Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.Glass Lake, located in a valley in low forested mountains, for many
decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries was a favorite picnic, recreation, and fishing site for people in surrounding towns and farms. However, in the middle of the 20th century, a trend began in which the privately owned farms in the lake's watershed were purchased by large agribusinesses. The decision was made to grow a profitable crop. The demand for quality farmland resulted in the sale of most of the family-owned establishments and a large increase in the area of land under cultivation. Most of the forests were cut to acquire the land needed for crops. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides increased several-fold by the end of the century. In addition, the combined population of the lakeside villages quadrupled during the same time. The lake experienced a slow degradation of water quality and biodiversity. Sport fishing declined, and the lake became murky, while the sediments in the lake increased in depth.The murkiness (turbidity) of the water was analyzed and found to have several major sources, including ________.
- Sediments produced from poorly treated wastewater discharge.
- Sediments produced from the increased plant biomass of the lake.
Explanation:
As per the question, the major sources that have led to turbidity of water would include 'erosion from the deforested hillsides' that gets mixed up with the lake water and spoils its equality <u>while 'sediments produced from poorly treated wastewater discharge' and 'sediments produced from the increased plant biomass of the lake' exemplify the additional sources that lead to the 'murkiness in the water' and damages its quality.</u> Such degradation of the quality of water has led to the reduced interest of people in sport fishing and picnic to the lake site due to the decline in biodiversity and turbidity of water.
