Technical Bulletin No. 0923: Nutrient-Algae Patterns of Periphyton and Water Column Chlorophyll A in the Long-Term Receiving Water Study Rivers: Variation with Site, Season, and Ye

Nutrient enrichment, in particular by nitrogen and phosphorus, can result in the proliferation of algal biomass and may have implications for ecosystem health. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required the states to develop nutrient criteria for waterbodies within their jurisdictions. In response to the development of nutrient criteria guidance documents by EPA, based in part at least upon the assumptions of periphyton and water column chlorophyll a (chl a) relationships with total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), nutrient and chl a data collected as part of NCASI’s Long-Term Receiving Water Study (LTRWS) were examined to determine spatial and temporal variation in nutrient concentrations, periphyton chlorophyll a (chl a), and water column chl a, and nutrient-chl a relationships.