Acidic/Soil Reduction

Any help would greatly be appreciated (I posted this in organic chemistry and realized it may be more applicable here):

So I have this study which involves fish catch. More specifically we analyze the water chemistry of the ponds before we catch them. My question is this: will disturbing the sediment (i.e releasing H2S or any other gases) lower or rasie the pH (or alter another parameter). People are walking around the ponds all day making the water extremely turbid. The soils in question are young sulfate rich soils of the Mekong in the rice field ponds. I have no idea of the DO in the waters or how deep the anaerobic bacteria lives. Phosphate and Nitrates are relatively low and limiting. Any relevant information in terms of the reduction in the sediment would greatly be appreciated.