Freshwater Subaqueous Soil Survey Investigations and Applications.

Over the last decade studies have been conducted to develop the methods and procedures for identifying, classifying, and mapping subaqueous soils. Most of these efforts have been focused on coastal environments. As such, no studies have thoroughly investigated freshwater subaqueous soils even though many of the same questions regarding estuarine subaqueous soils and carbon sequestration, sedimentation rates, water quality, invasive species, nutrient inputs, contaminants, conservation, and restoration are applicable. Little is known about the range of soil types that exist, how freshwater subaqueous soils differ between created and natural systems, and what soil-landscape relations can be used to model and map freshwater subaqueous soils. The objectives of our studies are to create subaqueous soil maps for three created and three natural freshwater lakes. The most common soil types will be characterized, phosphorus, nitrogen, and metals distribution will be identified, sedimentation rates will be estimated, and relationships between soil properties/soil type and invasive species will be investigated. The overarching goals are to improve our understanding of the soil types in freshwater ecosystems, to improve and assess the methods and protocols for mapping freshwater subaqueous soils, and to develop recommendations for mapping both created and natural lake freshwater subaqueous soils based on soil-landscape relationships.