Eutrophication as a ‘wicked’ problem

Abstract

Eutrophication, or the enrichment of lakes and reservoirs with plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, is an ongoing concern facing human societies around the world. Once thought to have been resolved using engineering approaches such as municipal wastewater treatment and storm water management, the problem of nutrient enrichment not only persists, but even continues to increase, being manifested in harmful algal blooms, limitations on access to safe drinking water supplies, and related concerns associated with fresh water in lakes and reservoirs. The continuing concern surrounding eutrophication fulfils the many attributes of a 'wicked' or complex problem facing society. This report reviews seriatim the ten attributes of a wicked problem, and the implications of these attributes for lake and reservoir management are discussed. Recognition of eutrophication as a wicked problem requires site-specific approaches, based on specific knowledge of individual water bodies, as well as an ongoing commitment to lake and reservoir management to respond to new manifestations of the problems of nutrient enrichment as they continue to be revealed over time.Key words eutrophication, eutrophication management, integrated lake basin management, lake and reservoir management, payments for improving ecosystem services at the watershed-scale.

Harmful algal blooms and climate change: Learning from the past and present to forecast the future

“…There is little experimental or theoretical information to indicate that changes in macronutrient supply and form will lead directly to a switch towards HAB species and bloom events in most marine environments, in contrast to the impact of increased phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to brackish and freshwater environments (e.g., Thornton et al, 2013). Futurist visions of climate-driven increases in harmful algal blooms often emphasize “Global Change” issues, which include population-driven anthropogenic alterations of the earth system, and there is little dispute that future population increases are likely to alter regional nitrogen or phosphorus cycles (e.g., Glibert et al, 2006).…”

Linking ecological data and economics to estimate the total economic value of improving water quality by reducing nutrients

“…Excess concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus cause eutrophication, which impairs water quality by causing many deleterious effects, including: harmful algal blooms, hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen), reduced wildlife diversity, and habitat degradation (Dodds, 2006;Barica, 1981). While nutrient over-enrichment can be a problem, it can be difficult to determine the point at which excess nutrients will result in these damaging effects (Burkart et al, 2011;Jarvie et al, 2013;Thornton et al, 2013). Furthermore, the effects of any given nutrient concentration varies from place-to-place because nutrient responses can be mitigated or exacerbated by site specific factors such as light availability, substrate suitability, groundwater inputs, and adaptations of native fauna to low dissolved oxygen environments (Knowlton and Jones, 2006).…”

Sedimentation and internal phosphorus loads in Krishnagiri Reservoir, India

“…Pore water total phosphorus is an important indicator of its release from sediments, which may be site specific (Thornton et al . ) and must be monitored to calculate reasonable load estimates. Phosphate turnover and circulation may be influenced by hydrological dynamics, perhaps becoming the driving force, as reported for some Polish reservoirs (Trojanowska & Jezierski ).…”