Publications [#279509] of Lincoln F. Pratson

Papers Published

  1. Wildman, RA; Pratson, LF; DeLeon, M; Hering, JG, Physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of a reservoir sediment delta (Lake Powell, U.S.A.) and implications for water quality during low water level., Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 40 no. 2 (March, 2011), pp. 575-586, American Society of Agronomy, ISSN 0047-2425 [21520765], [doi]
    (last updated on 2023/06/01)

    Abstract:
    Lake Powell is a large reservoir in Utah and Arizona that has experienced large changes in water level during a recent drought. As a first step in assessing the connection between hydrologic and chemical changes at Lake Powell, we characterized the particle size and solid-phase bulk concentrations for 31 elements and 25 minerals in sediment from the inflow region and some shoreline locations by using laser diffractometry, X-ray fluorescence, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction Our results are consistent with previous results that show a negative correlation between particle size and concentrations of most elements and most minerals other than quartz and some feldspars. In our samples, however, solid-phase iron, rather than particle size or organic carbon, is the best predictor variable for the solid-phase concentrations of elements and minerals. Sediment characteristics vary on a scale of tens of kilometers, with fine sediment that is enriched in trace elementsnearer to the dam. These trends allow formulation of an algorithm for determining a water-level threshold below which sediment resuspension may alter water chemistry in a generic reservoir with a long and narrow sediment delta.

    Keywords:
    Arizona • Elements • Environmental Monitoring • Fresh Water • Geologic Sediments • Minerals • Particle Size • Utah • Water Supply* • analysis* • chemistry*

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