Temperature is generally considered as a key factor controlling algal bloom formation. Previous studies have indicated that the bloom‐forming cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. overwinters near the sediment surface and does not actively grow below 15°C. However, satellite images and field collections from Lake Taihu, China have shown that Microcystis spp. blooms persisted when water temperatures were below 10°C during winter, although their magnitudes were smaller than during periods of higher temperature. Winter Microcystis cells maintained low activity and were able to grow again when exposed to elevated temperatures (≥12.5°C). Hence, cyanobacterial blooms may appear year‐round in eutrophic lakes. Temperature increases coupled with nutrient enrichment promoted the growth of cyanobacteria, while low temperature decreased the loss rate of Microcystis, allowing winter blooms to persist. High concentrations of overwintering vegetative cells may provide a large inoculum for blooms during warmer seasons. Controlling winter blooms may reduce their magnitude during the warmer seasons.

A yearlong campaign to examine sediment resuspension was conducted in large, shallow and eutrophic Lake Taihu, China, to investigate the influence of vegetation on sediment resuspension and its nutrient effects. The study was conducted at 6 sites located in both phytoplankton-dominated zone and macrophyte-dominated zone of the lake, lasting for a total of 13 months, with collections made at two-week intervals. Sediment resuspension in Taihu, with a two-week high average rate of 1771 g·m^-2·d^-1 and a yearly average rate of 377 g·m^-2·d^-1, is much stronger than in many other lakes worldwide, as Taihu is quite shallow and contains a long fetch. The occurrence of macrophytes, however, provided quite strong abatement of sediment resuspension, which may reduce the sediment resuspension rate up to 29-fold. The contribution of nitrogen and phosphorus to the water column from sediment resuspension was estimated as 0.34 mg·L^-1 and 0.051 mg·L^-1 in the phytoplankton-dominated zone. Sediment resuspension also largely reduced transparency and then stimulated phytoplankton growth. Therefore, sediment resuspension may be one of the most important factors delaying the recovery of eutrophic Lake Taihu, and the influence of sediment resuspension on water quality must also be taken into account by the lake managers when they determine the restoration target.