1843 Q IWA Publishing 2008 Water Science & Technology—WST | 57.

11 | 2008

Long-term eutrophication diagnosis of a high altitude

body of water, Zimapán Reservoir, Mexico
L. A. Bravo-Inclán, M. P. Saldaña-Fabela and J. J. Sánchez-Chávez

ABSTRACT

Zimapán Reservoir is located in the central plateau of Mexico. Its main purpose is the generation L. A. Bravo-Inclán
M. P. Saldaña-Fabela
of electric energy, and it has a high mean depth (52.40 m). The reservoir has two tributaries: the J. J. Sánchez-Chávez
Department of Hidrobiology and Environmental
Tula River, which receives the wastewater of Mexico City, and agricultural run-off; and the Assessment,
San Juan River, with municipal and industrial wastewater. The population growth together with Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA),
Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532,
the dry climate are generating pressure on the water resource. The purpose of this study is to Jiutepec,
Morelos, C.P. 62550,
characterize the trophic state of Zimapán Reservoir and its trend on a five year study. It is warm Mexico
Tel/Fax: (52-777) 329-3665
with the presence of thermocline between 8 and 14 m. It was found hypereutrophic for the E-mail: lubravo@tlaloc.imta.mx;
nutrient concentration (average TP and TN of 1,381 and 5,977 mg·L21, respectively), and psaldana@tlaloc.imta.mx;
jjsanche@tlaloc.imta.mx
eu-hypereutrophic in case of the Secchi disk (1.94 m) and the chlorophyll concentration
(38 mg·L21). The trend analysis showed and increment of nutrients in the period, but a decrement
in Secchi disk and chlorophyll results. Nutrients are present in a very high concentration.
The reservoir is gradually increasing its trophic state condition.
Key words | eutrophication, reservoir limnology, trend series, trophic state, warm water reservoir

