Considerations for Establishing Nutrient Criteria for Reservoirs

ABSTRACT

The recent requirement to establish nutrient criteria for lakes and reservoirs provides the means for water resource management agencies to link watershed influences and water quality responses. Establishing reference conditions, as required for setting realistic criteria, raises a number of questions concerning the potential importance of differences and similarities between lakes and reservoirs. Discussed here are considerations for establishing reservoir nutrient criteria, including linkages between reservoir design, operation and water quality, spatial heterogeneity in water quality conditions, and analytical approaches.

Key Words:

• nutrient criteria
• reservoirs
• eutrophication
• water quality management