NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM Great and Basins

MAJOR WATER-QUALITY ISSUES WHAT is THE NAWQA PROGRAM? IN THE Great and Little Miami River During the past 25 years, government and industry have made large financial Basins investments aimed at improving water quality across the Nation. Although Implementation of a National Water major progress has been made, many water-quality issues remain. To address Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program the need for consistent and scientifically sound information for managing the study in the The Great and Little Miami Nation's water resources, the U.S. Geological Survey began a full-scale National River Basins area will increase scientific Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program in 1991. The overall goals of the understanding of natural processes and NAWQA Program are to (1) describe current water-quality conditions for a human activities that affect the quality of large part of the Nation's freshwater streams and aquifers (water-bearing sedi­ water in streams and aquifers. This informa­ ments and rocks), (2) describe how water quality is changing over time, and (3) tion will benefit water-resource managers improve our understanding of the principal natural and human factors affecting that need, but often lack, the data required water quality. to implement effective water-quality manage­ ment actions and evaluate long-term changes in water quality.

NaSooolWaler Quolty Assessment study Units

Assessing the quality of water in every location of the Nation would not be practical; therefore, NAWQA Program studies are planned within a set of areas called study units. These study units are composed of 59 important river and Figure Caption: Blue sucker, one of 's rarest and most aquifer systems that represent the diverse geography, water resources, and land endangered fish species, has recently been identified in both the Little Miami and Great Miami Rivers. The occurrence of and water uses of the Nation. The Great and Little Miami River Basins consti­ this pollution-sensitive species indicates improving stream tute one such study unit. The study unit includes (1) three important tributaries quality in both watersheds. (Photo courtesy of Ohio of the , (2) largely agricultural watersheds affected by two major Environmental Protection Agency) metropolitan areas and rapid urbanization, and, (3) a Nationally important sole-source aquifer that is heavily used for public water supply. Study-unit activ­ ities in the Great and Little Miami River Basins began in 1997. Water quality has improved significantly in the Great and Little Miami River Basins over the past few decades because of currently addressing the following Habitat degradation and decreases in improvements in the treatment of municipal water-quality issues: stream biodiversity as a result of and industrial wastes. However, the effects of urbanization. industrialization and urbanization on the Contamination of the sole-source quality of rivers and ground-water resources aquifer by synthetic % Occurrence of water-borne pathogens remain a priority concern of water-resource organic chemicals, trace elements, in streams and shallow ground water managers and planners, state and local gov­ and radionuclides. in rural and urban land-use settings. ernments, and citizen groups. Some of these effects relate to nonpoint sources of contami­ nants and are the subject of ongoing research Degradation of surface- and Effect of septic systems and combined and watershed management projects such as ground-water quality by urban and sewer overflows on surface- and shal­ the Lower Great Miami Watershed Enhance­ agricultural sources offertilizers low ground-water quality. ment Program, the Little Miami Partnership, and pesticides. the Stillwater Watershed Project, Indian Disruption and fragmentation of Lake Watershed Project, and the Miami 9 Assessing the relative importance of stream habitats by low dams and Conservancy District's Groundwater 2000 point and nonpoint sources to con­ impoundments and their effects on Program. Water resource managers in the taminant loads in the Great and fish and henthic invertebrate commu­ Great and Little Miami River Basins area are Little Miami Rivers. nities. U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet FS-117-97 U.S. Geological Survey August 1997 STUDY UNIT DESCRIPTION Approximately 79 percent of the total land Ground Water. The principal aquifer area is used for agricultural activities, pri­ in the study unit is a complex, buried-valley Surface Water. The Great and Little marily row-crop production of corn, soy­ system that underlies the Great and Little Miami River Basins drain approximately beans, and alfalfa. Residential, commercial, Miami River valleys. This aquifer has been 7,350 mi2 (square miles) of southwestern and industrial land uses comprise 13 per­ designated a sole-source aquifer by the U.S. Ohio (80 percent) and southeastern cent of the area whereas the remaining area Environmental Protection Agency and is (20 percent). Principal streams include the consists of forests (7 percent) and water the principal source of drinking water for (4,124 