Biomass production and chemical cycling in a man-made geothermal wetland

Conference · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5937111

Breckenridge, R P; Wheeler, L R; Ginsburg, J F

Biomass production and, to a lesser extent, chemical cycling have been evaluated in a man-made wetland created using geothermal water in southcentral Idaho. The wetland system consisted of a 0.25 ha area divided into two ponds. The upper pond contained submerged species (Egeria, pondweeds and coontail); the lower pond was planted with emergents (cattail, bulrush, and common reed). Biomass production from emergent plants in the two-year-old system was promising and compared favorably with production values reported in the literature for natural wetlands. Chemical cycling of potassium (K) was evaluated through the lower pond system. Uptake of several other constituents (F and Na) of the geothermal water by the emergent plants was observed. However, there was little difference in elemental concentrations of the system's influent and effluent, probably due to evapotranspiration of water which effectively concentrates elements in the remaining water. Twenty-one species of diatoms were identified in the geothermal wetland, and numerous species of insects were observed. The man-made wetland also created substantial habitat for wildlife. This type of system could be used as an alternative to injection of spent geothermal fluids from small-scale projects. Study results indicate that a wetland system can be developed to produce substantial quantities of biomass in a cold desert environment.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5937111
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-11383; CONF-8306103-1; ON: DE83015546
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
ALGAE
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIOMASS
DIATOMS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
GROUND DISPOSAL
Geothermal Legacy
HABITAT
IDAHO
MANAGEMENT
MINERAL CYCLING
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
PRODUCTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WETLANDS