A STUDY OF SEDIMENTATION RATE AND ELEMENTAL TRENDS IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH BASINS OF CONESUS LAKE, WESTERN NEW YORK

This study aims to establish a sedimentation rate for the north and south basins of Conesus Lake (Livingston County, NY) using analytical techniques. Conesus Lake is the westernmost finger lake and is categorized as a mesotrophic lake, documenting the introduction of invasive taxa throughout the 20th century, along with ongoing remediation that started in the late 1990’s. Piston cores were collected from the deep regions of the north and south basins, resulting in 145.5 cm of core in the north basin (at 11.13 m water depth) and 121 cm core in the south basin (at 16.68 m water depth). Both cores were split, imaged, and analyzed using a Geotek multi-sensor core logger at Syracuse University. Sedimentation rate will be determined by comparing X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data to abundance of clay minerals from X-ray diffraction (XRD) to pinpoint historic land-use changes in the watershed.

Preliminary results indicate variable sedimentation rates in the north and south basins, with the south basin displaying greater sedimentation rates. The sedimentation rate in both cores increased after European settlement in the 1790’s and after industrial practices were introduced in the 1850’s. The abundance of XRF elements in the south displays a constant sedimentation rate until 63 cm from the surface, showing a dramatic increase in concentrations of certain elements. Concentrations increased from 63 cm to 30 cm followed by a gradual decline in concentrations towards the surface. The abundance of XRF elements in the north displays a constant sedimentation rate up to 110 cm from the surface. Elemental concentrations decreased from 110 to 30 cm, followed by an increase between 50 cm and 25 cm. Towards the surface, there was a decline in concentrations. Using a calculated sedimentation rate along with known elemental concentrations correlated to human activity, we hope to gain further insight into the effects of anthropogenic activity on systems like Conesus Lake.