Assessment of the long-term effectiveness of sediment dredging to reduce benthic phosphorus release in shallow Lake Müggelsee (Germany)

Two series of laboratory experiments mimicking dredging of the uppermost phosphorus (P) rich sediment layers of the shallow eutrophic L. Müggelsee were carried out to study the extent of P release from deeper sediment layers, and changes in P mobility by means of fractional P composition of the in 10 cm steps ‘dredged’ sediment cores. In the first run over 38 days, the aerated controls reached 55%, and the ‘dredged’ cores from 18.1% (−10 cm) down-core to 0.4% (−50 cm) of the non-aerated control (50.82 mg P m−2 d−1 = 100%). In the second run over one year, the fractional P composition in the revealed sediment layers changed slightly. The water-soluble P (H2O-P) increased for the respective ‘dredged’ horizon by between 1.5 and 5.6% TP. The redox-sensitive P (BD-P) increased in each horizon from the intact core to the situation following ‘dredging’, as well as with depth in each horizon from 4.9% TP (−10 cm) to 11.4% TP (−40 cm). The organic bound P portion (NaOH-NRP) decreased least (1.7% TP) in the uppermost layer and most (15.6% TP) in the deepest horizon exposed to water after ‘dredging’. Based on the changes in P pools following dredging at the future sediment–water interface, it is predictable that dredging without reduction of the external loading may give only temporary improvement followed by a slow return to the present situation.