Treating phosphorus stored in lake sediments

The majority of lakes around the world have large stores of phosphorus in the sediment that has built up over years of deposition from outside sources. Many lake managers focus on the deterioration of water quality and issues with increasing prevalence of algal blooms, without understanding where the real issue lies. Phosphorus that is stored in sediments can be re-released into the water column during times of lake inversion, temperature change, wind and current effects or changes in water chemistry. Phoslock has been used in a number of lakes around the world to bind dissolved phosphorus from the water column, and most importantly, prevent stored phosphorus in sediments entering the water column and enabling the formation of harmful algal blooms. One such lake is Lake Lorene, USA. The aerial photos below are of Lake Lorene in August 2011 (left) prior to treatment and July 2012 (right) after the Phoslock application.

More information on this and other lakes that have been treated with Phoslock for sediment remediation can be found at: https://www.petwatersolutions.com/irm/content/lakes-reservoirs-rivers-canals.aspx?RID=250