Trophic state decrease after lanthanum-modified bentonite (Phoslock) application to a hyper-eutrophic polymictic urban lake frequented by Canada geese (Branta canadensis)

Urban lakes are important assets to highly populated regions; however, extensive usage and other influences degrade their water quality, which then requires rehabilitation and maintenance. Hyper-eutrophic Swan Lake, Greater Toronto, Canada (5.5 ha, 4.4 m maximum depth) was a gravel pit that became degraded by elevated total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, mostly from internal P sources. Because Swan Lake is a terminal lake with limited flushing and small external load, a phosphate adsorbing and sediment capping agent, lanthanum-modified bentonite (Phoslock), was applied in spring 2013 to intercept the internal load. Average TP concentration decreased from 0.247 to 0.099 mg/L in the first and 0.060 mg/L in the second post-treatment year. A TP mass balance model adequately predicted post-treatment annual average TP concentration by not including the pre-treatment internal load estimate of 650 to 1100 mg/m²/yr. Phytoplankton biomass decreased only in the second post-treatment year, when Secchi transparency (highly correlated with chlorophyll concentration) increased to a growing season average of 1.4 m (range 0.7–2.7) compared to 0.5 m (0.37–0.63) before treatment. We explain the lack of response in the first treatment year with a relatively late application (29 Apr–1 May 2013), when P released from the winter bottom sediments had already been taken up by phytoplankton. Recently, a growing population of waterfowl (mostly Canada goose, Branta canadensis) were the highest contributors of nutrients (75%), as indicated by a mass balance based on literature-derived goose P export and biweekly bird census. We recommend waterfowl management or repeated treatment to further improve water quality.