Water Quality Outreach Review

Water Quality Outreach Review

Addison County River Watch CollaborativeLewis Creek Association

March 30, 2009

Sanitary qualitySanitary quality of water relates to factors contributing to health risk associated with water contact or consumption caused by fecal pollution.

Esthetic qualityEsthetic quality relates to the attractiveness a surface water for recreational use or viewing.

Fish and wildlifeWater quality as it applies to fish and wildlife relates to factors which impact directly on fish and on components of the food web upon which they depend as well as on habitat and breeding areas.

Aspects of Surface Water Quality

Measures of Water Quality

•Importance•Bacteria and viruses of in water polluted with fecal matter of human and warm-blooded animal origin can pose a health risk to swimmers or others having contact with surface waters. Health risk is assessed in relation to the count of Escherichia coli bacteria in water.•Escherichia coli – a bacterium which is typically found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals and which does not occur normally in environments not contaminated by human or animal wastes and signals the potential presence of pathogenic organisms which can cause illness in man. Normally not pathogenic, although pathogenic strains may cause serious intestinal illness. E. coli serves as an indicator of the potential presence of pathogenic bacteria or viruses of human or animal origin.

Escherichia coli

•Sources•Human wastes•Agricultural wastes and runoff

•Storm drainage•Pets and wild animals

•Standards•The State of Vermont has established a limit for Escherichia coli in class B waters of 77 organisms/100 ml. This limit can be waived between October 31 and April 1 provided that no health hazard is created.

Escherichia coli (Cont’d)

•Measurement•Most probable number per 100 ml. – E. coli counts are determined and expressed as a statistical estimate of the most probable number of bacteria per 100 ml. of sample.

•Measurement•Total Suspended Solids – Total suspended solids can be measured gravimetrically, after filtering, drying, and weighing samples. Concentrations of total suspended solids are expressed in mg solids per liter of water sample. •Turbidity – A measure of the scattering and absorption of light as it passes through a water sample. Turbidity is generally expressed in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) which quantify the degree to which light passing through a water sample is scattered or absorbed by organic and inorganic particles.

Suspended Sediment•Importance

•Adverse impact on aquatic life by interfering with light penetration reducing photosynthetic activity, interfering with gills, and by degrading the habitat of invertebrates and spawning areas for fish.•Mobilization and transport of phosphorus in surface waters, and•Reduction in the clarity and esthetic quality of water. Can create a hazard to swimmers and boaters.

•Sources•Erosion of field•Erosion of stream banks•Waste discharges

•Mobilization of stream bottom sediments•Construction sites•Urban storm drainage

•Standards•Fish and aquatic Life -The State of Vermont has established turbidity standards for Class B streams designated as habitat for cold water fish (limit of 10 NTU) and for warm water fish (limit of 25 NTU).

•Recreational waters -The State of Vermont has not established turbidity standards for recreational waters. A turbidity level of 5 NTU generally is considered acceptable for recreational use of water.

Suspended Sediment (Cont’d)

•Phosphorus is an essential plant nutrient, and is generally considered to be the major nutrient limiting the growth of algae and aquatic plants in Lake Champlain. By reducing the load of phosphorus discharged into Lake Champlain from its tributaries, the deterioration of the lake water quality can be reduced or halted. Phosphorus in surface waters can occur as:

•Dissolved inorganic or organic phosphorus•Particulate phosphorus associated with clay and very fine silt•Particulate phosphorus associated with fine to medium silt and organic particles

Phosphorus•Importance

•Sources•Municipal and industrial treatment plant discharges•Runoff from agricultural land•Urban runoff, including lawns•Erosion of soil•Erosion of stream banks•Runoff from construction sites•Mobilization of sediments in streams

•Excessive growth of algae and rooted aquatic plants (eutrophication) – Reduces the attractiveness of recreational waters to swimmers and boaters. Certain blue green algae can form toxic blooms harmful to animals.

•Standards•Phosphorus in Streams. The State of Vermont has not established specific phosphorus standards for rivers and streams. State water quality standards specify that total phosphorus loadings shall be limited so that they will not contribute to the acceleration of eutrophication or the stimulation of the growth of aquatic biota in a manner that prevents the full support of uses. •Phosphorus in Lake Champlain. A limit of 0.014 mg/l as P has been established for the Otter Creek section of Lake Champlain into which Lewis, Little Otter, and Otter Creeks discharge.