mi2), and Little bodies or wetlands (I percent). Major 1.6 million people. The aquifer is found in Miami River (1,756 mi2) in Ohio and the industries, which are concentrated along the bedrock valleys incised into uplifted Sil­ Whitewater River (1,474 mi2) in Indiana. Dayton- corridor, produce auto­ urian and Ordovician bedrock by a tribu­ Drainage is toward the south-southwest; all mobile parts, business and computer equip­ tary of the Teays preglacial drainage streams in the watershed ultimately drain ment, chemicals, household goods, paper system. These valleys were buried by sedi­ into the Ohio River. Major tributaries of products, and processed foods and bever­ ments deposited by advancing glaciers (tills) the Great Miami River include the Still wa­ ages. Streams and lakes in the study unit or filled in by coarse-grained sediments ter River (676 mi2) and the Mad River (657 are heavily used by residents for boating, deposited by glacial meltwaters (outwash). mi2), both of which join the Great Miami fishine, and other outdoor recreation. Depth to water in most parts of the aquifer River at Dayton, Ohio. is less than 20 ft; supply wells completed in Rivers originate in the upper reaches of the sand and gravel deposits commonly the basins in agricultural areas consisting of yield more than 1,000 gallons per minute. rolling hills and steep-walled but shallow At several locations, high pumping rates are valleys. Large streams are usually underlain maintained by induced infiltration of river by buried valleys filled with sand and gravel water or by artificial recharge lagoons. In deposited by glacial meltwaters. A signifi­ the northern part of the study unit, Silurian cant component of baseflow in some limestones and dolomites form a carbonate streams is provided by ground-water dis­ bedrock aquifer that is used for domestic charge from glacial and shallow bedrock and small industrial supply. Wells com­ aquifers. The area contains many lakes and pleted in the carbonate aquifer typically small reservoirs that are used for flood con­ yield between 10 and 100 gallons per trol, water supply, and recreation. The larg­ minute. In the southern part of the study est water bodies in the study unit are unit, the shale-rich Ordovician bedrock is Brookville Lake (8.2 mi2) near Brookville. poorly permeable and is used for domestic- Indiana and (8.0 mi2) near Largemouth bass from Great Miami River near water supply only where other sources of Russells Point, Ohio; Indian Lake was con­ downtown Dayton. High-quality streams contribute to a diverse sports fisherv usedbv many residents (Photo water are not available. structed in 1851 to supply water to the courtesy of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency) Miami-Erie Canal System.

Physiography and Climate. The Great and Little Miami River Basins are in the Till Plains section of the Central Low­ lands Physiographic Province. Glaciation and subsequent erosion produced a flat to gently rolling land surface that is cut by steep-walled river valleys of low to moder­ ate relief. In the southernmost areas, glacial cover is thin and erosion of the less resis­ tant shales has produced a more dissected, hilly terrain of higher stream density. The regional topographic gradient is from north Confluence of Mad and Great Miami Rivers at Dayton, East Fork Little Miami River near Batavia. Ohio. Physi­ to south; altitudes in the study unit range Ohio. Despite being at the confluence of three major cal habitat of many reaches of major streams in the study streams, Dayton relies almost entirely on ground water area is of good to exceptional quality, consisting of riffle/ from 1,550 feet above sea level near the from a sole-source aquifer for municipal and industrial run/pool sequences associated with forested riparian cor­ headwaters of the Mad River to 450 feet water supply (Photo courtesy of Joel Kane Aerial ridors (Photo courtesy of Ohio Environmental Protection Photography, Dayton, Ohio). Agency) along the Ohio River at Cincinnati. Aver­ age annual precipitation in the study unit ranges from 35 to 43 inches and increases towards the south; about one-third of the Water Supply. In 1995, an estimated Population and Land Use. An esti­ precipitation becomes surface runoff. Aver­ 745 million gallons per day was withdrawn mated 2.8 million people lived in the study age annual air temperature ranges from 51° from streams and aquifers in the Great and unit in 1995. Major cities (population Fahrenheit in the north to 54 ° in the south. Little Miami River Basins. Of this, approxi­ greater than 100,000) in the study unit are Average snowfall in the study unit is 20 to mately 48 percent was withdrawn from sur­ Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. 30 inches per year. face-water bodies whereas the remaining Activity Plan and review jntensIve data collection fteports Low-intensity monitoring

