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Sediment phosphorus and internal phosphate flux in the hydroelectric reservoir of Bort-les-Orgues, France

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Abstract

The hydroelectric reservoir of Bort-les-Orgues (France) plays an important role in regional tourism. However this function is under threat because the lake is likely to become eutrophic. External phosphate load is large (about 250 t y-1 of P are discharged to the lake) but internal flux also has to be taken into account. The potential of P release at the sediment-water interface was studied. Not all forms of phosphate are likely to be released, to know which part of the pool can be mobilized we used sequential extraction. In Bort-les-Orgues about 80% of P, mostly iron-bound, was mobile. The percentage of calcium-bound P did not exceed 20%. Phosphate and iron fluxes were measured in a laboratory experiment. As long as oxygen concentration remained above 0.5 mg l-1, no release was observed. Phosphate and iron were released together when oxygen dropped to 0.5 mg l-1 and redox potential reached − 350 mV at the sediment-water interface. Such conditions were common during summer, and the corresponding P flux was 18 mg m-2 d-1 PO4-P. This internal phosphate source should be taken into account in any project of lake restoration. Sequential extraction of phosphate and flux measurement are thus necessary tools for a better management of eutrophic water bodies.

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Authors
  1. V. Ruban
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  2. D. Demare
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Ruban, V., Demare, D. Sediment phosphorus and internal phosphate flux in the hydroelectric reservoir of Bort-les-Orgues, France. Hydrobiologia 373, 349–359 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017036008649

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