Disruption in water quality patterns along the river continuum by a large bottom release dam

Westhorpe, DP; Mitrovic, SM; Growns, IO; Hadwen, WL; Rees, GN

Disruption in water quality patterns along the river continuum by a large bottom release dam

Westhorpe, DP Mitrovic, SM

Growns, IO Hadwen, WL Rees, GN

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 2015, 22 (4), pp. 400 - 416
Issue Date:: 2015-10-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Westhorpe, DP	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mitrovic, SM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5528-2215	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Growns, IO	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hadwen, WL	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Rees, GN	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-10-02	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 2015, 22 (4), pp. 400 - 416	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1448-6563	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/35844
dc.description.abstract	© 2015 Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand Inc. Understanding longitudinal variation in water quality along rivers and how they are influenced by large dams is important for both ecological theory and river management. This study examines longitudinal changes in water quality downstream of a large bottom release dam (Lake Copeton) on the Gwydir River, Australia. We compared longitudinal changes in water quality variables from sites upstream and downstream of Lake Copeton over a two-year period and a total river distance of approximately 200 km. Lake Copeton acted as a source of nitrogen as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and phosphorus as filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP). A significant increase in the concentration of NOx and FRP was evident downstream of the dam, particularly in summer with elevated concentrations detected up to 60 km downstream. Significantly lower chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations and electrical conductivity (EC) were evident below the dam. Mean nutrient concentrations declined with increased distance downstream of Lake Copeton while Chl-a concentrations increased, suggesting uptake by autotrophs. This study suggests that Copeton Dam disrupts the river continuum for nutrients, Chl-a and EC as predicted by the serial discontinuity concept, with recovery occurring approximately 60 km downstream.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australasian Journal of Environmental Management	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/14486563.2014.999133	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences	en_US
dc.title	Disruption in water quality patterns along the river continuum by a large bottom release dam	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	22	en_US
utslib.for	060204 Freshwater Ecology	en_US
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	22	en_US

Abstract:

© 2015 Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand Inc. Understanding longitudinal variation in water quality along rivers and how they are influenced by large dams is important for both ecological theory and river management. This study examines longitudinal changes in water quality downstream of a large bottom release dam (Lake Copeton) on the Gwydir River, Australia. We compared longitudinal changes in water quality variables from sites upstream and downstream of Lake Copeton over a two-year period and a total river distance of approximately 200 km. Lake Copeton acted as a source of nitrogen as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and phosphorus as filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP). A significant increase in the concentration of NOx and FRP was evident downstream of the dam, particularly in summer with elevated concentrations detected up to 60 km downstream. Significantly lower chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations and electrical conductivity (EC) were evident below the dam. Mean nutrient concentrations declined with increased distance downstream of Lake Copeton while Chl-a concentrations increased, suggesting uptake by autotrophs. This study suggests that Copeton Dam disrupts the river continuum for nutrients, Chl-a and EC as predicted by the serial discontinuity concept, with recovery occurring approximately 60 km downstream.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/35844