Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Application Of A Diatom-Based Transfer Function To Evaluate Regional Water-Quality Trends In Minnesota Since 1970, J. M. Ramstack, Sherilyn C. Fritz, D. R. Engstrom, S. A. Heiskary

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Significant population growth over the last three decades, as well as efforts to improve surface-water quality mandated by the Clean Water Act, potentially have had opposing influences on aquatic ecosystems in the U.S. Because historical data on water-quality trends are limited over this time period, we developed a diatom-based transfer function to reconstruct chloride, color, acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), total phosphorus (TP), and pH in 55 Minnesota lakes. The lakes span three different ecoregions, as well as the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and differ in their history of settlement and land use, and in surficial geology, climate, and vegetation. Lakes …