Lake and Phosphorus Inputs: A Focus on Management

Abstract

Dissolved phosphorus is the element that most influences the productivity of freshwater lakes and impoundments. Algae affect the quality and appearance of water. They affect the level of fish production. They also affect the costs of filtering water supplies for domestic and industrial use. This summary report is intended for use by decision makers in government, the leaders of various organizations and agencies, and interested citizens. It has attempted to point out that there are differences in appropriate control strategies that can be applied and differences in perceptions of the individual families and communities involved. Consequently, flexible policies and institutional arrangements well be needed and can be used without irreversible damage being done to lakes during a progressive “test-and-evaluate” approach.