Geoengineering in lakes: welcome attraction or fatal distraction?

The use of geoengineering techniques for phosphorus management offers the promise of greater and quicker chemical and ecological recovery. It can be attractive when used with other restoration measures but should not be considered a panacea. The range of materials being proposed for use as well as the in-lake processes targeted for manipulation continues to grow. With increasing political imperatives to meet regulatory goals for water quality, we recommend a coordinated approach to the scientific understanding, costs, and integration of geoengineering with other approaches to lake management

Geo-Engineering in Lakes: A Crisis of Confidence?

The effective management of lakes suffering from eutrophication is confounded by a mosaic of interactions and feedbacks that are difficult to manipulate. For example, in lake processes can delay the relinquishment of legacy phosphorus (P) manifested within bed sediments for decades, even after effective catchment management. This recovery time is often deemed unacceptable and researchers have explored many in-lake management measures designed to “speed-up” recovery. The manipulation of biogeochemical processes (commonly targeting P) using materials to achieve a desired chemical and/or ecological response has been termed geo-engineering in lakes, and is becoming a commonly considered eutrophication management tool (Figure 1). Although this approach has been employed for many years it remains contentious largely due to variable results reported in the literature. This uncertainty risks ineffective management based on poorly designed or inappropriate applications. To address this, it is important that current levels of confidence in the approach be effectively communicated and that methods of increasing confidence are clearly demonstrated. We draw here on experiences of researchers and water managers at a global scale to demonstrate recent advances and consensus on recommendations (numbered below) for best practice. This information, although vital to underpinning successful management, has not been available in the peer reviewed literature