Turbidity and nutrients in the river are always high after a flood. As the flow recedes the turbidity declines slowly due to settling of fine particles taking months for the water to clear. Nutrient concentrations also decline before the onset of algal growth. Despite persistent temperature stratification and nutrient concentrations in the epilimnion below the limit of detection, cyanobacterial blooms persist for months. We attribute their success to the intermittent strong wind forcing enabling enhanced nutrient transfer across the metalimnion.
Algal growth is sustained until the barrage is flushed with the next flood.