DOCSLIB.ORG

Chartiers Creek Watershed TMDL Stakeholder Group Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Chartiers Creek Watershed TMDL Stakeholder Group Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Final Report Adaptation of WARMF to Calculate TMDL for Chartiers Creek Watershed in Pennsylvania Prepared for: US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Watershed Conservation Division of Water Quality Assessment and Standards P.O. Box 8555, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555 The Chartiers Creek Watershed TMDL Stakeholder Group Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Prepared by: Carl W. Chen, Curtis Loeb and Joel Herr Systech Engineering, Inc. 3180 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 260 San Ramon, CA 94583 www.systechengineering.com October 8, 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................. 1-1 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 CHARTIERS CREEK TMDL....................................................................................................1-2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 1-3 2. DESCRIPTION OF WARMF........................................................................................... 2-1 DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM.................................................................................................. 2-1 ENGINEERING MODULE .........................................................................................................2-2 Hydrologic Network .......................................................................................................... 2-2 Hydrology Simulation........................................................................................................ 2-4 Nonpoint Source Load....................................................................................................... 2-4 Acid Mine Drainage .......................................................................................................... 2-5 Point Source Load............................................................................................................. 2-6 Water Quality Simulation..................................................................................................2-6 Documentation and Peer Review ...................................................................................... 2-7 COMBINED/SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS .......................................................................... 2-7 CSO Zones......................................................................................................................... 2-8 CSO Components .............................................................................................................. 2-9 Quantity of Dry Weather Flow........................................................................................2-10 Quality of Dry Weather Flow..........................................................................................2-11 CSO Infiltration...............................................................................................................2-11 Timing and Magnitude of CSO Occurrences .................................................................. 2-13 Mass Loading of CSOs....................................................................................................2-14 TMDL MODULE ................................................................................................................. 2-15 3. MODEL ADAPTATION...................................................................................................3-1 CHARTIERS CREEK WATERSHED ........................................................................................... 3-1 DATA SOURCES ................................................................................................................... 3-3 BASIN MAP............................................................................................................................ 3-3 INPUT DATA .......................................................................................................................... 3-4 Land Use............................................................................................................................ 3-5 Point Sources..................................................................................................................... 3-7 Meteorology.....................................................................................................................3-13 Air Quality....................................................................................................................... 3-16 CALIBRATION DATA............................................................................................................3-18 Stream Flow .................................................................................................................... 3-19 Water Quality ..................................................................................................................3-20 PICTURES OF THE WATERSHED............................................................................................ 3-24 ACID MINE DRAINAGE ........................................................................................................ 