Effects of Reduced Inflows on Diel pH and Site-Specific Contaminant Hazards

Abstract

Climatic changes are commonly recognized to alter freshwater ecosystems. This chapter provides a unique perspective on the implications of climate change for reservoir inflows, water quality assessment, and management of aquatic contaminants influenced by site-specific pH. The various physical, biological, and chemical dynamics of reservoir zones are reviewed and a case study of four reservoirs in Texas demonstrates that reduced inflows and daily pH variability have direct implications for the collection, analysis and interpretation of water quality data. The chapter concludes with recommendations for reservoir water quality assessment and manage- ment, particularly given the prospect of increased frequency and duration of drought conditions in the southwestern and south-central U.S