SCHEDULE OF STUDY ACTIVITIES 52 percent was derived from ground-water sources. Exclud­ The Great and Little Miami Basins study is one of a ing withdrawals from the Ohio River, almost 92 percent of set of NAWQA Program studies that will start in 1996 the water used for public, domestic, commercial, and indus­ and 1997. Planning, study design, and analysis of exist­ trial supply was derived from ground-water sources. Most ing data will occur in the first two years of the study. of this ground water is pumped from the buried-valley After the 2-year planning period, ground-water, sur­ aquifer underlying stream valleys associated with the Great face-water, and biological data are collected intensively and Little Miami Rivers. for 3 years (termed the high-intensity phase). A low- Although rivers in the Great and Little Miami River intensity phase follows for 6 years, where water quality Basins greatly influenced the early development of the is monitored at a selected number of sites and areas region's economy, it has been the availability of abundant assessed during the high-intensity phase. The second ground-water supplies that has spurred rapid growth and cycle of the study begins in 2007. This combination of development in the region since the beginning of this cen­ high- and low-intensity monitoring phases allows the tury. Another important factor affecting growth and devel­ NAWQA Program to examine trends in water quality opment is the relatively unspoiled nature of the streams and over time. rivers. The Little Miami River (a State and National Scenic During the planning period, existing data and results River), the upper Great Miami River and its tributaries, from previous studies are reviewed to help understand and the Whitewater River in Indiana largely contain high- the primary physical, chemical, and biological factors quality warmwater habitats with biologically diverse fish that affect water quality in the study unit and to iden­ and wildlife populations. tify gaps in the current data. Descriptions of how land use and land cover, soils, geology, physiography, cli­ mate, and drainage characteristics may influence water quality are to be included in technical and non-techni­ cal reports. These reviews, along with field checks of existing monitoring stations and candidate sampling sites, and field reconnaissance data are used to design a sampling program for the study unit. During the high-intensity phase, new water-quality and biological data collections are done for selected areas at both local and regional scales to describe water-quality conditions across the study unit. Mea­ surements are made to determine water chemistry in streams and aquifers; the quantity of suspended sedi­ ment and quality of bottom sediments in streams; the variety and number of fish, benthic invertebrates, and algae in streams; and contaminants in fish tissues. Indi­ vidual streams and aquifers, particular chemical constit­ uents, and biological species are selected for sampling to represent the primary water resources and water- quality concerns for both the study unit and the Nation. The low-intensity phase will continue monitor­ ing at selected sites so that long-term trends can be identified. A series of technical and non-technical reports describing results of high and low-intensity phase are planned.

Study-area map. ASSESSING WATER QUALITY Basic or intensive fixed sites can be either results from the general study-unit survey IN THE GREAT AND LITTLE indicator or integrator sites. Indicator sites to determine the effect of particular land represent relatively homogeneous, small uses on ground-water quality. Flowpath MIAMI RIVER BASINS STUDY basins (typically less than 100 mi ) associ­ studies use transects and groups of clus­ UNIT ated with specific environmental settings, tered, multilevel observation wells to such as a particular land use that substan­ examine specific relations among land-use The NAWQA Program is designed to tially affects water quality in the study unit. practices; ground-water flow; contaminant assess the status of and trends in the qual­ Integrator sites are established at down­ occurrence and transport; and interactions ity of the Nation's ground- and surface- stream points in large, relatively heteroge­ between ground water and surface water. water resources and to link the status and neous drainage basins (thousands of square trends with an understanding of the natu­ miles) having multiple land-use settings. ral and human factors that affect the quality of water. The design of the Pro­ Indicator sites are typically placed within gram balances the unique assessment the drainage basins of integrator sites. Water samples also are collected as part of COMMUNICATION AND requirements of individual study units synoptic (short-term) investigations of spe­ with a nationally consistent design and COORDINATION cific water-quality conditions or issues dur­ data-collection structure that incorporates Communication and coordination between a multiscale, interdisciplinary approach. ing a specific hydrologic period (for example the U.S. Geological Survey and other scien­ during low streamfiow) to provide greater Surface- and ground-water studies are tific and land- and water-management orga­ spatial coverage and to allow investigators done at local scales (a few square miles to nizations are critical components of the to assess whether the basic fixed or intensive NAWQA Program. Each study-unit investi­ hundreds of square miles) and