Investigation of Environmental Problems in the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, Wisconsin
1988
Gunnison, Douglas | Barko, John W.
A study of environmental problems in the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, Wisconsin, was undertaken in response to a request from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to the US Army Engineer District, St. Paul, for planning assistance. The Big Eau Pleine Reservoir has had a history of winter fish kills and summer algal blooms since its construction in 1937 by the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company. The US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES) was asked to examine the results of previous studies and recommendations for water quality improvement and, if appropriate, to provide new recommendations. Results of the study indicated that the reservoir is a sink for total phosphorus but releases organic matter in the form of BOD. It was not possible to determine the degradability of organic matter deposited in the upstream delta or to ascertain how much of the reservoir phytoplankton production leaves the system or is degraded in the water column. Additional information on sediment transport, sedimentation rate, and sediment chemistry is required to fully understand the dynamics of sediment-water interactions in the reservoir. Further work is needed to comprehend the relationship between oxygen sags and chemical species released in the water column and to evaluate the effectiveness of an aerator installed in 1980. The WES scientists suggested several potential management alternatives and made recommendations for additional studies to provide the information needed to select the most suitable alternative(s).
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