heavy metals in lake sediments: their significance in studies of the history of heavy metal pollution. Hydrobiologia, 143, 379–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rule, J. H. (1986). Assessment of trace element geochemistry of hampton roads and lower chesapeake bay area sediments. Environmental Geology & Water Sciences, 8, 209–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saenger, C., Cronin, T. H., Willard, D., Halka, J., & Kerhin, R. (2010). Increased terrestrial to ocean sediment and carbon fluxes in the Northern Chesapeake Bay associated with twentieth century land alteration. Estuary and Coasts, 31, 492–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scudlark, J. R., Rice, K. C., Conko, K. M., Briker, O. P., & Church, T. M. (2005). Transmission of atmospherically derived trace elements through an undeveloped, forested Maryland watershed. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 163, 53–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shirahata, H., Elias, R. W., & Patterson, C. C. (1980). Chronological variations in concentrations and isotopic compositions on anthropogenic atmospheric lead in sediments of a remote subalpine pond. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 44, 149–162.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shotbolt, L. A., Thomas, A. D., & Hutchinson, S. M. (2005). The use of reservoir sediments as environmental archives of catchment inputs and atmospheric pollution. Progress in Physical Geography, 29, 337–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, SM (2006) Geochemistry of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia national uranium resources evaluation hydrochemical and stream sediments reconnaissance program. USGS Report OFR 97-292: NURE HSSR Data. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/state/nure_dmv.htm. Accessed March 2012

  • Soil Survey Staff. (2011). Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. Available http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/. Accessed 25 May 2011

  • Swain, E. B., Engstrom, D. R., Brigham, M. E., Henning, T. A., & Brezonik, P. L. (1992). Increasing rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in midcontinental North America. Science, 257, 784–787.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. R. (1964). Abundance of chemical elements in the continental crust: a new table. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 28, 1273–1285.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. B., & Kite, J. S. (2006). Comparative geomorphic analysis of surficial deposits at three central Appalachian watersheds: Implications for controls on sediment-transport efficiency. Geomorphology, 78, 22–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trimble, S. W. (2008). Man-induced soil erosion on the southern Piedmont (2nd ed.). Ankeny, IA: Soil and Water Conservation Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). (2009). Lake Moomaw. <http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=88>. Accessed 8 April 2011.

  • Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (VDMME). Generalized Geologic Map of Virginia. Map. <http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/Dgmr/pdf/VA%20geol%20map.pdf>. Accessed 18 July. 2012.

  • Walling, D.E. (2004). Using environmental radionuclides to trace sediment mobilization and delivery in river basins as an aid to catchment management. Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on River Sedimentation. Yichang, China

  • Walling, D. E. (2006). Human impact on land-ocean sediment transfer by the world’s rivers. Geomorphol, 79, 192–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter, R. C., & Merritts, D. J. (2008). Natural streams and the legacy of water-powered mills. Science, 319, 299–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X., & Cui, P. (2005). Support soil conservation practices by identifying critical erosion areas within an American watershed using the GIS-AGNPS model. Journal of Spatial Hydrology, 5, 31–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weant, G.E. (1985). Sources of Copper Air Emissions. United States Environmental Protection Agency Air and Energy Engineering Project Summary

  • Wetzel, R. G. (1975). Limnology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yesilonis, I. D., Pouyat, R. V., & Neerchal, N. K. (2008). Spatial distribution of metals in soils in Baltimore, Maryland: Role of native parent material, proximity to major roads, housing age and screening guidelines. Environmental Pollution, 156, 723–731.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zwolsman, J. J. G., Berger, G. W., & Van Eck, G. T. M. (1993). Sediment accumulation rates, historical input, postdepositional mobility and retention of major elements and trace metals in salt marsh sediments of the Scheldt estuary, SW Netherlands. Marine Chemistry, 44, 73–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the University of Mary Washington for their financial support during the course of this project and Dr. L. Giancarlo, Sunnan Yoon, and Laura Pilati for their assistance in field sampling and laboratory analysis. The authors would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their insightful suggestions on the earlier versions of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Elyse V. Clark

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, USA

    Ben K. Odhiambo

  3. School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, 602 Duncan Dr., Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    Matthew C. Ricker

Authors
  1. Elyse V. Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ben K. Odhiambo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Matthew C. Ricker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ben K. Odhiambo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Clark, E.V., Odhiambo, B.K. & Ricker, M.C. Comparative Analysis of Metal Concentrations and Sediment Accumulation Rates in Two Virginian Reservoirs, USA: Lakes Moomaw and Pelham. Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 1860 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1860-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1860-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation