Cultured Ecology Generation 2: Demonstrating Nutrient and Fine Particle Removal in Tahoe Basin Stormwater
Cultured Ecology Generation 2: Demonstrating Nutrient and Fine Particle Removal in Tahoe Basin Stormwater Alan Heyvaert1 Steve Patterson2 Scott Brown3 John Reuter4 Collin Strasenburgh4 June 25, 2010 Prepared by 1Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences Reno, NV 89521 2Bio x Design, PO Box 1293, Poteau, OK 74953 3Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, 400 Dorla Court, Zephyr Cove NV 89448 4University of California, Davis, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Davis, CA 95616 Prepared for Nevada Division of State Lands, 901 S. Stewart Street, Suite 5003, Carson City, NV 89701 Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, 901 South Stewart St, Suite 4001, Carson City, NV 89701 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ABSTRACT A demonstration project utilizing cultured periphyton to treat stormwater runoff was constructed, operated, and monitored for approximately nine months (mid-February to early November) in 2008, located adjacent to a set of existing stormwater ponds in Incline Village, Nevada. The main goal of this project was to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of periphyton-based cultured ecologies as a biologically-based advanced treatment system to reduce fine sediment particles and nutrient loads entering Lake Tahoe. A pilot study in 2006 had provided encouraging results, so the demonstration project was designed as a second generation approach to test the cultured periphyton treatment methods in a real-world setting. A three-tank system was constructed and seeded with locally occurring periphyton species. Once established, periphyton growth was harvested approximately every two to four weeks. Samples for water chemistry analysis were collected approximately every two weeks, once before harvesting of the periphyton, and once midway between harvests.
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