Potential use of hydroelectric facilities for manipulating the fertility of Lake Mead

Authors

Larry J. Paulson, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
John R. Baker, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
James E. Deacon, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

1979

Abstract

Analysis of historical nutrient data for Lake Mead indicates that the fertility of the reservoir has decreased which may be the cause for a corresponding decline in the largemouth bass population. However, it appears that fertility can be manipulated by altering the operation of the dam. The depletion of nutrients in the euphotic zone by phytoplankton and subsequent accumulation in the hypolimnion during summer and fall provide a natural nutrient gradient from which water of varying fertility can be drawn for discharge. This combined with alterations in the depth or seasonal pattern of discharge can possibly be used to enhance fertility and bass production in Lake Mead.

Keywords

Environmental monitoring; Freshwater fishes; Hoover Dam (Ariz.-Nev); Hydrodynamics; Lake Mead (Ariz. and Nev.); Limnology; Phytoplankton; Water analysis; Water quality

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Biochemistry | Biology | Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Environmental Sciences | Fresh Water Studies | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability

Language

English

Comments

"Paper presented at The Mitigation Symposium, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, July 16-20, 1979."--P. 296

Repository Citation

Paulson, L. J., Baker, J. R., Deacon, J. E. (1979). Potential use of hydroelectric facilities for manipulating the fertility of Lake Mead.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/water_pubs/60