3-27 Background Information ................................................................................................. 3-28 AMD Data .......................................................................................................................3-30 WATER QUALITY LIMITED SECTIONS................................................................................... 3-31 DESIGNATED USES .............................................................................................................. 3-34 WATER QUALITY CRITERIA................................................................................................. 3-37 i 4. MODEL CALIBRATION ................................................................................................. 4-1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 4-1 HYDROLOGY CALIBRATION................................................................................................... 4-1 Calibration Parameters..................................................................................................... 4-1 Chartiers Creek at Lagonda.............................................................................................. 4-2 Chartiers Creek at Carnegie Station................................................................................. 4-5 WATER QUALITY CALIBRATION............................................................................................ 4-7 Temperature ...................................................................................................................... 4-9 Dissolved Oxygen ............................................................................................................ 4-14 Alkalinity ......................................................................................................................... 4-16 pH .................................................................................................................................... 4-20 Nutrients .......................................................................................................................... 4-24 Chlorides (TDS) .............................................................................................................. 4-32 Cations............................................................................................................................. 4-35 5. LOADING ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................... 5-1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 5-1 SUBWATERSHED REGIONS ....................................................................................................5-1 AMMONIA NITROGEN ............................................................................................................ 5-3 TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON..................................................................................................... 5-5 TOTAL PHOSPHORUS ............................................................................................................. 5-6 FECAL COLIFORM..................................................................................................................5-8 FERROUS IRON .................................................................................................................... 5-10 FERRIC IRON........................................................................................................................ 5-12 SULFATE.............................................................................................................................. 5-14 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS..................................................................................................5-16 TOTAL SUSPENDED SEDIMENT ............................................................................................ 5-18 6. TMDL PROCESS............................................................................................................... 6-1 STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT .............................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Washington County Watershed Roadmap
    e ounty Lin Clinto C t C n Frankfort lint for P on Frank Clinton Fra ort urd y nkf r e o l g l DILLOE RUN i g i D B S u n n Kings Creek y B H IG w Gi do K Ell a V Me I R N e R G M U Contact Information y r K ille N e d S -d rr - r l K A u s C i Van t r If you are interested in joining an active watershed association or starting a new one or just C R po G R E r B t H o N enne E U a tt a R AK c r N obtaining more information, contact the Alliance at: ls res u d AI t l e L on K r ER l E B a b e E M B R P ON CREEK) A k C urd (INTO RASCCO CH ree S y USH RUN haron s BR ts C g n G in n Washington County Watershed Alliance IN o n i e M P o K N K U D e o c iv c R s c lton Hill c 100 West Beau Street, Suite 105 l F Know Ra S i ra R K v c o C e b I k in R Washington, PA 15301 C D e r s T n C e o A l gs e P y in k K n H E T d K H A N O V E R Phone: 724-228-6774 E C S i r R e S e C C R s ll le n h l h m N u a a u i i r d v o a O D m r Fax: 724-223-4682 v r O c g n K C p olm r e e C h e ill e l b v e h b A n R e be E-Mail: [email protected] f k u teu c e l Old S o t l T S r L k ille u L u ta ake benv r e N eu k S t e T S e d y U Ol r R H 22 ce S o ru C K l p C Prepared By: Washington County Watershed Associations P lo L S I w a R Legend h p u T i S r A m e P Washington County Planning Commission GIS as a Public Service For the Washington County Watershed Alliance There are many active watershed associations in Washington County.
