Sources and yields of nutrient and organic loadings in the Roanoke River Basin above Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Sources and yields of nutrient and organic loadings in the Upper Roanoke River Basin were investigated during the summer low flow period of 1971. Parameters monitored at sampling stations in the basin included biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, total phosphate, orthophosphate, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These data were used in conjunction with flow and drainage area data to determine the relative magnitude and daily yields of nutrient and organic yields from various sources. Sources of nutrient and organic materials entering the basin included rural and urban land drainage, and domestic and industrial wastewater effluents. The yields of materials from the various sources were computed in order to determine the magnitude of each in contributing to the fertilization of Smith Mountain Lake. The domestic wastewater effluents were found to be the prime contributors of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the upper basin. Urban land drainage was found to be the major runoff source of· phosphorus, while rural land found to be the greatest drainage source of nitrogen. It was found that diversion of all wastewater effluents 'in the tributary watershed would not reduce the concentration.of macronutrients in the Roanoke River flow to the levels generally promulgated as being adequate to support excessive productivity in lenitic aquatic environments.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sanitary Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Sanitary Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1972

Author dc:creator

• Grizzard, Thomas J.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/70551

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/70551