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

Phosphorus MW: Hennig Brand, 1669 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 PO 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

Phosphorus MW: Hennig Brand, 1669 Focus Phosphate-containing molecules (oxidized P) inorganicorganic

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

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

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

Global Phosphorus Pools TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable (10 14 Tg) (10 16 Tg) (10 3 Tg)*

Global Phosphorus Pools TERRESTRIAL Organisms Soil AQUATIC Organisms Water ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable (10 14 Tg) (10 16 Tg) (10 3 Tg)* 1 g H 2 O 3.8 million times the weight of water in Lake Champlain (25.8 km 3 ) !

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

Global Phosphorus Pools ATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGIC Sediment Crust Mineable AQUATIC Organisms (10 2 Tg) Water ( Tg) TERRESTRIAL Organisms (10 3 Tg) Soil (10 5 Tg)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total P vs Available P Living things need P available P is quickly consumed...

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

Total P All P-containing molecules -Soluble inorganic P -Soluble organic P -Particle-bound inorganic P -Particle-bound organic P Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total P vs Available P

Total P All P-containing molecules -Soluble inorganic P -Soluble organic P -Particle-bound inorganic P -Particle-bound organic P PARTICLE Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total P vs Available P sediment

All P-containing molecules -Soluble inorganic P -Soluble organic P -Particle-bound inorganic P -Particle-bound organic P PARTICLE Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total P vs Available P

Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total P vs Available P Orthophosphateles -Soluble inorganic P -Soluble organic P -Particle-bound inorganic P -Particle-bound organic P

Phosphate (PO 4 3- ) 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’ Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total P vs Available P

Phosphate (PO 4 3- ) 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 +++ Intro to Environmental P Chemistry Total P vs Available P

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

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

Phosphate Rocks Fertilizer P mining Runoff Sediments Soil P Plant P Manure Detritus Water Animals Why is aquatic P pollution a problem? Excess available P leads to excessive growth and eutrophication

Lake Eutrophication Lake 226, Schindler et al Fertilization of surface waters Excessive growth of primary producers Eventual nutrient limitation Death of over-growth Decomposition leads to O 2 consumption

Lake Eutrophication Lake 226, Schindler et al Fertilization of surface waters Excessive growth of primary producers Eventual nutrient limitation Death of over-growth Decomposition leads to O 2 consumption Environmental impacts: Low light, O 2 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 Eutrophication Algal blooms occur in the shallow bays of Lake Champlain most summers Fertilization of surface waters Excessive growth of primary producers Eventual nutrient limitation Death of over-growth Decomposition leads to O 2 consumption Environmental impacts: Low light, O 2 depletion, changes in food-web structure make it difficult for many aquatic organisms to survive … Economic impacts: Cost of water treatment, fisheries, recreation, tourism…

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

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

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

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

Non-Point Source Runoff Transport of Phosphorus to the Lake Point Source Effluent

Transport of Phosphorus to the Lake Non-Point Source Runoff Point Source Effluent P Dissolved Available P Sediment Bound P

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

Transport of Phosphorus to the Lake Non-Point Source Runoff Point Source Effluent P Dissolved Available P Sediment Bound 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 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

Phosphorus is everywhere. Phosphorus transport occurs between and within global P pools. P pollution is a problem because: 1.It’s not sustainable 2.Can damage ecosystems

Phosphorus availability and limitation in the environment There are many forms of P Available P Phosphorus is limiting because: 1.High biological demand 2. Behavior of phosphates in environment In excess, P leads to over-production and eutrophication

Phosphorus in Lake Champlain Basin Phosphorus availability and limitation in the environment Shallow bays (e.g., Missisquoi, St. Albans) are threatened Environmental and economic impacts Stream monitoring to estimate sediment and P loads is critical!

Phosphorus in Lake Champlain Basin Phosphorus availability and limitation in the environment Thank you for helping us keep track of water quality in Lake Champlain Basin!

Questions?