Post on 03-Jan-2016
description
Team 3—Ecological Monitoring
• Targeted field sampling for groundtruthing of modeling results
• Evaluate current condition at reach scaleo Macroinvertebrates—IBI (Aquatic Life Use attainment)o IBI (biological condition tiers)o SWR (site-specific habitat & other physical features)o SWR (site-specific stressors, reach hydrology)
• Define reference domains for realistic management goalso Range of SWR/IBI data
Team 3 – Ecological Assessment
• STEP 1: Compile readily available data [Spr ‘14]o Monitoring Data
• PA watersheds: PADEP macroinvertebrate data; selected studies• Manokin: Maryland Biological Stream Survey data; selected
studieso Management Data
• Watershed coordinators• Research centers
o Regulatory Data• Impaired streams • PADEP Data (e.g., water withdrawal permits)
Existing Monitoring Data• WE-38 Data
o Long-term stream datao Biological data (Genito et al. 2002)
• PADEP Macroinvertebrate Datao 40 SSWAP siteso 17 6D200 sites (riffle IBI)o Habitat Assessments for all
Long-term Stream Data: WE38
• Precipitationo 1968-presento Mean annual precipitation 1080 mmo Highest monthly precipitation June (125 mm)o Lowest February (60 mm)
• Stream Dischargeo 1968-presento Mean annual streamflow 500 mmo Highest flows in March, lowest flows in August
• Water Qualityo 1983-presento Nitrate-N, ammonium-N, orthophosphate-Po 3x per week, irrespective of hydrologic events
PADEP Macroinvertebrate Data
Existing Management Data
• BMP’s implemented and where
• Crop management
• Interpret ecological monitoring results
Mahantango BMPs
• Active Groups: Tri-Valley Watershed Association, Conservation Districts for Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties
• Past projects: 110 acres riparian buffer planting; >1400 acres of contour plowing; 6 grassed waterways, and >200 acres conservation cover
• Suggested by DEP: streambank stabilization and fencing; riparian buffer strips; strip cropping; conservation tillage; stormwater retention wetlands; and heavy use area protection (etc.)
• Limitations: lack of interest and connection with local population
Source: PADEP 2013
Regulatory Data—Impaired
Streams
Source: PADEP 2013
Mahantango (Sub-watershed Info)
• Designated use: CWF, MF• 74.82 miles of Mahantango Creek Subwatershed
impaired by sediment (siltation) from agricultural land use practices (based on SSWAP data)
• Mean annual sediment loadings for 2013 were estimated at 100,752.6054 lbs/day
• Sediment reduction can be achieved through reductions in sediment loadings from cropland, hay/pasture, developed areas, and streambanks.
Source: PASDA (www.pasda.psu.edu)
Possible Pollutants of Concern (water withdrawals, landfills, discharge points, etc.)
Team 3 – Ecological Assessment• STEP 2: Conduct landscape assessment on sub-
watersheds to identify probable areas of high and low ecological integrity [Spr ‘14]
• STEP 3: Conduct rapid assessments on selected sites on all 4 watersheds (~20 sites per) [Su/Fa ‘14]
- 3 summer interns hired for fieldwork
- conduct SWR Index boot camp in early June
• STEP 4: Conduct intensive biological assessments using aquatic macroinvertebrates (& vascular plants) to ascertain baseline condition, ALU attainment, etc.
[Spr & Fa ‘14; Spr ‘15]
Site Selection Process
• Gradient of high nutrients/sediment to low nutrients/sediment (Mahantango)
• Land use gradient
• Stratified by stream size (1st/2nd vs. 4th/5th) & weighted for headwaters (about 2/3 to 1/3)
• Prioritize wetland sites & sites with existing data
Portion of Mahantango (ex.)
Close-up Example (WE-38)
Pollution Hotspots: Linking CSAs of Aquatic Nutrient Pollution with Biological
Integrity in WE38Claire Regan
Master’s Thesis in Geography
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Overview
• Create the link between SWAT-VSA outputs and benthic macroinvertebrates
• Provide supplemental information for CNSo SWR Index compared to SWAT-VSAo Grab sample utilityo Sampling design
• High resolution and long-term data in WE38
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Collick et al. 2014
• Modeled WE38 for 1999-2010• High resolution management information• Compared SWAT and SWAT-VSA • Amy and Tamie have shared model
outputs
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Questions
1. What is the optimal way to use SWAT model outputs to predict ecological integrity? o How do macroinvertebrate communities
correlate with upstream critical source areas of sediments, phosphorus, and nitrogen?
o At what scale, spatially and temporally?
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SPATIAL SCALE
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SPATIAL SCALE
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Temporal scale• All years (1999-2010)• Recent years only• Extreme years excluded (e.g.
drought years)
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Questions2. How does SWAT compare with SWR
Index?o Rapid field assessment developed by Brooks et
al. (2009), can be used in conjunction with macroinvertebrate sampling
o Final SWR Index Score?o Components of SWR?
• E.g. habitat assessment, stressor checklist
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Questions3. How have
macroinvertebrate communities changed over time? o A study by Genito et al.
(2002) also studied macroinvertebrates in WE38
o Can changes be explained using SWAT-VSA outputs?
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Genito et al. 2002
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Questions4. How do water chemistry samples
match with SWAT-VSA modeled values? o Grab samples of nutrients and/or sediment
will be collected if possible
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Questions
5. What is the effect of forested buffer areas?
6. What is the effect of dilution at stream confluences?
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MethodsEmpirical• Macroinvertebrates• Water Chemistry• SWR Index
Acquired• SWAT Outputs• Genito et al. (2002)
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Sources
• Brooks, R.,McKenney-Easterling, M., Brinson, M., Rheinhardt, R., Havens, K., O’Brien, D., Bishop, J., Rubbo, J., Armstrong, B., and Hite, J. 2009. A Stream-Wetland-Riparian (SWR) Index for Assessing Condition of Aquatic Ecosystems in Small Watersheds along the Atlantic Slope of the Eastern U.S. Environ Monit Assess 150: 101-117.
• Collick, A.S., Fuka, D.R., Kleinman, P.J., Buda, A.R., Weld, J.L., White, M.J., Veith, T.L., Bryant, R.B., Bolster, C.H., and Easton, Z.M (2014). Predicting phosphorus dynamics in complex terrains using a variable source area hydrology model. Hydrological Processes.
• Genito, D., Gburek, W. J., & Sharpley, A. N. (2002). Response of Stream Macroinvertebrates to Agricultural Land Cover in a Small Watershed. Journal of Freshwater Ecology, 17(1), 109–119.
Team 3 – Ecological Assessment
Timeline• Level 1 – Landscape Analyses (Yr 1)• Level 2 – Rapid (Yr 1 Su-Fa)• Level 3 – Intensive (Mahantango Yr 1 Spr;
Conewago Yr 1 – Fa; Spring Creek & Manokin Yr 2 Spr.)