Document Type
Conference Paper
Publication Date
1991
Publication Title
Proceedings of the Back Bay Ecological Symposium
Pages
29-41
Conference Name
Back Bay Ecological Symposium
Abstract
Surface water samples from Back Bay, Virginia were analyzed for nutrient and total suspended solids on a monthly basis from April, 1986 through December, 1989. The concentrations of total phosphorus, erthophosphate, nitrite and nitrate nitrogen, and total ammonia generally fell within the "normal" range and did not indicate high nutrient loading. However, the concentrations of total suspended solids and total Kjeldahl nitrogen were high, exceeding EPA reference levels. Soil particles kept in suspension by wind driven wave action was the primary factor for the high concentration of total suspended solids. The high concentration of total Kjeldahl nitrogen was due to an abundance of organic matter, primarily plant detritus and plankton. Seasonal patterns were noted for nitrite and nitrate nitrogen, total ammonia, total suspended solids and total Kjeldahl nitrogen.
Repository Citation
Norman, Mitchell D. and Southwick, Ronald, "Nutrient and Total Suspended Solids Data for Back Bay (1986-1989)" (1991). I. Water Quality. 3.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/backbay1990_waterquality/3