Publication 226 June 2003 West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin Survey A Water Quality and Biological Assessment, July - November 2002 The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) conducted a Year-1 survey of the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin from July to November 2002, which included point-in-time samples of the water quality, macroinvertebrate community, and habitat. This report provides an assessment of that data. SRBC monitors and assesses the six major subbasins (Figure 1) of the Susquehanna River Basin on a rotating schedule. The previous surveys of the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin were conducted in 1985 and 1994. An assessment of the data from the 1994 survey also is included in this report for comparison purposes. Historical data from these surveys, as well as all other subbasin surveys, are available from SRBC. Table of Contents Subbasin survey information is used by Description of the West Branch SRBC staff and others to: Susquehanna Subbasin . .2 ■ evaluate the chemical, biological, and habitat Methods Used in the conditions of streams 2002 Subbasin Survey . .2 in the basin; ■ identify major sources Methods Used in the of pollution and lengths 1994 Subbasin Survey . .5 of stream impacted; ■ identify high quality 2002 Results/Discussion . .6 sections of streams that need to be protected; 1994 Results/Discussion . .15 ■ maintain a database that can be used to Conclusions . .15 document changes in stream quality over time; Acknowledgements . .16 ■ review projects affecting water quality in the For More Information . .16 basin; and ■ identify areas for more D. Gavin References . .17 intensive study. Figure 1. The Susquehanna River Basin Subbasins Appendix . .18 SRBC will conduct a Year-2 West Branch Susquehanna River near Wetham, Clinton County Susquehanna River study of a priority watershed Basin Commission . .20 within the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin during 2003 and 2004. The priority watershed will be selected Report By: based on results from the Susan R. LeFevre, Year-1 survey and input from local interests. SRBC will work Biologist with area groups to provide additional data to aid in remediation or protection efforts. S. LeFevre Description of the dominated by state forests and game Susquehanna Subbasin. Appendix A West Branch lands with a few small urban areas scat- contains a list with the sample site tered throughout (Figure 3). The largest number, the station name (designated Susquehanna Subbasin urban centers in this watershed are by stream mile), a description of the The West Branch Susquehanna Williamsport, State College, Lock sampling location, the latitude and Subbasin drains an area of approximately Haven, and Clearfield. Strip mining is longitude, the ecoregion, and the 6,982 square miles from Carrolltown a prominent industry in this area due drainage size category. Macroinvertebrate to Northumberland, Pennsylvania, to the large stores of coal located in the samples were taken at 129 sites. Staff which includes significant portions of western portion of the watershed. could not sample eight sites due Cambria, Clearfield, Elk, Cameron, The many miles of streams impacted to lack of riffle habitat or dry Potter, Clinton, Centre, Tioga, Sullivan, by abandoned mine drainage (AMD) conditions. Habitat was rated at the Lycoming, Union, and Montour Counties. are evidence of the heavy mining activity sites where a macroinvertebrate sample Three different ecoregions are found in this region. Agricultural activity was collected. within this area: is found mostly in the eastern and The sites were sampled once in this ■ Northern Appalachian Plateau southern portions of the watershed. Year-1 sampling round in order to provide and Uplands, a point-in-time picture of stream ■ North Central Appalachians, and Methods Used in the characteristics throughout the whole ■ subbasin. Samples were collected using a Central Appalachian Ridges and 2002 Subbasin Survey Valleys (Omerick, 1987) (Figure 2). slightly modified version of the U.S. The West Branch Susquehanna DATA COLLECTION Environmental Protection Agency’s Subbasin contains some of the most During the summer and fall of 2002, (USEPA’s) Rapid Bioassessment Protocols scenic forestland in Pennsylvania. This SRBC staff visited and collected samples for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers subbasin consists largely of rural lands from 137 sites throughout the West Branch (RBP III) (Barbour and others, 1999). Figure 2. Ecoregions and Counties in the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin D. Gavin 2 D. Gavin Figure 3. Land Use in the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin WATER QUALITY Table 1. Water Quality Parameters A portion of the water sample from each collection site was Sampled in the West Branch separated for laboratory analysis, and