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Managing phosphorus loads from agricultural cranberry bogs to restore White Island Pond

Abstract The historical increase in phosphorus fertilizer application on commercial cranberry bogs from ∼1960 to 2008 is associated with the decline in water quality of White Island Pond, Plymouth/Wareham, Massachusetts. A total maximum daily load (TMDL) and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with cooperating groups required specific cranberry bog management practices to restore the lake. We used a cooperative approach among the University of Massachusetts, the growers, and the town with the assistance of a series of US Environmental Protection Agency 319 Program grants focusing on reduced fertilizer rates, discharge diversions, and an aluminum treatment of the lake to address the excess phosphorus inputs. In the East Basin of the pond, where total phosphorus (TP) summer concentrations previously averaged 82 μg/L, the concentrations dropped 41% over 4 years to 48 μg/L after fertilizer reductions and diversions of bog discharge floodwaters occurred at the cranberry bogs. After this source of phosphorus was controlled, an aluminum treatment was applied to East Basin in 2013 and to both basins in 2014. Subsequently, TP concentrations fell an additional 44% (85% total) in East Basin to a concentration of 12 μg/L in 2014. Summer average TP concentrations across the basins were 13 μg/L and met the TMDL target of 19 μg/L. The transparency has been restored, and the frequent cyanobacteria blooms have been eliminated. The new management guidance for bogs in the TMDL appendix offers a cooperative path toward restoration of lakes and streams while maintaining cranberry yields.