Article: Nutrients in Lakes and Streams

Nutrients in Lakes and Streams

When considering the water quality of lakes and streams, two important questions come to mind: "What are nutrients?" And: "Why are nutrients a problem in lakes and streams?"

Nutrients are chemical elements critical to the development of plant and animal life. In healthy lakes and streams, nutrients are needed for the growth of algae that form the base of a complex food web supporting the entire aquatic ecosystem . The most common nutrients in lakes and streams are nitrogen and phosphorus.

Under the right conditions, including abundant nutrients, algae and aquatic plants will continue to grow and multiply well beyond the amount needed to support the ...

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