INTRODUCTION

Zimapán Reservoir is located in the central plateau of
Mexico. Its watershed is part of the High Pánuco Basin,
which includes part of the states of Hidalgo, Queretaro and
Mexico.
The reservoir has two tributaries: (a) the Tula River which
receives the wastewater of Mexico City megalopolis and
agricultural run-off of an extended agriculture zone in the
state of Hidalgo; (b) the San Juan River. This latter body
contributes with municipal and industrial wastewater
(mainly textiles, paper and chemical industries as well as
manual labor craftsmen). The population and economic
growth together with semi-warm semi-dry climate of the
region are generating a high demand for the water resource.
The two watersheds have a total surface of 11,978 km2,
with 54.7% of this surface for the Tula River watershed and
45.3% for the San Juan River watershed.
According to Cooke et al. (2005), the overall quality of
lakes and reservoirs in many areas of the United States,
doi: 10.2166/wst.2008.279
southern Canada and Europe continues to deteriorate. This
is the same for Mexican waterbodies (Lind et al. 1992;
Chacón-Torres & Rosas-Monge 1998; Olvera et al. 1998;
Ramı́rez-Garcı́a et al. 2002). The classification of lakes and
reservoirs according to water quality and trophic state has
been an important subject of limnology. Lake classification
is useful for the comparison of waterbodies, the evaluation
of management projects and the setting of future goals and
objectives (Nürnberg 1996; Cooke et al. 2005).
To maintain the water quality of Zimapán Reservoir, it
should be monitored through limnological studies of the
water body and the basin where this reservoir is located, in
order to develop a diagnosis-feasibility study and to prevent
or postpone its eutrophication, by means of scientifically
sound management and restoration methods.
The main purpose of this study is to characterize the
water quality of Zimapán Reservoir. Results from fifteen
sampling campaigns (from May 2002 to November 2006) will
 1844 L. A. Bravo-Inclán et al. | Long-term eutrophication diagnosis for high altitude reservoir
be presented with a particular emphasis on the trophic state
trend changes in the waterbody; also, temperature, dissolved
oxygen, and conductivity profiles will be discussed. Both
water quality characteristics and reservoir trophic status are
used to encourage the development of a water-body – basin
management programme for sustainable use and conserva-
tion of the Zimapán Reservoir ecosystem.
STUDY AREA
The reservoir was first filled up in 1995. Its main purpose
is the generation of electric energy; other use of this
waterbody is for fisheries, with a number of 762 fishermen
and 2,286 nets. In 1998, the capture yielded 96% for tilapia
(Oreochromis aureus) and the extra 4% for carp, bass and
catfish. Bass capture is appreciated as a sport fishing activity.
During the study, the reservoir had a mean storage
capacity of 912 million of m3, a maximum depth of <180 –
200 m and a mean depth of 52.4 m.
The climate near the reservoir is semi-warm semi-dry
with summer rainfall. Xerophyte vegetation is favored in this
type of climate. The big gap between the low mean annual
rain and the high mean annual evaporation is an issue that is
affecting the reservoir water quality (Table 1).
The historic records of water quality of the two rivers
that enter the reservoir clearly show a decrease in water
quality, due mainly to the high concentrations of nutrients,
suspended solids, etc. Three studies carried out by the
Federal Electricity Commission (1998, 1999 and 2000,
Olvera, 2003 personal communication) revealed that the
reservoir was considered eutrophic, given the results for
concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen
(TN) and Secchi disk (Figure 1). The white water line in the
photo (and the water quality data) clearly shows the
hardwater state of the reservoir – watershed system.
Of the two main rivers of the reservoir, Tula River
contributes 16 times more water than the volume supplied
by the San Juan River.
Table 1 | Some Zimapán Reservoir characteristics
Altitude Reservoir capacity
6 3
1,540 – 1,555 m.a.s.l. 911.8 £ 10 m
Water Science & Technology—WST | 57.11 | 2008
METHODS
Based on the reservoir morphology, six surface sampling
stations were established; four of them (in the intermediate
and deep zones) were sampled at three depths and the other
two (near the rivers), were sampled in the surface and deep
zones. As every station, field determinations and Secchi
disk readings were made and water samples were taken.
Each sample was analyzed for: TP, TN, chlorophyll a, and
many other lake water quality parameters. The sampling
methods used in this study were described by Castagnino
(1982) with modifications proposed by Olvera-Viascán
(1990), Bravo-Inclán (1995) and Olvera-Viascán et al. (1998).
These methods are based on the methodology of eutrophi-
cation assessment of warm water tropical lakes.
Analyses of physical and chemical variables (TP, TN,
chlorophyll a, alkalinity, hardness, Total Suspended Solids,
etc.) were conducted in the laboratory using the standard
procedures (APHA 1998). Profiles were performed for
temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity, using
field multi-parameter YSI models No. 6000 and 6600, from
the surface to the bottom of every station and at every two
metres depth.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Zimapán is warm and meromictic with the presence of a
thermocline between 8 and 14 m; it presents a chemocline
(density layer) from 30 to 40 m to the bottom, with the
presence of a deep anoxic and stagnant layer with relatively
high conductivity. Different water quality is present in these
three layers.
In the reservoir, the mean values of TP and TN were of
1.381 mg·L21 and 5.977 mg·L21, respectively. Table 2 shows
the trophic lake limits reported by different authors and
based on several waterbodies around the world. Both
Zimapán nutrient average values are, according to the
three authors cited in Table 3, in a clear hypereutrophic
condition. Figure 2 shows the trend of TP and TN in the
Mean annual temperature (8C) Mean annual rainfall (mm) Mean annual evaporation (mm)
Between 16 and 208C Between 400 and 500 mm < 2,200 mm
 1845 L. A. Bravo-Inclán et al. | Long-term eutrophication diagnosis for high altitude reservoir Water Science & Technology—WST | 57.11 | 2008

Figure 1 | Two views of Zimapán Reservoir: (a) Water color near the dam; (b) Panoramic view of the reservoir.

