Manitoba Prairie Lakes: Mass balance budget for nutrient management at Pelican Lake, Manitoba

While the water quality of many prairie lakes is monitored and the extent of the eutrophication—and associated negative consequences—generally understood, information on the specific nutrient sources and in-lake processes is often insufficient to identify specific management options.

This study sought to conduct a water and nutrient mass balance, identifying the variance and relative importance of different nutrient sources and internal lake processes for a lake that could be used as a general model for other prairie lakes. As with many other shallow prairie lakes, the eutrophication of Pelican Lake has become increasingly pronounced over recent years.