Paper No. 23
Presentation Time: 2:30 PM

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


DUNAGAN, Stan, Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources, The University of Tennessee at Martin, 256 Brehm Hall, Martin, TN 38238, POLYAKOV, Viktor, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Southwest Watershed Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd, Tucson, AZ 85719 and LEDSINGER, Terri K., Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Jackson, TN 38305, sdunagan@utm.edu

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.