water column. There is a steady increment in both nutrients
during the five year period.
Tropical systems often develop extremely low TN:TP
ratios, thereby favoring the dominance of cyanobacteria
(formerly termed blue-green N2-fixing algae). It is generally
believed that nitrogen is the more common primary nutrient
which limits the maximum algal biomass levels in tropi-
cal/subtropical systems (Castagnino 1982; Ryding & Rast
1989). This also happens where pollution has increased
phosphorus relative to nitrogen; nitrogen derived from
waste discharges from cities – as in Zimapán – and from
agricultural fertilizers greatly increases nitrate in streams
and lakes (Horne & Goldman 1994). As phosphorus loading
to fresh waters increases, nitrogen becomes more important
as a growth-limiting nutrient (Wetzel 2001). Algal analyses
of Lake Chapala, in Mexico, indicate that this waterbody is
not limited by phosphorus and that this important shallow
tropical lake is limited by the high clay turbidity and also
nitrogen (Lind et al. 1992). In tropical waters, the value of
TP of 27 –30 mg·L21, which is frequently used as a limit
of the meso-eutrophic in temperate lakes, could be low
for tropical waterbodies. A more realistic concentration of

Table 2 | Trophic limits for lakes and reservoirs. O-M, transition between oligo- and mesotrophic; M-E, transition between meso- and eutrophic; E-H, transition between eu-and
hypereutrophic

Limits

Variable O-M M-E E-H Comments Reference

21
Total phosphorus (mg·L ) 10 30 100 1 Nürnberg (1996)
10 35 100 2 OECD (1982), cited in Nürnberg (1996)
8 27 84 2 OECD (1982), cited by Ryding & Rast (1989)
30 70 – 2, 3 Salas & Martino (1988)
Total nitrogen (mg·L21) 350 650 1,200 1 Nürnberg (1996)
310 920 2,940 2 Computed from Kratzer & Brezonik (1981)
661 753 1,875 2 OECD (1982), cited by Ryding & Rast (1989)
21
Chlorophyll a (mg·L ) 3.5 9 25 1 Nürnberg (1996)
2.5 8 25 2 OECD (1982), cited in Nürnberg (1996)
Secchi disk transparency (m) 4 2 1 1 Nürnberg (1996)
6 3 1.5 2 OECD (1982), cited in Nürnberg (1996)

1. Average epilimnetic summer values; 2. Annual average values; 3. Data derived from American warm water lakes.
 1846 L. A. Bravo-Inclán et al. | Long-term eutrophication diagnosis for high altitude reservoir Water Science & Technology—WST | 57.11 | 2008

Table 3 | Average water quality results (column water, average from 2002 to 2006) and trophic state classification according to published trophic limits (Table 2)

Parameter Average value and standard deviation Trophic state classification

Secchi disk transparency (m) 1.94 ^ 1.16 Eu-hypereutrophic

Chlorophyll a (mg·L21) 38.3 ^ 41.7 Eu-hypereutrophic
21
Total phosphorus (mg·L ) 1,381 ^ 0.570 Hypereutrophic
Total nitrogen (mg·L21) 5,977 ^ 2.230 Hypereutrophic

50– 60 mg·L21 (Ryding & Rast 1989), or even of 70 mg·L21
(Salas & Martino 1988), are more realistic limits.
In Zimapán the TN:TP ratio is small, with a value of 4.3,
which suggests the possibility that the nitrogen could be the
limiting factor in this reservoir. In the late summer of 1993,
the reservoir had a cyanobacteria bloom; the predominant
algae were Microcystis aeruginosa, Oscillatoria spp. and
Lyngbya major, which during summer and late summer
were dominant due to their ability to grow in the nitrogen
depleted waterbody.
The average concentration of chlorophyll was 38.3
21
mg·L , but it shows a great variability; according to Table 3,
this result is in the eu-hypereutrophic classification: 50% of
21
the results are ,25 mg·L , which results in an equal
probability of being classified as being of one or the other
mentioned trophic states. Also, the average Secchi disk value
was 1.94 m, which can also be classified in the eutrophic
state; nevertheless 19% of the samples were below 1.00 m of
Secchi disk transparency which are, according to the OECD
(1982, cited by Ryding & Rast 1989) and Nürnberg (1996), in
the eu-hypereutrophic state (Figure 3). The trends of
both chlorophyll concentration and Secchi disk readings
(Figure 4) shows a slight decrement during the study period.
Figure 4 shows the trend of three parameters through
the use of the Trophic State Index (TSI), developed by
Carlson (1977). This index was used to compare the trophic
trend of the reservoir in both the dry and the rainy seasons.
Again the TP shows an increment, and the Secchi disk and
chlorophyll a concentration show a decrement in time.
Figure 4 exhibits systematic deviations of both chlorophyll

