Review of suspended sediment in lower South Bay relevant to light attenuation and phytoplankton blooms

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Abstract

Lower South Bay (LSB), a shallow subembayment of San Francisco Bay (SFB), is situated south of the Dumbarton Bridge, and is surrounded by, and interconnected with, a network of sloughs, marshes, and former salt ponds undergoing restoration (Figure ES.1). LSB receives 120 million gallons per day of treated wastewater effluent from three publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) that service San Jose and the densely populated surrounding region. During the dry season, when flows from creeks and streams are at their minimum, POTW effluent comprises the majority of freshwater flow to Lower South Bay. Although LSB has a large tidal prism, it experiences limited net exchange with the surrounding Bay, because much of the water that leaves on ebb tides returns during the subsequent flood tides. The limited exchange leads to distinctly different biogeochemical conditions in LSB compared to other SFB subembayments, including LSB having the highest nutrient concentrations and highest phytoplankton biomass.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Other Government Series
Title Review of suspended sediment in lower South Bay relevant to light attenuation and phytoplankton blooms
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher San Francisco Estuary Institute & Aquatic Science Center
Publisher location Richmond, CA
Contributing office(s) California Water Science Center
Description 24 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype Other Report
Larger Work Title Lower South Bay Nutrient Synthesis
First page 23
Last page 56
Country United States
State California
City San Francisco
Other Geospatial Lower South Bay
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