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Sediment and Nutrient Trap Efficiency of a Small Flood‐Detention Reservoir
Author(s) -
Rausch D. L.,
Schreiber J. D.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1981.00472425001000030007x
Subject(s) - sediment , surface runoff , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , sediment trap , phosphorus , nutrient , first flush , stormwater , geology , chemistry , ecology , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
Significant amounts of sediment and nutrients are removed from storm runoff by small flood‐detention reservoirs such as Callahan Reservoir in central Missouri, which stores 1 cm of runoff from its 1,460‐ha drainage area. The purpose of this study was to compare the trap efficiencies of sediment and nutrients and determine which factors affect them. During a 3‐year study, this reservoir trapped an average of 85% of the incoming sediment, 77% of the total sediment phosphorus (P), and 37% of the inorganic nitrogen (N). Sediment leaving the reservoir was clay and contained about 23% of the inflowing total sediment P. Sediment and P trap efficiencies (TE) for individual storms were related to concentrations of sediment and P (solution and sediment) in runoff, respectively. Average TE of total solution P (35%) was slightly lower than the TE of NO 3 ‐N (40%). Annual TE of ortho‐P ranged from 8 to 64% and averaged 43%. Dissolved organic and hydrolyzable P yields were greater in outflow than in inflow. These increases, which were <1% of the total P budget, may have been due to biological activity in the reservoir.