Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1089/ees.2019.0146
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Impacts of varying dam outflow elevations on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient distributions in a large prairie reservoir
Author Carr, M.K.; Sadeghian, A.; Lindenschmidt, K.-E.; Rinke, K.; Morales-Marin, L.
Source Titel Environmental Engineering Science
Year 2020
Department SEEFO
Volume 37
Issue 1
Page From 78
Page To 97
Language englisch
Data and Software links https://dx.doi.org/10.20383/101.0134
Supplements https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/suppl/10.1089/ees.2019.0146/suppl_file/Supp_Appendix.docx
Keywords dam withdrawal; dissolved oxygen; nutrients; reservoir; temperature; water quality
Abstract Dam operations are known to have significant impacts on reservoir hydrodynamics and solute transport processes. The Gardiner Dam, one of the structures that forms the Lake Diefenbaker reservoir located in the Canadian Prairies, is managed for hydropower generation and agricultural irrigation and is known to have widely altering temperature regimes and nutrient circulations. This study applies the hydrodynamic and nutrient CE-QUAL-W2 model to explore how various withdrawal depths (5, 15, 25, 35, 45, and 55 m) influence the concentrations and distribution of nutrients, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO) within the Lake Diefenbaker reservoir. As expected, the highest dissolved nutrient (phosphate, and nitrate, ) concentrations were associated with hypoxic depth horizons in both studied years. During summer high flow period spillway operations impact the distribution of nutrients, water temperatures, and DO as increased epilimnion flow velocities route the incoming water through the surface of the reservoir and reduce mixing and surface warming. This reduces reservoir concentrations but can lead to increased outflow nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations. Lower withdrawal elevations pull warmer surface water deeper within the reservoir and decrease reservoir DO during summer stratification. During fall turnover low outflow elevations increase water column mixing and draws warmer water deeper, leading to slightly higher temperatures and nutrient concentrations than shallow withdrawal elevations. The 15 m depth (540 m above sea level) outflow generally provided the best compromise for overall reservoir and outflow nutrient reduction.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=22448
Carr, M.K., Sadeghian, A., Lindenschmidt, K.-E., Rinke, K., Morales-Marin, L. (2020):
Impacts of varying dam outflow elevations on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient distributions in a large prairie reservoir
Environ. Eng. Sci. 37 (1), 78 - 97 10.1089/ees.2019.0146