BMBF-Förderschwerpunkt "Sustainable Landmanagement"

A reservoir acts as a reactor with the input of nutrients from the watershed as well as by internal input from lake sediments; this leads to an eutrophication of the water body with increased bioproduction, occurrence of undesired species and emission of greenhouse gases, mainly methane. Deficits still exist in an adapted management of reservoirs, especially in nutrient control, and within this research project a transdisciplinary approach will be developed with the key factors oligotrophication, reduction of methane emissions, and excavation of sediments and their re-use for soil amendment. The assessment and localization of methane emissions will be quantified, as well as the significance of submerged and periodically desiccated sediments in the littoral zone.