An investigation of the role of aquatic plants in the cycling of phosphorus and nitrogen in Murphy's Bottom Lake, Armstrong County, PA

The objectives established for the Murphy's Bottom Ecological Project are to obtain baseline biological inventories and establish a Master Plan for reclamation of the 100 acre site located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Reclamation plans include connecting the 20+ acre Lake, formed by sand and gravel removal, to the Allegheny River to form a backwater wetlands. This study produced a macrophyte species list, mapped the macrophyte community and determined water and plant phosphorus concentrations and water nitrogen concentrations. Replicable laboratory methods for the analysis of these nutrient concentrations were adapted from established molybdenum blue, Nitrate Electrode and HACH Cadmium Reduction Methods. Geographic coordinates, Global Information System (GIS) software and quadrant sampling was used to estimate the total biomass of various macrophyte species at the site. Total phosphorus data and total biomass data were combined to determine the total amount of phosphorus in the Murphy's Bottom Lake.