Decline in nitrogen concentrations of eutrophic Lake Dianchi associated with policy interventions during 2002-2018*

Excessive nutrient discharges have resulted in pervasive water pollution and aquatic eutrophication. China has made massive efforts to improve water quality since 2000. However, how long-term policy interventions govern external and internal fluxes as well as nitrogen (N) concentrations is not well known. Here we examined the historical N concentration change and its key drivers in eutrophic Lake Dianchi (southwest China) over the period 2002-2018, based on monthly observations of water quality and external N fluxes, local surveys of mitigation measures, and process-based model simulations of internal N fluxes. Our data indicated that N concentrations peaked at 3.0 mg L-1 in 2007-2010 but afterwards declined down to 1.2 mg L-1 in 2018. Compared with 2010, the decline in lake N concentrations was attributed to reduced riverine N inflow decreasing by 0.20 g N m- 3 month-1 and the water-sediment exchange flux decreasing by 0.07 g N m- 3 month-1 from 2010 to 2018. Adoptions of wastewater treatment, pollution interception, and transboundary water transfer dominated the changes in external and internal fluxes of N and thereby the decline of lake N concentrations. These findings underscore the priority of reducing external discharge for historical lake water quality improvement and the need of enhancing internal N removal for future lake ecosystem restoration.

Automated summary

China has made efforts to improve water quality since 2000, resulting in a decrease in N concentrations in Lake Dianchi from a peak in 2007-2010 to 1.2 mg L-1 in 2018. Reducing external discharge is a priority for historical lake water quality improvement, while enhancing internal N removal is crucial for future lake ecosystem restoration.