Examination of the relationship between bottom sediment and overlying water quality in recreational waters

Abstract

Bottom sediment and overlying water fecal coliform (FC) densities were quantified to determine relative stability relationships between these two populations in two central Arizona pumped storage reservoirs. Several environmental parameters were also examined to assess their relative influences on overlying water and bottom sediment FC densities. Bottom sediment FC densities were not found to be more stable than or to provide an index of FC densities in overlying waters. Beach slope, beach configuration, and pool elevations were the environmental parameters which appeared to influence FC densities. In contrast to previous research speculations, these results do not support the use of bottom sediment FC densities as a more stable index of overlying water FC densities. In addition, overlying water FC densities were significantly correlated with pool elevations and were concentrated in tidal zone areas of pumped storage reservoirs.