Abstract
Palaeolimnological studies of sediments from Slapton Ley and Loe Pool, two coastal freshwater lakes in Southwest England, show that in the period since 1945, they have been eutrophicated by nutrient inputs from intensification of agriculture, but also from sewage effluent. Two simple models have been used to identify the main sources of catchment outputs, and in the case of Slapton Ley, to evaluate historical changes in land use, and their likely effect on lake trophic status.
Restoration strategies may also be evaluated using the same models. They suggest that in order to reduce loads on either lake to within OECD permissible limits, not only will all sewage inputs need to be prevented, and non-phosphate detergents used, but also losses from agricultural land must be reduced. This could take the form of the keeping of fewer cattle (the main source of organic nitrogen and phosphorus in both catchments), or the zoning of the respective catchments so that steep slopes close to riparian zones are not used, as at present, for the grazing of livestock.
A better option, however, would appear to be the establishment along most of the rivers draining into these lakes, of buffer strips of woodland at least 15 m wide. According to the models, this measure, along with treatment or diversion of sewage effluent, would reduce phosphorus loads upon the lakes to within acceptable limits.
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O’Sullivan, P.E. (1992). The eutrophication of shallow coastal lakes in Southwest England — understanding and recommendations for restoration, based on palaeolimnology, historical records, and the modelling of changing phosphorus loads. In: Ilmavirta, V., Jones, R.I. (eds) The Dynamics and Use of Lacustrine Ecosystems. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 79. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2745-5_44
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2745-5_44
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