Effect of restricted use of phosphate-based detergents on Onondaga Lake.

A marked decrease in the concentration of total inorganic phosphate in the epilimnion and hypolimnion of Onondaga Lake, New York State, has been observed during the 1(1/2) years between July 1971 and January 1973. This decrease has been correlated to the implementation of phosphate-limiting legislation. The response of characteristic plankton species has been investigated.