regional fixed sites are representative of streams gation maintains a liaison committee consist­ scales (thousands of square miles) to aid ing of representatives from Federal, State, in the understanding of water-quality throughout the study unit. Bed-sediment and fish-tissue studies assess trace elements and local agencies, universities, the private conditions and issues within a study unit. sector, watershed organizations, and those and hydrophobic organic contaminants at An Occurrence and Distribution who have water-resource responsibilities and 15-30 sites to determine their occurrence interests. Activities include the exchange of Assessment is the largest and most impor­ and distribution in the study unit. information about regional and local water- tant component of the first intensive quality issues, identification of sources of study phase in each study unit. The goal Ecological studies evaluate the relations among physical, chemical, and biological data and information, assistance in the of the Occurrence and Distribution design and scope of study products, and the Assessment is to characterize, in a nation­ characteristics of streams. Aquatic biological review of study planning documents and ally consistent manner, the broad-scale communities at the basic and intensive fixed reports. The Great and Little Miami River geographic and seasonal distributions of sites are surveyed during the 3 years of the Basins liaison committee will be formed in water quality in relation to major con­ high-intensity-sampling phase. These sur­ 1997. taminant sources and background condi­ veys are made along a delineated stream tions. The following discussions describe reach and include a habitat assessment of SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER the typical surface- and ground-water the site and annual surveys of the fish, algal, monitoring components of the Occur­ and benthic invertebrate communities. READING rence and Distribution Assessment. The Additionally, ecological sampling may be integrated with surface-water synoptic stud­ Gilliom, R.J., Alley, W.M., and Gurtz, Great and Little Miami River Basins M.E.,1995. Design of the National Water- NAWQA study will have a similar design. ies to provide greater spatial coverage and to assess whether the biological communities Quality Assessment Program: Occurrence at basic and intensive fixed sites are repre­ and distribution of water-quality conditions: Surface Water. The national study sentative of streams throughout the study U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1112, 33 p. design for surface water focuses on water- unit. Leahy, P.P., Rosenshein. J.S., and Knopman, quality conditions in streams using three D.S., 1990, Implementation plan for the interrelated components - water-column Nation Water-Quality Assessment Program: studies, bed-sediment and fish-tissue stud­ Ground Water. The national study design for ground water focuses on water- U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report ies, and ecological studies. Water-column 90-174, 10 p. studies monitor physical and chemical quality conditions in major aquifers, with characteristics, which include suspended emphasis on recently recharged ground sediment, major ions, nutrients, organic water associated with present and recent human activities, by using study-unit sur­ FOR MORE INFORMATION carbon, and dissolved pesticides, and their relation to hydrologic conditions, sources, veys, land-use studies, and flowpath studies. Information on technical reports and and transport. Most surface water is Ground-water samples are analyzed for hydrologic data related to the NAWQA monitored at sites termed either basic major ions, nutrients, pesticides, volatile Program can be obtained from: fixed sites or intensive fixed sites, accord­ organic compounds, and trace elements. Study-unit surveys are used to assess the ing to the frequency of the sampling. The Gary L. Rowe, NAWQA Study Chief sampling sites are selected to determine water quality of the major aquifer systems of each study unit. About 20^30 existing U.S. Geological Survey the quality of water in relation to impor­ Water Resources Division tant environmental settings in the study wells are randomly selected to be sampled in each of 2- 3 aquifer subunits. Land-use stud­ 975 West Third Ave unit. Most NAWQA study units have 8 Columbus, OH 43212 10 basic fixed and 2-3 intensive fixed ies focus on recently recharged shallow aquifer systems so that the influences of (614V469-5553 sites. Basic fixed sites are sampled E-mail: [email protected] monthly and at high-flows for 2 years of land-use practices and natural conditions can be assessed. Typically, about 20-30 new Internet: http://wwwrvares.er.usgs.gov/nawqa/ the 3-year high-intensity phase. The inten­ nawqa_home.html sive fixed sites are monitored more fre­ observation wells are randomly located quently (as often as weekly during key within each land use and aquifer type. Results from the 2 3 land-use studies typi­ By: Gary L. Rowe and Nancy T. Baker periods) for at least 1 year, to character­ Layout by: Richard P. Frehs ize seasonal variations of water quality. cally performed can be compared with