Figure 2 | Trend of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in Zimapán Reservoir.

 1847 L. A. Bravo-Inclán et al. | Long-term eutrophication diagnosis for high altitude reservoir Water Science & Technology—WST | 57.11 | 2008

Figure 3 | Relationships between Secchi disk depth and chlorophyll a concentrations.

Figure 4 | Trophic State Index during dry and rainy seasons, from 2002 to 2006, Zimapán Reservoir.
 1848 L. A. Bravo-Inclán et al. | Long-term eutrophication diagnosis for high altitude reservoir
Figure 5 | Trophic State Index for total nitrogen, chlorophyll and Secchi disk, during dry and rainy seasons, from 2002 to 2006, Zimapán Reservoir.
and Secchi disk TSI. But the TP TSI showed extremely high
values (from 99 to 114) and the variation compared with
the other two TSI is apparently random. It is possible that
nitrogen limitation affects the chlorophyll– phosphorus
relationship.
Taking into account the possibility of having nitrogen
limitation in Zimapán Reservoir, Figure 5 shows the TSI, in
which is included the TN Index, with the calculation taken
from Kratzer & Bresonik (1981, and suggested by Carlson
2007) as:
TSIðTNÞ ¼ 54:45 þ 14:43 ln ðTNÞ
The TN TSI (Figure 5), still exhibits a high, but more
related index in relation with the other two (chlorophyll
and Secchi disk). Carlson (2007) found that the chlorophyll
TSI is less affected by various factors, since chlorophyll is
a direct estimator of the system productivity. The main
factors that could affect the TSI are: nitrogen limitation and
Water Science & Technology—WST | 57.11 | 2008
non-algal turbidity. But he also stressed that a reservoir
manager can capitalize on these differences (by asking what
are the possible reasons of such differences).
For example, the low Secchi disk TSI can be explained
by the high depth of this reservoir (mean depth of 54.2 m),
and its medium water residence time (1.16 years), together
with the long distance between the river mouths and the
limnetic zone, near the dam, which gives this waterbody
enough time to gain a relatively good transparency,
evaluated by the Secchi disk results. Also, high TN TSI is
ð1Þ in good agreement with the chlorophyll TSI, due to the
probable nutrient limitation in this reservoir.
CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of the trophic state in a lake/reservoir is
only the first step in waterbody management. This study
showed that although nutrient levels are high, there is a
 1849 L. A. Bravo-Inclán et al. | Long-term eutrophication diagnosis for high altitude reservoir
good possibility of sporadic epilimnetic nitrogen limitation
in Zimapán Reservoir. Compared to TN TSI and chloro-
phyll TSI, the waterbody shows a relatively good Secchi
disk transparency; and chlorophyll results, one of the most
reliable/simple water productivity indexes, clearly show a
eu-hypereutrophic aquatic system. The classification of
lakes and reservoirs according to water quality and trophic
state is useful for the evaluation of management projects
and the setting of future goals and objectives.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank SAGARPA-CONACyT Project (No. SAGARPA-
CONACyT-2003-C01-64) for the financial support, during
2004 through 2007. We are also grateful for the help
received from the National Water Commission (CONA-
GUA, Mexico) Water Quality Department, managed by
MSc. Erick Gutiérrez López, who supported us during the
2002 and 2003 sampling campaign (project No. SGT-
GSCA-02-01-IMTA).
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