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PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPHASE RESTORATION EFFORTS AT LIBERTY LAKE, WASHINGTON
Citation:
Funk, W., H. Gibbons, G. Bailey, S. Mawson, AND M. Gibbons. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPHASE RESTORATION EFFORTS AT LIBERTY LAKE, WASHINGTON. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-82/005.
Description:
Liberty Lake is a 288 ha body of water located in Eastern Washington. In 1974 an alum treatment of the lake, aimed at late summer and fall release of phosphorus, successfully demonstrated the need to control internal cycling of nutrients (especially phosphorus) as well as surface and subsurface input. Macrophytes growing in rich sediments acted as nutrient pumps releasing phosphorus above the floc layer. This event--as well as flushing of the bird refuge and marshland to the south of the lake and continued input of septic tanks--overcame the alum treatment within three years. The three-year respite marked the first period in 10 years to be free of bluegreen algae problems. Long term restoration efforts began in 1978-79 with sewering of the lake periphery.