the rest of the sample Susquehanna Subbasin was used for field analysis. A list of the field and laboratory FIELD PARAMETERS parameters and their units is found in Table 1. Measurements Flow, instantaneous cfsa Conductivity, µmhos/cmc of flow, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, Temperature, °C Alkalinity, mg/l alkalinity, and acidity were taken in the field. Flow was measured pH Acidity, mg/l using standard U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) methodology Dissolved Oxygen, mg/lb (Buchanan and Somers, 1969). Temperature was measured LABORATORY ANALYSIS with a field thermometer in degrees Celsius. A Cole-Parmer Specific Conductance, µmhos/cm Total Sodium, mg/l Model 5996 meter was used to measure pH. Dissolved oxygen pH Total Potassium, mg/l was measured with a YSI 55 meter, and conductivity was Alkalinity, mg/l Chloride, mg/l measured with a Cole-Parmer Model 1481 meter. Alkalinity Total Suspended Solids, mg/l Sulfate - IC, mg/l was determined by titration of a known volume of sample Total Nitrogen, mg/l Total Fluoride, mg/l water to pH 4.5 with 0.02N H2SO4. Acidity was determined Total Ammonia - N, mg/l Total Copper, µg/ld by titration of a known volume of sample water to pH 8.3 Nitrite - N, mg/l Total Iron, µg/l with 0.02N NaOH. Nitrate - N, mg/l Total Lead, µg/l One 500-ml bottle and two 250-ml bottles of water were Total Phosphorus, mg/l Total Manganese, µg/l collected for laboratory analyses. One of the 250-ml bottles Total Organic Carbon, mg/l Total Nickel, µg/l was acidified with nitric acid for metal analyses. The other Total Hardness, mg/l Total Zinc, µg/l 250-ml bottle was acidified with sulfuric acid for nutrient Total Calcium, mg/l Total Aluminum, µg/l Total Magnesium, mg/l Total Orthophosphate, mg/l analyses. Samples were iced and shipped to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Pa. DEP), Bureau of a cfs = cubic feet per second c µmhos/cm = micromhos per centimeter Laboratories in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. b mg/l = milligram per liter d µg/l = micrograms per liter 3 MACROINVERTEBRATES 1999). Physical stream characteristics Water quality was assessed by examining Benthic macroinvertebrates (organisms relating to substrate, pool and riffle field and laboratory parameters that that live on the stream bottom, including composition, shape of the channel, included nutrients, major ions, and aquatic insects, crayfish, clams, snails, and conditions of the banks, and the riparian metals (Table 1). Limit values were worms) were collected using a modified zone were rated on a scale of 0-20, with 20 obtained for each parameter based on version of RBP III (Barbour and others, being optimal. Other observations were current state and federal regulations or 1999). Two kick-screen samples were noted about weather, substrate material references for approximate tolerances obtained at each station by disturbing composition, surrounding land use, and of aquatic life (Table 2). Laboratory the substrate of representative riffle/run any other relevant features in the watershed. values were used when field and areas and collecting dislodged material laboratory data existed for the same with a one-meter-square 600-micron DATA ANALYSIS parameter, and calcium and acidity mesh screen. Each sample was preserved Six reference categories were created were not analyzed due to inapplicability in 95 percent denatured ethyl alcohol for data analysis based on ecoregions to the analysis. Ammonia values were and returned to SRBC’s lab, where the (Omernick, 1987) and drainage size. not analyzed due to unusually high sample was sorted into a subsample of The two ecoregions in the West Branch values, even in streams with known at least 200 organisms. Organisms in Susquehanna Subbasin where sampling healthy fish populations. The difference the subsample were identified to genus, sites were located were Ecoregion 62 between each value and the limit value except for midges and aquatic worms, (North Central Appalachians) and was calculated for each site, and if the which were identified to family. Ecoregion 67 (Central Appalachian value did not exceed the limit value, Ridges and Valleys) (Figure 2). All the the site was given a score of zero. If the HABITAT sites within each ecoregion were divided limit value was exceeded, the difference Habitat conditions were evaluated into small (< 50 square miles), medium was listed, and an average of all the using a modified version of RBP III (50 to 500 square miles), and large parameters for each site was calculated. (Plafkin and others, 1989; Barbour and others, drainage areas (> 500 square miles). The sites were grouped according to Table 2. Water Quality Limits and References PARAMETERS LIMITS REFERENCE CODE REFERENCE CODES AND REFERENCES Temperature >25°C a,f a D.O. <4 mg/l a,g http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/025/chapter93/s93.7.html