Nutrient of Concern Phosphorus in the Lake Champlain Basin

1. Nutrient of Concern Phosphorus in the Lake Champlain Basin Courtney Giles, PhD UVM EPSCoR/RACC Q1

2. Phosphorus History <1200 Present – Manure fertilizers used 1669– Hennig Brand discovers ‘white’ elemental phosphorus 1750’s – Elemental P first used in matches 1800’s – Phosphate rock first used as fertilizer WWI  WWII – Phosphorus bombs; Nerve gas 1946 – First PO43- - containing detergent (Tide) 1950’s – First cases of eutrophication recorded in Great Lakes (persistent algae blooms) 1977 – US EPA Detergent Phosphate Ban 1990’s Present – Continued urban and agricultural management of P world-wide MW: 30.97 Hennig Brand, 1669

3. Phosphorus Focus Phosphate-containing molecules (oxidized P) MW: 30.97 inorganic organic Hennig Brand, 1669

4. Phosphorus availability and limitation in the environment Phosphorus in Lake Champlain Basin Overview…

5. Global Phosphorus Pools TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable

6. Global Phosphorus Pools Water vapor Dust particles TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable

7. Global Phosphorus Pools TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable (1014Tg) (1016Tg) (103Tg)*

8. Global Phosphorus Pools TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable 1 g H2O (1014Tg) (1016Tg) (103Tg)* 3.8 million times the weight of water in Lake Champlain (25.8 km3) !

9. Global Phosphorus Pools TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable PHOSPHATE MINING

10. Global Phosphorus Pools ATMOSPHERIC AQUATIC Organisms (102 Tg) Water (102 -105Tg) TERRESTRIAL Organisms (103Tg) Soil (105Tg) GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable

11. Global Phosphorus Movement TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable

12. Global Phosphorus Cycle Phosphate Rocks P mining Fertilizer Manure Runoff Animals Soil P Water Plant P Detritus Sediments Animals

13. Why is P pollution a problem? Phosphate Rocks P mining Fertilizer Manure Runoff Animals Soil P Water Plant P Detritus Sediments Animals

14. 1. It’s not sustainable Phosphate Rocks P mining Fertilizer Manure Runoff Animals Soil P Water Plant P Detritus Sediments Animals Approximately 8 million tons of P is lost to surface waters each year!

15. 1. It’s not sustainable Phosphorus Production MT P/yr Phosphate Rocks P mining Fertilizer Manure Runoff Animals Soil P Water Plant P Detritus 2030 Sediments Animals Approximately 8 million tons of P is lost to surface waters each year!

16. 2. This happens… Lake 226, Schindler et al. 1978

17. 2. This happens… Dead zones originating from Mississippi River nutrient loading (NASA, Lake 226, Schindler et al. 1978

18. 2. This happens… But why? Dead zones originating from Mississippi River nutrient loading (NASA, Lake 226, Schindler et al. 1978

19. For organisms, phosphorus is a… ‘Macronutrient’ Organisms need large amounts of P to survive ‘Limiting nutrient’ First to run out; Available only in small amounts

20. Phosphorus in Organisms Bone– Calcium-phosphate minerals Genetic code – DNA, RNA Cell membranes – Phospholipids Sugars – Glucose-6-phosphate Energy - ATP

21. Phosphorus in Organisms Bone – Calcium-phosphate minerals Genetic code – DNA, RNA Cell membranes – Phospholipids Sugars – Glucose-6-phosphate Energy - ATP Saenger, Principles of Nucleic Acid Structure

22. Phosphorus in Organisms Bone – Calcium-phosphate minerals Genetic code – DNA, RNA Cell membranes – Phospholipids Sugars – Glucose-6-phosphate Energy - ATP www.cuny.edu

23. Phosphorus in Organisms Bone – Calcium-phosphate minerals Genetic code – DNA, RNA Cell membranes – Phospholipids Sugars – Glucose-6-phosphate Energy - ATP www.bmrb.wisc.edu

24. Phosphorus in Organisms Bone – Calcium-phosphate minerals Genetic code – DNA, RNA Cell membranes – Phospholipids Sugars – Glucose-6-phosphate Energy – ATP Nutrient Storage – Phytate uic.edu

25. Phosphorus in Organisms Bone – Calcium-phosphate minerals Genetic code – DNA, RNA Cell membranes – Phospholipids Sugars – Glucose-6-phosphate Energy – ATP Nutrient Storage/ Cell Signaling – Phytate

26. Phosphorus in Organisms . . . Living things need P available P is quickly consumed

27. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P . . . Living things need P available P is quickly consumed

28. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P • All P-containing molecules • Soluble inorganic P • Soluble organic P • Particle-bound inorganic P • Particle-bound organic P Total P In… Water Sediment Soil Organisms Etc..

29. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P • All P-containing molecules • Soluble inorganic P • Soluble organic P • Particle-bound inorganic P • Particle-bound organic P Total P

30. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P • All P-containing molecules • Soluble inorganic P • Soluble organic P • Particle-bound inorganic P • Particle-bound organic P Total P PARTICLE sediment

31. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P • All P-containing molecules • Soluble inorganic P • Soluble organic P • Particle-bound inorganic P • Particle-bound organic P PARTICLE

32. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P • Orthophosphateles • Soluble inorganic P • Soluble organic P • Particle-bound inorganic P • Particle-bound organic P

33. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P Phosphate (PO43-) occurs in the presence of oxygen (oxidized form) At environmental pH (5 – 8), phosphate carries a negative charge Molecules that contain negatively charged phosphate interact strongly with positively charged metals, minerals, and organic matter Phosphate is ‘sticky’. Precipitates with metals Sorbs to minerals & organic matter Not bioavailable when ‘stuck’

34. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P Phosphate (PO43-) occurs in the presence of oxygen (oxidized form) At environmental pH (5 – 8), phosphate carries a negative charge Molecules that contain negatively charged phosphate interact strongly with positively charged metals, minerals, and organic matter Phosphate is ‘sticky’. Precipitates with metals Sorbs to minerals & organic matter Not bioavailable when ‘stuck’ + + + M

35. Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total PvsAvailable P Biological demand and the abiotic behavior of phosphorus in the environment leads to its limitation. + + + M

36. Whyis aquatic P pollution a problem? Phosphate Rocks P mining Fertilizer Manure Runoff Animals Soil P Water Plant P Detritus Sediments Animals

37. Whyis aquatic P pollution a problem? Phosphate Rocks P mining Fertilizer Excess available P leads to excessive growthand eutrophication Manure Runoff Animals Soil P Water Plant P Detritus Sediments Animals

38. Lake Eutrophication Fertilization of surface waters Excessive growth of primary producers Eventual nutrient limitation Death of over-growth Decomposition leads to O2 consumption Lake 226, Schindler et al. 1978

39. Lake Eutrophication Fertilization of surface waters Excessive growth of primary producers Eventual nutrient limitation Death of over-growth Decomposition leads to O2 consumption Environmental impacts:Low light, O2 depletion, changes in food-web structure make it difficult for many aquatic organisms to survive … Economic impacts: Cost of water treatment, fisheries, recreation, tourism… Lake 226, Schindler et al. 1978

40. Lake Eutrophication Fertilization of surface waters Excessive growth of primary producers Eventual nutrient limitation Death of over-growth Decomposition leads to O2 consumption Environmental impacts: Low light, O2 depletion, changes in food-web structure make it difficult for many aquatic organisms to survive … Economic impacts: Cost of water treatment, fisheries, recreation, tourism… Algal blooms occur in the shallow bays of Lake Champlain most summers

41. For example… Missisquoi Bay 149 mt/yr Mallets Bay 61 mt/yr Burlington Bay 2.5 mt/yr

42. Sources of P to Lake Champlain Point Sources Waste water treatment Urban storm water Industry Non-Point Sources Agriculture Forested Developed cchesebro.blogspot.com publicworks.houstontx.gov

43. Sources of P to Lake Champlain STREAM BANK EROSION AGRICULTURE Point Sources Waste water treatment Urban storm water Industry Non-Point Sources Agriculture Forested Developed Stream bank erosionon FORESTED/DEVELOPED J. Tyler, UVM B. Wemple, UVM

44. Sources of P to Lake Champlain STREAM BANK EROSION AGRICULTURE Point Sources Waste water treatment Urban storm water Industry Non-Point Sources Agriculture Forested Developed Stream bank erosionon FORESTED/DEVELOPED J. Tyler, UVM B. Wemple, UVM www.lcbp.org

45. Transport of Phosphorus to the Lake Non-Point SourceRunoff Point Source Effluent

46. Transport of Phosphorus to the Lake Non-Point SourceRunoff Point Source Effluent P + + + Dissolved Available P Sediment Bound P

47. Transport of Phosphorus to the Lake Non-Point SourceRunoff Point Source Effluent P The majority of P delivered to the Lake is bound to sediment. We can measure Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total P (TP), and Soluble Reactive P (SRP, available-P) to keep track of what’s being transported in rivers and streams. + + + Dissolved Available P Sediment Bound P

48. Transport of Phosphorus to the Lake Non-Point SourceRunoff Point Source Effluent P The majority of P delivered to the Lake is bound to sediment. If stream flow (Q) is known: Q (V/T) x [TP] (M/V) = P load (M/T) Q (V/T) x [TSS] (M/V) = Sed. load (M/T) V = volume; T = time; M = mass + + + Dissolved Available P Sediment Bound P

49. Phosphorus is everywhere. Phosphorus transport occurs between and within global P pools. P pollution is a problem because: It’s not sustainable Can damage ecosystems

50. Phosphorus availability and limitation in the environment There are many forms of P Available P Phosphorus is limiting because: High biological demand Behavior of phosphates in environment In excess, P leads to over-production and eutrophication