Great Miami River Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring
2014 Data Sharing February 28, 2015 5th Annual Event
Great Miami River Project Funding Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring
Land Conservancy of Hamilton County, OH
Great Miami River Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring
University of Cincinnati Center for Field Studies, 10053 Oxford Rd., New Haven, OH. University of Cincinnati Center for Field Studies, 10053 Oxford Rd., New Haven, OH. The Great Miami River Basin has some of the highest University of Cincinnati Center for yields of nitrogen and phosphorus in theField Mississippi Studies, 10053 Oxford Rd., River basin (Goolsby et. al., USGS (1999)).New Haven, OH. Gulf Hypoxia
Nutrient Loading, Low Dissolved Oxygen & Dead Zone pH Effect on Aqua c Life 3.0-3.5 Fish survival only a few hours and limited plant and invertebrate life.
3.5-4.0 Lethal to salmonids.
4.0-4.5 All fish, most frogs and insects, not present.
4.5-5.0 Mayfly & other insect larvae absent. Most fish eggs will not hatch.
5.0-5.5 Bo om dwelling decomposing bacteria begin to die off. Leaf li er and dead plant and animal materials begin to accumulate. Plankton begin to disappear.
5.5-6.5 Freshwater shrimp/scuds not present. 6.5-8.5 Op mal for most organisms. 8.5-9.0 Unlikely to harm fish, but indirect effects from chemical changes in the water may occur. 9.0-10.5 Harmful to perch and salmonids with prolonged exposure.
10.5-11.0 Prolonged exposure is lethal to carp and perch.
11.0-11.5 Lethal to all fish. Source: North Carolina State University Source: USEPA Environmental Research Laboratory , Corvallis, OR Source: North Carolina State University
Max. 25.0 NTU Minnesota TMDL criteria for protec on of fish/ macroinvertebrate health Max: 10.4 NTU U.S. EPA recommenda on
Source: Indiana Department of Environmental Management Max. 0.633 mg/L U.S. EPA recommenda on. Max. 1.0 mg/L Ohio EPA recommenda on for streams where fish and macroinvertebrates meet warmwater habitat standards. Max. 1.5 mg/L Dividing line between mesotrophic and eutrophic streams (USEPA). Max. 3.0 mg/L Ohio EPA Dissolved inorganic nitrogen limit (DIN) where good to excellent habitat exists (QHEI > 64 – to maintain warmwater habitat streams).
Source: USEPA, OEPA & IDEM Max. 0.06 mg/L OEPA Excep onal Warmwater Habitat standard. Max. 0.07 mg/L Dividing line between mesotrophic and eutrophic streams (USEPA). Max. 0.08 mg/L Ohio EPA recommenda on for streams where fish and macroinvertebrates meet warmwater habitat standards. Max. 0.3 mg/L Ohio EPA total phosphorus limit where good to excellent habitat exists (QHEI > 64 – to maintain warmwater habitat streams).
Source: USEPA, OEPA & IDEM Rela ve Probability of Acute Health Chlorophyll-a (µg/L) Effects Low <10 Moderate 10-50 High 50-5,000 Very High >5,000
Source: USEPA/World Health Organization
Fecal Bacteria and Op cal Brightener Contamina on Fecal Bacteria Op cal Brightener Probable Cause
High High Sewer pipe leak or failing sep c systems High Low Other warm-blooded mammal source or human waste from another source Low High Gray water in storm water system Low Low Background fluorescence of insignificant contamina on Great Miami River Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring Data Presentations
¨ Part I ¡ Analysis and ranking of 2014 Lower Great Miami River Watershed Ci zens’ Water Quality Monitoring Data. ¡ Interac ons associated with chemical parameters.
¨ Part II ¡ Measures of data quality. ¡ Priority waterways (2012-2014). ¡ Data applica ons and water quality best management prac ces (BMPs). ¡ Personal ac on items.
