Groundwater inflow and associated transport of phosphorus to a hypereutrophic lake

Hydrogeochemical data from lake, sediment pore, and well waters were used to quantify groundwater seepage and the associated transport of phosphorus to Lake Persimmon, Florida, USA. The data show that lake chloride concentrations vary as a function of lake elevations that are controlled by groundwater inflow. A whole-lake average seepage rate, estimated using a simple one dimensional advection-diffusion model fitted to the lake chloride profile, currently averages 2.3 ± 0.3 cm yr^-1 and is in reasonable agreement with the rate of advective flow obtained from the pore water chloride profile. The ratios of nutrient regeneration versus sulfate consumption indicate that the phosphorus enrichment in deeper portions of sediment pore water is most likely a result of groundwater phosphorus transport through sediment. Thus, the net inputs of groundwater phosphorus to the lake, calculated using the deep pore water phosphorus concentration, are about 7.4 ± 4.3 mg P m^-2 yr^-1 and comparable with recent in situ estimates from seepage meters. This study provides a simple hydrogeochemical method for estimating hydrologic and phosphorus inputs via groundwater to the lake, thereby supporting current efforts for lake management.