Fate and transport of phosphorus in the Lake Okeechobee Basin, Florida

Recent water quality problems in Lake Okeechobee are thought to be related to agricultural activity in the drainage basins of the lake that introduce significant quantities of phosphorus into its hydrologic cycle. Under the sponsorship of the South Florida Water Management District, a large research program has been undertaken to identify the specific activities contributing phosphorus to the lake, quantify the magnitude of this contribution, gain an understanding of phosphorus behavior in the basin and quantify the fate and transport of phosphorus within the basin. This paper summarizes current understanding of the fate and transport of phosphorus in the Lake Okeechobee basin with specific reference to recently completed research.