PRELIMINARY 210PB SEDIMENTATION RATES ON THE UPPER BLUE BASIN OF REELFOOT LAKE, NORTHWEST TENNESSEE

Recent ¹³⁷Cs measurements from five vibracores collected in June 2012 in the Upper Blue Basin of Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee suggest that ongoing conservation and management efforts have reduced sediment input into this portion of the Reelfoot Lake watershed. These new ¹³⁷Cs data point toward a reduction in sedimentation rates from 1.71 cm/yr over the 20 year interval from 1964 - 1984 as compared to 0.53 cm/yr over the period from 1964 to 2012. Preliminary ²¹⁰Pb measurements from core 2 were evaluated using a constant rate of ²¹⁰Pb supply (CRS) model. The ²¹⁰Pb data from core 2 above a depth of 55 cm show a strong degree of correlation (R² = 0.9847) despite bulk density variations (0.14 to 1.2 g/cm³). Using the Appleby method (2001), the ²¹⁰Pb sedimentation rates are calculated to be 0.152 g/cm²/yr, which is consistent with the ¹³⁷Cs sedimentation rates.