    [Show full text]
  • Dams in the Passumpsic River Watershed
    Table of Contents General Description of the Passumpsic River Watershed .................................................. 1 Uses, Values, Special Features of the Passumpsic Watershed ......................................... 2 Waterfalls, Cascades, Gorges, and Swimming Holes ..................................................... 2 Significant Natural Communities...................................................................................... 2 Public Lands and Private Conservation Land in the Basin .............................................. 2 Water Quality/Aquatic Habitat Assessment Basinwide ....................................................... 3 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 3 Overall Assessment of Lake, Pond, River, Stream Uses ................................................ 4 Assessment of Cause and Sources affecting River, Stream, Lake, Pond Uses .............. 5 Passumpsic River up to the Branches and some tributaries ............................................... 7 Description ....................................................................................................................... 7 Sampling Results and Assessment Information .............................................................. 8 River and Stream Assessment Summary ...................................................................... 12 Lakes and Ponds ..........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 9 !(1 !(1 !(2 !(3 !(4 !(5 !(6 !(7 !(2 !(3 !(6 !(7 !(5 !(5 !(3 !(4 !(4 !(6 !(7 !(2 !(7
    Primary Greenways Secondary Greenways Recreation Greenways Natural Areas WASHINGTON COUNTY (!1 Monongahela River Water Corridor (!1 Raccoon Creek Natural Area GREENWAYS PLAN !2 National Road Heritage Corridor (!2 Cross Creek Natural Area Raccoon Creek Valley ( 3 3 Buffalo Creek Natural Area Natural Area (! Montour Trail Corridor (! 23 HANOVER 15 4 Enlow Fork Natural Area (! 1 Hillman (! 4 Panhandle Trail Corridor (! (!?é Stat e Park (! 5 Chartiers Creek Water Corridor 5 Little Chartiers Creek Natural Area 22 Starpointe (! (! (! I¨ I¨ (!6 BicyclePA Route A Corridor (!6 Mingo Creek Natural Area Map 10: Primary and ROBINSON 7 BicyclePA Route S Corridor SGL 117 (! 7 Franklin Natural Area (!3 (! Secondary Greenways ?À (!8 Ringlands Natural Area SMITH 4 BURGETTSTOWN (! Recreation Greenways (!4 MCDONALD MIDWAY (!9 Mingo Creek Trail Corridor JEFFERSON (!10 Bethel Spur Trail Corridor (!15 !3 6 ?é 31 ( (! 11 National Pike Trail Corridor (! ?c (! 12 Montour Trail to Westland Trail Corridor CECIL (! CROSS CREEK ?À12 (!5 (!10 Meadowcroft SGL 303 (! 13 Buffalo Creek Water Corridor Museum M 24 !"c$ (! ?c MOUNT CANO(!NSBURG I¥ 14 Rea Block 14 Cross Creek Water Corridor 1" = 4 miles (! FCielrd oss Creek PLEASANT (!3 (! ?c Canonsburg Lake PETERS ?¢ Natural Area ?³ !15 Raccoon Creek Water Corridor SGL 303 ?ü ( Cross Creek Lake2 (! FINLEYVILLE 16 Ten Mile Creek Water Corridor ?é HOUSTON (!20 UNION (! WESCTross Creek County Park 19 14 CHARTIERS (! 26 INDEPENDENCE MIDDLETOWN ! (! Conservation Greenways ( (!7 NORTH (!6 HOPEWELL I-79 E xit 41 6 STRABANE ?b (! Mingo Creek (!25 17 Dutch Fork Greenway NOTTINGHAM (! Data Source: PennDot road files; National Heritage Inventory Little Chartiers Creek NEW EAGLE ?Ê CANTON !"c$ Natural Area (!5 Natural Area 18 Enlow Fork Greenway ecological data; Audubon Society Important Bird Areas; ?Ê SGL 432 I-79 E xit 40 21 MON ONG AHELA (! All other data obtained from the Southwestern Pennsylvania BLAINE I¥ 9 ! EAST ( Mingo Cree(!k Commission.
    [Show full text]
  • November-December Newsletter
    The Offi cial Publication of the Montour Trail Council MONTOUR TRAIL-LETTER Volume 18 Issue 6 November/December 2007 Another MTC Groundbreaking It was another momentous day in the history of the Montour Trail when the ground was broken, or should I say, For your consideration a bridge tie was lifted, to mark the onset of construction for Phase 16. Participants in the event gathered at the east end Every mile is two in winter. of Valleybrook #3, that will be the trail-bridget that crosses Valleybrook Road just south of Chartiers Creek and Buckeye George Herbert Lane in Peters Township. Thanks go out to Tom Robinson, owner of TAR Outside Storage for allowing us to use his property for automobile parking and easy access to the site of Photo by Dennis Sims the ceremony. From Left to Right, Mark and Kinga Blum, Mingo Creek Const.; Patricia Moore, Peters Words were said by several area community Twp.; Scott Fergus, Washington County. leaders, including Congressman Tim Murphy, Matt Campion Matt Campion aide to Sen. John Pippy.; representing state Senator John Pippy of the 37th district which Rep. Tim Murphy, Mark Imgrund, Ed Taylor, and Ned Williams of the Montour Trail. Inside this issue: includes Peters Twp., Peters Twp. Councilwoman Patricia Moore and others. The owners of Mingo Creek Construction, Kinga and Mark Blum, the winning bidder Grounbreaking 1 for the project were introduced. Following the speeches, everyone gathered at the bridge for the “tie Tour the Montour lifting”. The dignitaries took turns cranking the come-along lifting the tie from its place.
