Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identify Pollution Causes and Sources.
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Transcript of Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identify Pollution Causes and Sources.
Confirm impairments and identify pollutants
Compare available monitoring data to wqs:• Document magnitude of impairment• Document seasonal/temporal patterns• Document spatial distribution
Temporal Analysis
• Seasonality• Stratify data by potential source activities
– Tillage– Crop canopy development– Manure/fertilizer applications– Grazing season– Logging– Construction projects– Street cleaning
Other tools:
• Stakeholder knowledge• Direct observation (streamwalk)• Specialized tools, e.g., microbial source
tracking, ground water aging
Supplementing available data
– Windshield surveys– Interviews with residents– Volunteer monitoring– Bioassessment– Targeted sampling– Chemical/biological sampling
Helps lay the groundwork for implementation!
St. Albans Bay VT RCWP
• Known WQ impairment due to eutrophication– Obvious algae blooms & macrophyte growth– Declining State Park visits, beach closures– State DEC P monitoring
• Excessive P loads to Bay• 75% point source/25% nps
• NRCS knowledge about current status of animal waste management, milkhouse waste, cropland erosion
Lake Pittsfield IL
• Lake Pittsfield is a 220 ac lake located near the city of Pittsfield in the 25,393 ac Blue Creek watershed in Pike County, western Illinois
• Constructed in 1961 as a flood control reservoir.
• Sediment deposition the dominant water quality problem
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Lake Pittsfield IL
• 1979 vegetative practices on agricultural land slowed sedimentation rate
• Lake sedimentation still higher than desired• Additional practices needed – WASCOBs and
sediment retention basins
Lake Pittsfield IL
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WASCOBs installedConstruction of 12 rock riffles (Newbury Weirs)Station D annual sediment yield (tons/acre)Station C annual sediment yield (tons/acre)Station D yield/discharge (tons/ac-ft)Station C yield/discharge (tons/ac-ft)
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VT 319 NMP
04-Jan-9512-Apr-95
19-Jul-9530-Oct-95
07-Feb-9615-May-96
19-Aug-9616-Dec-96
31-Mar-9702-Jul-97
06-Oct-9721-Jan-98
29-Apr-9829-Jul-98
09-Nov-98
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E. Coli Counts 1995 - 1998Lake Champlain Basin Ag Watersheds NMP Project
VT 319 NMP
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Instantaneous Streamflow (ft3/sec)
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Streamflow and E. Coli CountsWS 2 1995 - 1998
Lake Champlain Ag Watersheds NMP Project
VT 319 NMP
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Instantaneous Streamflow (ft3/sec)
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E. C
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Seasonal Streamflow and E. Coli CountsWS 2 1995 - 1998
Lake Champlain Basin Ag Watersheds NMP Project
Identification of stressors
• Where causes of biological impairment are unknown, use characterization data to help identify stressors