• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.741-749
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• 2008

Many small-scale ponds that serve as ecological habitat, recreation and irrigation are faced to eutrophication problem, which causes aesthetic nuisance and ultimately loss of their functions. Thus accurate evaluation of the trophic state of these ponds is essential to provide rational information to the stakeholders so that they can develop effective management actions. In this study, the trophic state of a small pond (Wonheung) that experiencing water quality degradation due to vicinity land development was assessed using various Trophic State Indexes (TSIs) and statistical analysis including Principal Components Analysis (PCA) based on the field monitoring data obtained from May to December, 2007. The results showed that the pond is under eutrophic state with average total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) concentrations of $708.1{\mu}g/L$ and $59.3{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The factor loading plot obtained from PCA showed distinct two influencing factors, PC 1 and PC 2. PC 1 was grouped by T-P, Chlorophyll a (Chl-a), suspended solids (SS), TN/TP ratio, and transparency that all strongly related to the eutrophication state, while PC 2 by temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and turbidity that explains the seasonal water quality variations. The limiting factor was identified as light rather than phosphorus by both T-N/T-P ratio and TSI indexes analysis. The results and methodology adopted in this study can be used for water quality assessment for other small ponds and lakes.