Phosphorus (Cont’d)•Measurement

•Total phosphorus – a measurement of all phosphorus in a water sample expressed an µg phosphorus per liter of water (µg/l as P). Total phosphorus includes both dissolved and particulate phosphorus.•Dissolved phosphorus – a measure of phosphorus not associated with suspended sediment or particulate organic matter in water expressed as µg/l as P. It can consist of inorganic or organic forms of phosphorus. It is determined in samples filtered to remove particulate matter.•Particulate phosphorus – that part of the total phosphorus associated with suspended sediment and particulate organic matter expressed as µg/l as P. The particulate phosphorus concentration is calculated by subtracting the dissolved phosphorus concentration from the total phosphorus concentration.

•Importance Nitrogen, like phosphorus, is an essential plant nutrient, and can limit or stimulate algal and plant growth in lakes. Addition of nitrogen to Lake Champlain water has been shown to stimulate algal growth. Thus, it is desirable to limit nitrogen loadings to the lake. Nitrogen in surface waters can occur as:

•Organic nitrogen as part of particulate or dissolved organic matter• Inorganic nitrate ion (NO3

=)•Inorganic nitrite ion (NO2

-)•Inorganic ammonium ion (NH4

+)

Nitrogen

•Sources•Municipal and industrial treatment plant discharges•Runoff from agricultural land•Urban runoff, including lawns

Nitrogen (Cont’d)

•Standards•Nitrate. The State of Vermont has established a limit of 5.0 mg/l as nitrate-N at flows exceeding low median monthly flows in Class B waters such as the Lemon Fair River. Furthermore, the State water quality standards require that nitrates shall be limited so that they will not contribute to the acceleration of eutrophication or the stimulation of the growth of aquatic biota in a manner that prevents the full support of uses. There is not standard for total nitrogen in streams.

•Measurement•Total nitrogen – a measure of the total nitrogen concentration in a water samples, including both organic and inorganic nitrogen and expressed as mg nitrogen per liter of sample (mg/l as N). •Nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) – a measure of the concentration of oxidized inorganic nitrogen species expressed as mg nitrogen per liter of sample (mg/l as N). Primarily present as nitrate under normal conditions.

Watershed Characteristics

RiverWatershedArea (mi2)

StreamClassification

Major LandCover Remarks

LaPlatte River 57 Class BWarm water fish

37.6% Forest23.4% Field15.2% Crop15.7% Urban

Severe stream bank erosion in some reaches

McCabe’s Brook 6.16 27.2% Forest32.8% Field16.1% Crop18.0% Urban

Impacts of farms

Lewis Creek 81.1 Class BCold water fish

60% Forest15.3% Field10.7% Crop

Swimming and recreation sites

Pond Brook 18.28 56.7% Forest15.3% Field12.5% Crop

Little Otter Creek 73 Class BCold water fish

35.0% Forest27.0% Field18.0% Crop

Little stream bank erosionImpacted by agricultural activities

Mud Creek 9.07 28.0% Field28.0% Crop

Otter Creek 438.2 Class BWarm water fish


Drainage channels and ditches

Middlebury River 62.8 Class BCold water fish


Recreation sitesSubject to extreme events

New Haven River 116.4 Class BCold water fish


Swimming and recreation sitesSubject to extreme events

Lemon Fair River 90.8 Class BWarm water fish

31.1% Field31.4% Crop

Drainage channels and ditchesLittle stream bank erosionImpacted by agricultural activities

Phosphorus vs. Total Suspended Solids Concentrations in the LaPlatte River at Falls Road(Long Term Tributary Monitoring Data, 1991-2006)

y = 1.1409x + 32.221

R2 = 0.8322

y = 0.0644x + 61.214

R2 = 0.0091

y = 1.2053x + 93.435

R2 = 0.5788

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700TSS Conc. (mg/l)

Ph

osp

ho

rus

Co

nc.

(u

g/l)

Particulate Phosphorus Dissolved Phosphorus Total Phosphorus

Linear (Particulate Phosphorus) Linear (Dissolved Phosphorus) Linear (Total Phosphorus)

Phosphorus vs. Total Suspended Solids Concentrations in Lewis Creek at LCR3.7(Long Term Monitoring Program, 1992-2006)

y = 1.1772x + 27.524

R2 = 0.89

y = 1.0987x + 11.975

R2 = 0.9266

y = 0.0767x + 15.987

R2 = 0.1819

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

TSS Conc. (mg/l)

Ph

osp

ho

rus

Co

nc.

