Assessing the Effects of Nutrients on Stream Conditions in the Green Lake Watershed Using Biological Indicators

Bates, Laura

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121775 Copy

Description

Title

Assessing the Effects of Nutrients on Stream Conditions in the Green Lake Watershed Using Biological Indicators

Author(s)

Bates, Laura

Contributor(s)

Thompson, Anita

Issue Date

2023-04-18

Keyword(s)

• nutrient pollution
• anthropogenic stressors
• agriculture
• watershed

Geographic Coverage

Green Lake, Wisconsin, United States

Abstract

Impaired since 2014, Wisconsin’s Green Lake is threatened by excessive nutrient loading from the surrounding agricultural landscapes. Efforts to improve the instream physiochemical environment and mitigate negative effects of nutrient transport into Green Lake include the implementation of streambank restoration projects. Understanding the local relationship between anthropogenic stressors influencing in-stream biological conditions and stream eutrophication in the Green Lake Watershed would guide restoration implementation decisions. This research assesses the nutrient pollution status of Green Lake’s tributaries using biological criteria and evaluates the interconnectedness of local anthropogenic stressors that affect aquatic ecosystem conditions and nutrient pollution in the watershed. Stream and biological conditions will be assessed using taxa assemblages and biotic indices of diatoms and macroinvertebrates. Evaluations of anthropogenic stressors influencing the stream physiochemical environment will be conducted using environmental data from each sample site. Results from this study will be used to evaluate the biological conditions associated with different nutrient concentrations between impaired and unimpaired streams. This research will help watershed managers understand how nutrient pollution and other anthropogenic activities are influencing biological assemblages in Green Lake’s tributaries, and these methods can be applied to other watersheds in Wisconsin.

Has Part

https://youtu.be/nYKKyolWUeY

Series/Report Name or Number

2023 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference

Type of Resource

• text
• moving image

Language

eng

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