Utilization of algal assays to assess the effects of municipal,industrial, and agricultural wastewater effluents upon phytoplankton production in the Snake River system

The most characteristic water quality problem of the Snake River Basin is the excessive aquatic growth and thick blooms of algae. The cause of these aquatic growths is related to the high concentrations of basic nutrients — nitrogen and phosphorus — in the Snake system. Industrial wastes, natural phosphate levels, irrigation return flows, municipal wastes, and the decay of aquatic biota all contribute to the nutrient balance which stimulates aquatic growths. Algal assays were conducted on waters of eighteen Snake River and tributary sites to: (1) determine if algal growth was consistent with results predicted from review of chemical analysis for orthophosphorus and total soluble inorganic N; (2) determine if algal yields were limited by P, N, or some other nutrient essential to algal growth; and (3) predict the effects of N or P additions on algal productivity.