(u

g/l)

Total Phosphorus Particulate Phosphorus Dissolved Phosphorus

Linear (Total Phosphorus) Linear (Particulate Phosphorus) Linear (Dissolved Phosphorus)

y = 1.7112x + 18.496R² = 0.7983

y = 65.724ln(x) - 54.402R² = 0.5254

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Pho

spho

rus

Con

c. (

ug/l)

TSS Conc. (mg/l)

Phosphorus vs. Total Suspended Solids Concentrations - Little Otter Creek at USGS Gaging Station (LOC 4.3) (Long Term Monitoring Program ,1990-2006)


Linear (Particulate Phosphorus) Log. (Total Phosphorus)

y = 1.3527x + 12.184R² = 0.9222

y = 1.5806x + 38.332R² = 0.793

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 50 100 150 200 250

Ph

osp

horu

s C

on

c. (µ

g/l)

TSS Conc. (mg/l)

Phosphorus vs. Total Suspended Solids Concentrations - Otter Creek at USGS Stream Gaging Station (OTR 23)

(Long Term Monitoring Data1992-2006)

Particulate Phosphorus Dissolved Phosphorus

Total Phosphorus Linear (Particulate Phosphorus)

Eastern Lake Champlain Tributaries – Phosphorus in Relation to Suspended Sediment

Data Review – E. coli

Swimming and Recreational Sites

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

LCR 3.6 LCR 5.2 LCR7.25 LCR9.9 LCR14 LCR 15.6 LCR17.2 LCR18.6 LCR19.5

Lo

g2E

. co

li(M

PN

/10

0 m

l.)

Sampling Station

Median Log2 Escherichia coli Counts in Lewis Creek

Maximum

Minimum

77/100ml.

Swim

min

g &

Rec

reati

on

Recr

eati

on

Swim

min

g

Swim

min

g

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

MIR0 MIR1 MIR1.5 MIR2 MIR3 MIR5.7

Me

dia

n L

og

2E

. co

liC

ou

nt (

MP

N/1

00

ml.)

Sampling Station

Median Log2 Escherichia coli Counts in the Middlebury River 1993-2007

Vermont State Standard = 77 per 100 ml.

Recr

eatio

n

Recr

eatio

n

2008 Results

MIR1.5 MIR5.7

July 2 88 15

August 6 >2419.6 >2419.6

September 3 80 10

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

NHR .5 NHR 6 NHR 9 NHR 11.5 NHR 15

E.co

liCo

unt (

MPN

/100

ml.)

Sampling Station

Escherichia coli Counts in the New Haven River Swimming and Recreational Sites at High and Low Flow, 2008

Median 8/6/08 (High Flow) 9/3/08 (Low Flow)

Vermont State Standard = 77/100 ml.

Data Review – Phosphorus

- Low Ag/Higher Slope -

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

LCR 7.25 LCR 9.9 LCR 14 LCR 17.2 LCR 18.6 LCR 19.5

Turb

idit

y (N

TU)

Sampling Station

Turbidity Levels in Lewis Creek, 2008

Median 2008 9/3/08 (29 cfs) 6/1/08 (32 cfs) 7/2/08 (43 cfs)

5/11/08 (53 cfs) 4/6/08 (384 cfs) 8/6/08 (476 cfs)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180


Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Total Phosphorus Concentrations in Lewis Creek, 2008


5/11/08 (53 cfs) 4/6/08 (384 cfs) 8/6/08 (476 cfs)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

LP 01 LP 02 LP 03 LP 04 LP 05 LP 06 LP 07 LP 08 LP 09 LP 10 LP 11

To

tal P

ho

sp

ho

rus

Co

nc

, (µ

g/l

as

P)

Sampling Station

Total Phosphorus Concentrations in the LaPlatte River

Median 2004-2008 8/31/08 (500 cfs) 9/21/04 (11.5 cfs)

Hinesburg Treated Waste Discharge

0

50

100

150

200

250


Turb

idit

y (N

TU)

Sampling Station

Turbidity Levels in the LaPlatte River, 2004

Median 2004-2008 9/21/04 (11.5 cfs) 8/31/04 (500 cfs)

Phosphorus Relations in the LaPlatte River and Lewis Creek

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

OTRVE OTRVF OTR13 OTR21 OTR23 OTR30

Turb

idit

y (N

TU)

Sampling Station

Turbidity Levels in Otter Creek, 2008

Median 2008 6/1/08 (401 cfs) 9/3/08 (473 cfs) 5/11/08 (1,480 cfs)

7/2/08 (1,980 cfs) 4/6/08 (2,620 cfs) 8/6/08 (2,700 cfs)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180


Phos

phor

us C

onc.

µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Total Phosphorus Concentrations in Otter Creek - 2008

Median 6/1/08 (401 cfs) 9/3/08 (473 cfs) 5/11/08 (1,480 cfs)

7/2/08 (1,980 cfs) 4/6/08 (2,620 cfs) 8/6/08 (2,700 cfs)

Cannels & Ditches

Phosphorus Relations in Otter CreekCreek

Phosphorus Relations in the Middlebury and New Haven Rivers

0

1

10

100

1,000

MIR0 MIR1.5 MIR5.7

Turb

idit

y (N

TU)

Sampling Station

Turbidity Levels in the Middlebury River, 2008

Median 2008 6/1/08 (Low Flow) 9/3/08 (Low Flow) 5/11/08 (Low Flow)

7/2/08 (Low Flow) 4/6/08 (Moderate Flow) 8/6/2008

1

10

100

1000

MIR0 MIR1.5 MIR5.7

Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Total Phosphorus Concentrations in the Middlebury River, 2008

Median 2008 6/1/08 (Low Flow) 9/3/08 (Low Flow) 5/11/2008

7/2/08 (Low Flow) 4/6/2008 8/6/2008

0.1

1

10

100

1000

NHR.5 NHR6 NHR9

Turb

idit

y (N

TU)

Sampling Station

Turbidity in the New Haven River - 2008

Median 9/3/08 (72 cfs) 7/2/08 (100 cfs) 6/1/08 (110 cfs)

5/11/08 (142 cfs) 4/6/08 (741 cfs) 8/6/08 (1,810 cfs)

1

10

100

1,000

NHR.5 NHR6 NHR9

Tota

l Pho

spho

rus C

onc.

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Total Phosphorus in the New Haven River - 2008


5/11/08 (142 cfs) 4/6/08 (741 cfs) 8/6/08 (1,810 cfs)

Extreme Events – Some ExamplesSampling

StationMonitoringProgram* Date TSS, mg/l

Total Phosphorus, µg/l

Total Nitrogen mg/l Flow (cfs)

Median** Value Median** Value Median** Value Median** Value

Little Otter Creek Watershed

LOC4.3 LTM-QTR3 7/17/00 25 19.6 98 179 0.71 5.77 25 25

MDC1.2 ACRWC 7/19/06 - - 174 2,620 - - - -

MDC4 ACRWC 6/29/02 - - 339 3,550 - - - -

Otter Creek WatershedOTRF ACRWC 7/14/01 - - 42 881 - - - -

OTR19 ACRWC 8/22/98 - - 57 990 - - - -

OTR24 ACRWC 7/10/02 - - 42 416 - - - -

NHR0.5 ACRWC 6/29/02 - - 30 4,230 - - - -

NHR10.5 ACRWC 6/27/01 - - 15 1,130 - - - -

MIR1.5 ACRWC 7/6/05 - - 31 4,580 0.39 0.33

LFR0 ACRWC 7/30/03 - - 185 1,070 - - - -

LFR2.5 ACRWC 7/30/03 - - 69 960

LFR12 ACRWC 7/30/03 - - 238 1,020 - - - -

LFR20.2 ACRWC 7/30/03 - - 167 1,160 - - - -

LFR29.3 ACRWC 7/30/03 - - 50 560 - - - -

*ACRWC – Addison County River Watch Collaborative LTTM – Lake Champlain Long-Term Tributary Monitoring Program **ACRWC Results – Median for period of record

Data Review – Phosphorus

-High Agricultural Development-

Phosphorus Relations in Little Otter Creek

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

LOC4.3 LOC7.8 LOC11 LOC14.4

Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Phosphorus Concentrations in Little Otter Creek - May 11, 2008(Low Flow - 19 cfs)


Mud Creek: Dissolved Phosphorus = 87.6 ug/l as PParticulate Phosphorus = 20.4 ug/l as P

0

50

100

150

200

250


Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Phosphorus Concentrations in Little Otter Creek - August 6, 2008(High Flow - 596 cfs)


Mud Creek: Dissolved Phosphorus = 264 ug/l as PParticulate Phosphorus = 86 ug/l as P

0

50

100

150

200

250


Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Total Phosphorus Concentrations in Little Otter Creek, 2008

Median 2008 6/1/08 (8.9 cfs) 9/3/08 (11 cfs) 5/11/08 (19 cfs)

7/2/08 (21 cfs) 4/6/08 (306 cfs) 8/6/08 (596 cfs)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40