    [Show full text]
  • Keystone Tap Magazine
    A Publication of the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association fhe ~ystOne 1r~~ !summer 1994 Vol. VII, No. ~ Pennsylvania Rural Water ' Association Serving Water/Wastewater I..... Systems in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Rural Water Association 138 West Bishop Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823 (814) 353-9302 FAX: (814) 353-9341 Here is what people are saying about PRWA: PENNSYLVANIA Wonderview Water Co. RURAL WATER 91 Dutch Hill Rd. ASSOCIATION Bloomsburg, PA 17815 717-387-8762 6-6-94 -mlnite'b ~ ta tes ~ena t e Pennsylvania Rural Water Association WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3803 138 West Bishop Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 May 4, 1994 (814) 353-9302 FAX (814) 353-9341 Mr. Stephen M. Krchnavy Pennsylvania Rural Water Association Dear Rural Water, 138 West Bishop Street Thank you for sending out your leak detection expert Chris Shutt. Bellefonte, PA 16823 He was very helpful in finding two water leaks in our system. Enclosed, please find our application for membership from and a Dear Mr. Krchnavy. check for this year's dues. Thank you to you and the rest of the Pennsylvania Rural Water Thank you, Association members for stopping by our office to share your views. I have passed on your material and video tape on to Sena10r Wofford. You can be certain that he will keep your views in mind as the Safe Drinking Water Act #~ is considered in the Senate. John Yohey Please do not hesitate to contact our office again if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, J""- ~~ L~ KAfiM,id.l Sara Marcus Kaplaniak BAINBRIDGE WATER AUTHORITY POST OFFICE BOX 338 • BAINBRIDGE, PA 17502 March 10, 1994 Pennsylvania Aural Water Association 138 West Bishop Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • REQUEST for PROPOSALS for PURCHASE: FORMER STAR CITY CINEMAS PARCEL Proposals Must Be Received No Later Than WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 @ 10:00 A.M
    REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PURCHASE: FORMER STAR CITY CINEMAS PARCEL Proposals must be received no later than WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 @ 10:00 A.M. April 16, 2019 South Fayette Township REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PURCHASE OF THE FORMER STAR CITY PARCEL LOCATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH FAYETTE, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Application The undersigned Applicant, having carefully read this RFP and had the opportunity to obtain all clarifications it believes it needs, proposes to purchase the property as described in detail in the Request for Proposals (RFP) set forth below. Applicant understands that anything in its proposal which is found to be incomplete or inaccurate will be a valid basis for the Township discontinuing further consideration of the proposal and notifying Applicant accordingly. Any information provided in or attached to this proposal which the Applicant considers to be confidential shall be clearly marked as such by Applicant, and justification for the claim of confidentiality shall be provided. Applicant understands that information will be subject to disclosure to other Applicants and the public as and when required by law. Applicant’s name, U.S. headquarters address, and local address: Applicant has completed and attached to this proposal a true, correct and complete Disclosure on the form provided by the Township. The undersigned representative of the Applicant affirms that the contents of the Disclosure form are true, correct and complete. The undersigned officer of Applicant, being duly authorized to do so, submits this proposal on behalf of Applicant, affirming that it is complete and correct in all respects. By submitting this proposal, Applicant agrees that, if selected, it will perform all items described in the RFP.
    [Show full text]
  • The Passumpsic Watershed Water Quality Assessment Report 2018
    The Passumpsic Watershed Water Quality Assessment Report 2018 Table of Contents Land Cover of the Passumpsic Watershed 3 Water Quality Protection Priorities 4 Water Quality Remediation Priorities 5 Millers Run (Wheelock, Sheffield, Lyndon) 6 Dishmill Brook & Dishmill Brook #2 (Burke) 7 Unnamed Tributary to Passumpsic River, EPA Superfund (Lyndon) 8 Moose River (St. Johnsbury, Waterford) 9 Passumpsic River & Lower Sleepers River (St. Johnsbury) 10 The Water Andric (Danville, Barnett) 11 Simpsons Brook (Waterford), Sleepers River (Danville, St. Johnsbury) 12 Monitoring Priorities 13 3 Land Cover of the Passumpsic Watershed Forested Developed East Agriculture Wetlands Sub Watershed Boundary West Moose Millers Run Sleepers Upper Lower Joes 0 2.5 5 10 Miles Table 1. NLCD 2011 Land Cover for the Passumpsic River Watershed. Sub Watershed Forested Developed Agriculture Wetlands Sub Watershed Forested Developed Agriculture Wetlands Millers Run 76.3 6.9 9.8 2.0 Upper Tributaries 67.4 11.2 14.3 1.8 Sleepers River 73.6 6.2 14.7 1.8 West Branch 71.2 6.3 12.9 6.3 Joes Brook 75.1 4.6 8.7 5.0 East Branch 84.4 3.5 4.7 3.4 Lower Tributaries 69.9 11 13.4 1.3 Moose River 82.1 3.1 3.3 5.8 4 Water Quality Protection Priorities Potential B(1) Current A(1) Fishing Potential A(1) Aquatic Biota Potential B(1) 1 2 Aquatic Biota 3 Reclass From A(2) 5 4 Remain 6 11 13 A(2) 7 12 8 9 Potential 10 A1 Wetland 28 Sentinel Sites 15 16 17 18 19 14 Victory Bog 29 20 21 22 ID Waterbody Name Potential 11 Nation brook trib B1 Fishing 12 Square brook trib B1 Fishing 23 13 Moose
