Porosity, dry bulk density, and mass accumulation rates

Porosity, dry bulk density, and average mass accumulation rates, and estimated date of the mid-point of each sediment interval were determined for ten sediment cores retrieved from Lake Lanier in 2018. Physical properties of the sediment (porosity, dry bulk density) were used to help define the pre-reservoir surface and determine the average mass accumulation rate of sediment. This will help to better understand the historical accumulation of sediment and nutrients at select locations in Lake Lanier. The locations were selected to provide supplement a larger study investigating the role of septic systems on Lake Lanier water quality. Sites were distributed among selected study coves (with residential septic systems adjacent to the lake) and included a reference cove without development. Potential users of this data should recognize the rationale driving the site selection process in the interpretation of the associated data collected. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the data from the selected sites are representative of the lake as a whole.