Turb

idit

y (N

TU)

Sampling Station

Turbidity Levels in Little Otter Creek, 2008

Median 2008 6/1/08 (8.9 cfs) 9/3/08 (11 cfs) 5/11/08 (19 cfs)

7/2/08 (21 cfs) 4/6/08 (306 cfs) 8/6/08 (596 cfs)

Phosphorus Relations in the Lemon Fair River

1

10

100

1,000

LFRO LFR1.2 LFR6.7 LFR12 LFR15.8

Turb

idit

y (N

TU)

Sampling Station

Turbidity in the Lemon Fair River, 2008


7/2/08 (Low Flow) 4/6/08 (Moderate Flow) 8/6/08 (High Flow)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700


Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Total Phosphorus Concentrations in the Lemon Fair River, 2008

Median 2008 6/1/08 (Low Flow) 9/3/08 (Low Flow) 5/11/2008


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400


Ph

os

ph

oru

s C

on

c. (

µg

/l a

s P

)

Sampling Station

Phosphorus Concentrations in the Lemon Fair RiverJuly 2, 2008 (Low Flow)


Channels & Ditches

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700


Ph

os

ph

oru

s C

on

c. (

µg

/l a

s P

)

Sampling Station

Phosphorus Concentrations in the Lemon Fair RiverAugust 6, 2008 (High Flow)


Channels & Ditches

Case Study – McCabe’s Brook

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

MB 01a MB 01 MB 02 MB 03 MB 04 MB 04a MB 05

Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Median Phosphorus Concentrations in McCabe's Brook, 2006


0

20

40

60

80

100

120


Phos

phor

us C

once

ntra

tion

(µg/

l as P

)

Sampling Station

Median Phosphorus Concentrations in McCabe's Brook, 2008


Case Study – McCabe’s Brook (Cont’d)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400


Ph

os

ph

oru

s C

on

c. (

µg

/l)

Sampling Station

Phosphorus in McCabe's Brook - June 10,2007

Median Total P Median Particulate P

Median Dissolved P Tota P 7/10/2007

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

MB 01a MB 01 MB 02 MB 03 MB 04 MB 04a MB 05N

itro

ge

n C

on

c. (

mg

/l a

s N

)Sampling Station

Nitrogen in McCabe's Brook - July 10, 2007

2007 Median Total Nitrogen 2007 Median NO3+NO2

Far

m D

rain

age

Nitrate Standard = 5 mg/l

Data Review – Nitrogen

Nitrogen in the EasternTributaries to Lake Champlain

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4


Tota

l nit

roge

n Co

ncen

trati

on (m

g/l a

s N)

Sampling Station

Total Nitrogen Concentrations in Lewis Creek, 2008


5/11/08 (53 cfs) 4/6/08 (384 cfs) 8/6/08 (476 cfs)

Vermont State NO3 Standard = 5 mg/l as N

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9


Tota

l Nit

roge

n Co

nc. (

mg/

l as N

)

Sampling Station

Total Nitrogen Concentrations in Otter Creek - 2008

Median 6/1/08 (401 cfs) 9/3/08 (473 cfs) 5/11/08 (1,480 cfs)

7/2/08 (1,980 cfs) 4/6/08 (2,620 cfs) 8/6/08 (2,700 cfs)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6


Tota

l Nit

roge

n Co

nc. (

mg/

l as N

)

Sampling Station

Total Nitrogen Concentrations in the LaPlatte River, 2004-2008

Median 2004-2008 8/31/04 (500 cfs) 9/21/04 (11.5 cfs)

Nitrogen in the Tributaries to Otter Creek

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

MIR0 MIR1.5 MIR5.7

Tota

l Nit

roge

n Co

ncen

trati

on (m

g/l a

s N)

Sampling Station

Total Nitrogen Concentrations in the Middlebury River, 2008

Median 2008 6/1/08 (Low Flow) 9/3/2008 5/11/08 (Low Flow)


0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

NHR.5 NHR6 NHR9

Tota

l Nit

roge

n Co

nc. (

mg/

l as N

)

Sampling Station

Total Nitrogen Concentrations in the New Haven River - 2008


5/11/08 (142 cfs) 4/6/08 (741 cfs) 8/6/08 (1,810 cfs)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6


Tota

l Nit

roge

n Co

ncen

trati

on (m

g/l a

s N)

Sampling Station

Total Nitrogen Concentrations in the Lemon Fair River, 2008



Water Quality Outreach Review

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