Phosphorus As A Stressor

1. Phosphorus As A Stressor Alexandra Arntsen, Alison Foster, Scott Ritter April 2011

2. Problem Statement:Excess phosphorus loading in Lake Champlain is affecting overall water quality through increased growth rates of photosynthetic aquatic plant life and the subsequent reduction of dissolved oxygen.

3. Two types of phosphorus: 1) Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) - passes through 0.45 micron filter -mostly occurs as dissolved reactive phosphorus that is 100% bioavailable -form taken up by plants 2) Particulate Phosphorus - trapped in 0.45 micron filter - mostly unavailable

4. Where do we find available SRP? • Also known as orthophosphates or reactive phosphorus, available SRP can be impacted by various factors: • Wastewater and septic system effluent • Fertilizers • Animal waste • Detergents • Impervious surfaces • Industrial discharge • Drinking water treatment • Synthetic materials, such as those used for construction

5. Source Pathways (exposure) 0 = no exposure, 1 = known exposure, 0.5 = unsure

6. Agriculture • Comprises 14% of the basin’s land area, contributes 38% of total nonpoint source phosphorus • Sources are: manure, commercial fertilizer runoff from fields, soil erosion, runoff from livestock concentration areas, milk house effluent, livestock access to streams and ponds Photo: LCBP poster series

7. Urban Sources include: -Roads/dirt on roads-Detergents-Over application of fertilizer-Leaves and grass trimmings Photo: LCBP poster series

8. Waste Water Treatment Facilities • Mean annual discharge of phosphorus in 2007-2008 was 50.694 mt/yr • 10% of the total phosphorus load

9. Fisheries • Point sources, including fisheries, contribute 10% to the total phosphorus loading into the lake. • Kingsland Bay State Park has seen discharges of 10 ppb outside of the hatchery

10. Forested Area • 15% of the average annual nonpoint phosphorus load to Lake Champlain • Approximately only 1%percent of the basin’s commercial forest lands are harvested each year

11. Industrial Paper Mills • In one of two forms- particulate or SRP • Load reduction technology is expensive and has shown to have a 67% reduction in some areas Landfills • Leaching from metals has been shown to result in phosphrous runoff Waste from an old lumber mill in Willsboro, NY

12. Parks Phosphorus loading from the use of fertilizers and impervious surfaces View from Oakledge Park, VT

13. Source Pathways (Impact Filter) 4 = large impact, 2 = less impact, 1= small impact, 0.5 = unsure, 0 = no impact

14. Habitat Pathways (Exposure Filter) 0 = no exposure, 1 = known exposure, 0.5 = unsure

15. Shallow Lake Champlain (<6ft.)and Other Lakes and Ponds Source: VT DEC Water Quality Division

16. Deep Lake Champlain (>6ft.) • Altered shallow water habitat due to loss of aquatic plant diversity results in populations shifts for fish occurring at deeper levels Source: Lake Champlain Ecosystem Assessment

17. Rivers and Streams • Phosphorus from all sources can enter into rivers and streams • Stationary waters are effected same as shallow water Lamoille River

18. Wetlands • Wetlands can be both a source and sink for phosphorus. • 300,000 acres of wetlands in basin Wetland in South Hero, VT

19. Habitat Pathways (Impact Filter) 4 = large impact, 2 = less impact, 1= small impact, 0.5 = unsure, 0 = no impact

20. Diagram of phosphorus loading by watershed

21. Phosphorus loading by land use in each watershed

22. Nonpoint source loading from agriculture, urban, and forests by watershed

23. Limitations • Non-point sources are not broken down often in literature, making them difficult to quantify. • Specific discharge data is not available for many sources outside of WWTPs.

24. Recommendations • Regulate fertilizer useage • Focus more greatly on BMPs; consider their enforcement is strong enough • Focus on BMPs in agriculture • Reduce impervious cover and reducing stormwater • More BMPs, retention ponds, wetlands, etc.