Chemistry and microbiology of newly flooded soils: relationship to reservoir-water quality.

Abstract

Upon filling, a new reservoir undergoes several years of intensive biological and chemical transformations resulting from the decomposition of flooded organic matter together with reductive reactions of inorganic portions of the soil. Decomposition of flooded substrates provides a source of food valuabel fish species, but also lowers dissolved oxygen. Microbial interactions with flooded soil components result in release of algal growth promoting nutrients plus various metals and sulfide, making achievement of water quality objectives difficult. In addition to an examination of the microbially-mediated release of nuurients and metals from flooded soil, this chapter also describes the effects of temperature and reservoir aging upon oxygen uptake and nutrient regeneration. Emphasis is also given to the unique hydrodynamic properties of reservoirs. -from Authors