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Loading, Transformation, and Retention of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Tidal Freshwater James River (Virginia)

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Abstract

A nutrient mass balance for the tidal freshwater segment of the James River was used to assess sources of nutrients supporting phytoplankton production and the importance of the tidal freshwater zone in mitigating nutrient transport to marine waters. Monthly mass balances for 2007–2010 were based on riverine inputs, local point sources (including sewer overflow events), ungauged inputs, riverine outputs, and tidal exchange. The tidal freshwater James River received exceptionally high areal loads (446 mg TN m−2 day−1 and 55 mg TP m−2 day−1) compared to other estuaries in the region and elsewhere. P inputs were principally from riverine sources (84 %) whereas point sources contributed appreciably (54 %) to high N loads. Despite high loading rates and short water residence time, areal mass retention was high (143 mg TN m−2 day−1 and 33 mg TP m−2 day−1). Retention of particulate fractions occurred during high discharge, whereas dissolved inorganic fractions were retained during low discharge when chlorophyll-a concentrations were high. On an annualized basis, P was retained more effectively (59 %) than N (32 %). P was retained by abiotic mechanisms via trapping of particulate forms, whereas N was retained through biological assimilation of dissolved inorganic forms. Results from a limited suite of stable isotope determinations suggest that DIN from point sources was preferentially retained. Combined inputs from diffuse and point sources accounted for only 20 % and 36 % (respectively) of estimated algal N and P demand, indicating that internal nutrient recycling was important to sustaining high rates of phytoplankton production in the tidal freshwater zone.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to our colleagues at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities for sharing their data. We would like to acknowledge the diligence and efforts of field crews at VA DEQ and VCU who carry out the James River monitoring program as well as William Mac Lee who performed analyses of nutrient samples. WI was supported by a student research award from the VCU Rice Center and by a Thesis Fellowship from the VCU Graduate School. This paper is contribution #33 to the VCU Rice Center.

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  1. Center for Environmental Studies, Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA

    P. A. Bukaveckas & W. N. Isenberg

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  1. P. A. Bukaveckas
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Correspondence to P. A. Bukaveckas.

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Bukaveckas, P.A., Isenberg, W.N. Loading, Transformation, and Retention of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Tidal Freshwater James River (Virginia). Estuaries and Coasts 36, 1219–1236 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-013-9644-x

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