Ecology Lab Report

The typical hydraulic regime and flow characteristics of each reservoir were other key factors considered during criteria development. The relationship between water quality, biomass accumulation, and hydraulic residence time (or retention time), which is the average amount of time required to completely renew a reservoir’s water volume, was taken into account when establishing the chlorophyll a criteria. For example, reservoirs associated with “run-of-the-river” dams typically have small hydraulic head, limited storage area and short retention times and are less likely to be susceptible to conditions that can lead to eutrophication or promote excessive algal growth. In contrast, reservoirs associated with larger dams, such as storage or hydroelectric dams, are more likely to have longer retention times, providing a greater potential for incoming nutrients to stimulate increased algal production. Increased algal biomass can potentially deplete dissolved oxygen levels within the reservoir through bacterial decomposition and photosynthetic respiration. A study by Dr. Bayne examined the relationship between reservoir water retention times and phytoplankton algae production in the summer. Dr. Bayne, along with Auburn University professor Dr. Mike Maceina, assessed the potential water quality effects on Weiss Lake of the draft Coosa River water-sharing agreement between Alabama and Georgia. Their study showed that reservoirs with typically short retention times, such as reservoirs on the Coosa River, are more susceptible to hypereutrohic effects and higher chlorophyll a concentrations when retention times are increased even moderately. Historical data shows that higher chlorophyll a concentrations in Weiss Lake have consistently corresponded to longer retention times. Hydrologic models in their study indicated that longer retention times in the reservoir would likely increase phytoplankton algae production and algal biomass accumulation, assuming that