    [Show full text]
  • Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Disposal Site Fact Sheet
    Fact Sheet UMTRCA Title I Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Disposal Site This fact sheet provides information about the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 Title I disposal site located at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The site is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management. Site Description and History The Canonsburg disposal site is a former uranium ore processing site located in the Borough of Canonsburg, Washington County, in southwestern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Pittsburgh. The site lies between Chartiers Creek and the Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad tracks. The surrounding land is primarily residential and commercial. The former mill processed uranium and other ores at the site between 1911 and 1957 and provided uranium for the U.S. government national defense programs. Standard Chemical operated the site as a radium extraction plant from 1911 to 1922. Later, Vitro Corporation of America acquired the property and processed ore to extract radium and uranium salts. From 1942 until 1957, Vitro was under contract to the federal government to recover uranium from ore and scrap. Processing operations at the site ceased in 1957. For the next 9 years, the site was used only for storage under a U.S. Atomic Energy Commission contract. In 1967, the property was purchased by the Canon Development Company and was leased to tenant companies for light industrial use. Location of the Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Disposal Site Historical milling operations at the site generated radioactive mill tailings, a predominantly sandy material. Some of the Regulatory Setting tailings were shipped to Burrell Township 50 miles away to be used as additional fill in a railroad landfill.
    [Show full text]
  • Application of Duquesne Light Company Filed Pursuant to 52 Pa
    BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION Application of Duquesne Light Company filed Pursuant to 52 Pa. Code Chapter 57, Subchapter G, for Approval of the Siting and : Docket No. A-20 19 - Construction of the 138 kV Transmission Lines Associated with the Brunot Island - Crescent Project in the City of Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks Borough, Kennedy Township,RobinsonTownship,Moon Township, and Crescent Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania APPLICATION OF DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY TO THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION: Duquesne Light Company ("Duquesne Light" or the "Company") hereby files, pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 57.72, this Application requesting Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ("Commission") approval to site and construct approximately 14.5 miles of overhead double - circuit 138 kV transmission lines in the City of Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks Borough, Kennedy Township, Robinson Township, Moon Township, and Crescent Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Hereinafter called the " Brunot Island - Crescent Project" or "BI -Crescent Project"). The proposed Project is required to replace aging transmission system infrastructure. The BI - Crescent corridor has some of Duquesne Light's oldest in-service steel lattice towers. Structural evaluations have determined that the structures are approaching end of useful life. Based on current condition, structure deterioration, and Power Line Systems - Computer Aided Design and Drafting ("PLS-CADD")' modeling at current design codes, all results indicate these 'PLS-CADD is an industry
    [Show full text]
  • (WRAS) State Water Plan Subbasin 20F Chartiers Creek Watershed (Ohio River) Washington and Allegheny Counties
    Updated 9/2003 Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) State Water Plan Subbasin 20F Chartiers Creek Watershed (Ohio River) Washington and Allegheny Counties Introduction Subbasin 20F includes the 296-square mile Chartiers Creek watershed located in southwestern Allegheny and northern Washington Counties and the 19.4 square mile watershed of Sawmill Run, the upstream most named tributary flowing directly into the Ohio River. A total of 408 streams flow for 567 miles through the subbasin. Most of the tributary watersheds are small; only Little Chartiers Creek and Robinson Run have drainage areas greater than 30 square miles. Chartiers Creek starts in a rural section of northern Washington County and flows north through Allegheny County and the western Pittsburgh suburbs and through the Pittsburgh City limits to its confluence with the Ohio River near McKees Rocks. The subbasin is part of HUC Area 5030001, Upper Ohio River, a Category I, FY99/2000 Priority watershed in the Unified Watershed Assessment. Geology/Soils: The entire subbasin is in the Western Allegheny Plateau Ecoregion. The upper third of the subbasin is in the Permian Hills (70a) subsection and the lower portion is in the Monongahela Transition Zone (70b) subsection. Strata are composed of sequences of sandstone, shale, limestone, and coal. The commercially valuable Pittsburgh coal underlies the entire subbasin. The upper basin was extensively deep mined starting in the late 1800’s, by the room and pillar method, with coal left in place to support the overlying rock and surface. The region supplied coal and coke for the numerous steel plants in the Pittsburgh region.
