Nationally, reservoirs are reaching the end of their lifespans, requiring restoration efforts to maintain their function. Lake Conway in central Arkansas is undergoing restoration via full-reservoir draining to remediate sedimentation and remove invasive species. The lake will be left dry for five years, then refilled; however, the potential for release and mobilization of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from dry benthic sediments can have harmful effects on downstream water quality and habitats. Here, we are sampling dry benthic sediments at six sites distributed across Lake Conway to assess sediment nutrient stores and conduct experimental simulations using sediment cores to determine the risk of N and P loss 1) during storms in the dry period and 2) when the lake is refilled. As reservoirs are known nutrient sinks, we predict the reservoir sediments will contain high concentrations of inorganic N and P, which can be mobilized and transported downstream at the outlet. Additionally, we hypothesize that N and P levels will be higher in water from the refilling simulations compared to the stormflow simulations, due to an increased residence time and changing redox conditions. Preliminary experiments indicate water rapidly infiltrates the reservoir sediments, providing ample contact for advective/diffusive behavior with soil surfaces for the exchange of nutrients. The results from this experiment can be used to develop evidence-based restoration methods that mitigate impacts on downstream water quality during future reservoir restoration projects.