Limnology

1. Floodplains are located around streams and lakes, since the proximity to
water leads to greater likelihood of flooding. How this land gets used
(farming, residential, industry) can greatly impact the health of a lake or
reservoir since the water leading into these places has to go through the
floodplain. So it could be said that the farther away land is from the
floodplain, the less likely it is to affect the reservoir. Also, lakes are usually at
the upper part of a drainage basin, while reservoirs are near the mouth. This
means that reservoirs are more likely to get clay and silt, things that are
lighter and carry further, than lakes.
2. Seasonal activity on these lands leads to differences in what is carried into
the reservoir. Planting in the spring leads to decreased sediment, especially
clay. August through October clay concentration is highest. This is also when
phosphorus is highest and stream production is at its maximum.
3. In lakes inflow is equally distributed around the edges. Particles vary in all
directions and create a fan shaped delta. Reservoirs receive inflow from one
or two sources far from the outflow. Particles go longitudinally because of the
channel where the old river was. Heavy particles accumulate closer to the
intake, while lighter particles, like silt will travel farther before settling.
4. The transition zone of a reservoir is where silt and fine particles settle. The
processing of this material quickly depletes the dissolved oxygen in that area.
As this happens at the beginning of the zone it increases the amount of other
things. This in turn increases ionic strength, which increases sedimentation.
So a loop is formed.
5. The development of a low oxygen zone may result in the release of iron,
phosphorus and other elements in the clay.
6. One of the major impacts of flooding is causing a rapid conversion from
oxygen filled sediment, to sediment that is not. Alternating periods of
flooding, and then receding water results in transport and exchange of
sediments.
7. Water control alters sedimentation patterns by redistribution. During times of
high water sedimentation happens farther upstream. As the water level goes
back to normal that sediment gets redistributed downstream into the pool.
As the water level drops sediment in the deeper parts may get redistributed.
8. Most lake models use the assumption that the lake is completely mixed.
However, reservoirs exhibit plug-flow characteristics. This means they have
high sedimentation at the start. It decreases as it goes down the axis.