    [Show full text]
  • July-August Newsletter
    The Official Publication of the Montour Trail Council MONTOUR TRAIL-LETTER Celebrating 32 Years Volume 32 Issue 4 July-August 2021 Always B Smiling (copied from their web page) Loving came naturally to “B” and he learned from the very best. Kristin Heine Huibregtse and Dean Huibregtse are the epitome of loving parents and they made sure that Bennett’s life was lived joyfully and to the fullest every day. Just 18, Bennett loved being at the front of his Duet Bike with mom or dad at the helm, and we are thrilled to share this simple joy with other families. Always B Smiling has teamed up with the Tandem Connection on the Montour Trail in Canonsburg, PA to offer FREE adaptive bike rides for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. It’s a great way for people with disabilities that include limited mobility to enjoy recreation and fun outdoors! When: Saturday Afternoons May 15 thru October 30 - 2pm-4pm or 4pm-6pm Where: Tandem Connection -Hendersonville, PA Riders heading out on their inaugural ride. Photo courtesy of Harry Funk O-R. Powered by trained volunteers, the Duet Bike provides a comfortable wheelchair seat at the front of the electronic-assisted bicycle. This provides riders the pleasure of riding a bike with the breeze in your hair and the sun on your face. On every outing, there will be two trained volunteers joining you and your family and friends on your outing – one to power the bike and the other to ride along as a backup. * Note that at least one parent or adult must be present with the rider.
    [Show full text]
  • Stream Reconnaissance for Nutrients and Other Water-Quality Parameters, Greater Pittsburgh Region, Pennsylvania
    STREAM RECONNAISSANCE FOR NUTRIENTS AND OTHER WATER· QUALITY PARAMETERS, GREATER PITTSBURGH REGION, PENNSYLVANIA U.S. Geological Survey Water • Resources Investigations 50-7 4 BIBLIOGR"APHIC DATA l1. Report No. 3. Recipient 's Accession No. SHEET 4. T itle and Subtitle 5. Report Date STREAM RECONNAISSANCE FOR NUTRIENTS AND OTHER WATER-QUALITY February 1975 PARAMETERS, GREATER PITTSBURGH REGION, PENNSYLVANIA 6. 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Rept. Robert M. Beall No. WRI 50-74 9. P erforming Organiza tion Name and Address 10. ·Project/ T ask/ Work Unit No. Greater Pittsburgh Regional Studies U.S. Geological Survey 11. Contract/ Grant No. P.O. Box 420 Carnegie. Pennsylvania 15106 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Re port & Period C oyered Same as 9. above. Final 14. 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstracts Eighty-five stream sites in and near the six-county Greater Pittsburgh Region were sampled in mid-June 1971 and again in mid-October 1972. Concentrations of inorganic nitrogen, organic carbon, or phosphorus were high enough to indicate potential problems at about a quarter of the sampling sites. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH values indicated a generally favorable capacity for recovery from degradation, although a number of streams east of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers ar~ marginal or lacking. Regionally, sulfate is the dominant ion and was observed in concentrations of 40 milligrams per litre· or more at 90 percent of the sites. Bicarbonate exceeded 100 milligrams per litre at 22 sites. A moderate to high degree of mineralization is indicated by conductance readings of more than 500 micromhos per centimetre at half of the sampling sites.
    [Show full text]