Abstract: By sampling and analyzing the eutrophic elements and heavy metals in the sediments of a reservoir in Xianning City, Hubei Province, we evaluated the pollution status and ecological risk of heavy metals in the sediments according to geological accumulation index and potential ecological hazard index. The results of eutrophic elements detection showed that the content of total nitrogen and total phosphorus upstream was higher than that of downstream; content of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in mud was markedly higher than that in sand. The results of heavy metals detection showed that except for lead, the content of other heavy metals upstream was significantly higher than that downstream. In terms of geological accumulation index, the pollution levels of Cd, Cu, Hg, Cr and As in the reservoir were mainly pollution-free, while the pollution levels of Pb were mainly from pollution-free to moderate pollution. According to the potential ecological hazard index, the ecological risk of heavy metals in the reservoir was relatively low. Compared with other samples, S7 had a greater potential ecological risk. In addition, the approaches of using mud and sand in reservoir to agricultural soil, construction land, raw materials of functional materials, roadbed fillers and construction raw materials were proposed.

Key words: sediments, eutrophication, resource utilization, heavy metals, geological accumulation index, potential ecological hazard index, reservoir in Xianning City