GMR Ci zens’
Water Quality DATA FORUM 2014 Season Monitoring, 2011 Great Miami River Watershed Presenta on for Volunteers Feb. 25, 2011 Ci zens’ Water Quality Monitoring Program February 21, 2014 prepared by Michael C. Miller & Lisa Link Rivers Unlimited/FOGM Ci zens’ Water Quality Monitoring Program is Run by Rivers Unlimited and FOGM and supported financially or with facili es by the following The Great Miami River lies in an over-wiedened valley created by the preglacial Taeys River flowing North, and underlain by upto 300 feet of alluvial sand and gravel. Year 5 Has Been a Success 1. Monitoring and analyzing water quality changes in the lower GMR 2. Educa ng public, local officials and school groups about our water quality and their role in improving it. 3. Joining Green Umbrella’s Water Resource sustainability ini a ve. 4. Genera ng interest in expanding water quality monitoring in S.W. Ohio. 5. Two of us became OEPA qualified laboratory supervisors in 2014 6. We worked in partnership with HCSWD to begin the evalua on of cover crops to reduce nutrient runoff from agriculatural row crops. Support of Water Quality Monitoring 2014
•Chevron/Texaco •Hamilton County Soil & Water Conserva on District •Oxbow, Inc. •Friends of the Great Miami •Ohio EPA OEEF Grant •J.F. New Founda on Ge ng Out There on 3rd Saturday of each month to 76 sites in the lower GMR watershed
upstream
downstream
le bank right bank Going to the Next Level
Goals for Future • Level 2 Credible Data lab with OEPA • QAPP—Quality Assurance Program • QHEIs / QHEI training • GIS Study to relate QHEI, Landuse to water chemistry and coliforms. • Watershed Ac on Plan for the lower GMR. • Watershed Coordinator from Ohio for implementa on of WAP. New Equipment And Thanks
New Autoclave for bacterial Profound thanks to equipment steriliza on University of Cincinna from J.F. New Founda on for use of the U.C. Center New HACH incubator; new for Field Studies for bacterial membrane filter storage and work space. dispenser, new TP oxidizers from Ohio EPA Thanks to our Volunteers OEEF Grant. whose diligence got us almost always 9 sample
dates from each sta on. Best in the business. Water Quality Parameters 1. Nitrates—excess fer lizer from row crops soluble in rainfall runoff. 2. Total Phosphorus—excess from WWTP, row crops, and soil erosion from land and streambed. 3. pH—[H+] ion concentra on: elevated by algal photosynthe c removal of CO2 from HCO3- as [OH-] is produced. 4. Conduc vity—measure of total ions, elevated by WWTPs & sep c systems, nonpoint source and road salt runoff. 5. Turbidity- Suspended par culates, elevated by runoff erosion from row crops and construc on sites and algal growth. 6. Coliform Bacteria: E. coli & Total Coliforms elevated by human and animal feces. 7. Invivo Chlorophyll—A direct measure of minimum chlorphyll in suspended algae in water samples 8. Op cal Whiteners– Fluorescent materials added to detergents to make clothes look whiter that are released from straight pipes or inoperable sep c systems. New This Year courtesy of Oxbow, Inc.= Aquafluor fluorometer
7. Op cal Whiteners: Reads fluorescence of detergent whiteners in water ac vated in the UV and read over a wider spectrum (white light) Measured in ug/liter 8. In vivo Chlorophyll Fluorometric technique that ac vates chlorophyll inside algal cells with ultra violet light at 480 nm and reads the fluorescence of ac vated electrons as they slide back into their electron shell at 680nm. Measured in ug/liter. What our Parameters Tell Us Eutrophica on Sewage Pollu on
Total Phosphorus Conduc vity is salts from + effluent treated or raw and Nitrate-Nitrogen deicers E. Coli are human fecal bacteria primarily from bad sep c Chlorophyll a in algal cells systems, SSOs and CSOs Turbidity at low flow = algal Op cal Whiteners are in raw biomass sca ering light. domes c sewage from inoperable sep c systems.
Low pH may indicate anaerobic pH eleva on by algal growth, condi ons from especially above pH 8.3 decomposi on of raw sewage.
Great Miami River Watershed = 5,371 mi2 GREAT MIAMI RIVER WATERSHED 73 yr avg. Discharge = min 472 cfs, median. = 3476, max = 35600cfs 2013 Discharge = min 540 cfs, avg = 4542 cfs, max =50900 cfs
An es mated 2.8 million people 2014 Discharge = min 782 cfs, avg =4918 cfs max= 18100 cfs 2 lived in watershed in 1995. Major Whitewater River-- 1,474 mi
ci es are Cincinna and Dayton, 125 wells draw water from aquifer
Ohio. Approximately 69 percent of Mad River -- 657 mi2
the total land area is used for S llwater River -- 676 mi2 agricultural & pastoral ac vi es, primarily row-crop produc on of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. 15% is developed land; 61% is row crops Residen al, commercial, and industrial land uses comprise 16 percent of the area whereas the remaining area consists of forests (9 percent) and water bodies or wetlands (1 percent) Indian Ck Banklick Ck Tributaries of Dry Run Paddy’s Run Dunlap Run lower GMR Sheits Ck Owl Ck
Dry Fork Ck Blue Rock Ck Sheed Ck Briarly Ck Howards Ck, Eagle Ck
Morgan Forfeit Run Rd Ck Sand Ck Fox CK Taylor Ck
Hutchinson Ck Whitewater R. Jordan Ck
Oxbow Kolb Ck OHIO RIVER Data are ranked 1 = very good, to 5 = very poor for each parameter on each date and averaged over the season. Score 1 2 3 4 5 Conduc vity <400 400 600 800 1000 uS Turbidity <5 5 20 50 100 NTUs pH <7 7 8 8.4 9.0 units TP best < 0.1 mg P/l. <0.06 0.06 0.16 0.3 1.0 mg TP/l NO3-N < 3 mg N/l <0.5 1.0 2.0 4.0 10.0 mg N/l Ecoli cfu/100ml <298 298 523 940 1030 cfu/100ml
Excellent good fair poor very poor Banklick Creek RM 28.4 in middle GCWW Boulton Well Field GCWW. Drains Rumpke Landfill. Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Total Colis Chlor Opt.Wh At Banklick Rd 1522 7.52 16.71 0.32 2.51 20 2.14 19.26 0.28 17775 7.772 16.002 0.591 0.461 6221 2.101.00 33.412 11.712.0 4.67 2.00 2.33 1.00 2.11 2.22 1.000 3.71 2.39 Richardson Preserve 1347 7.81 3.36 0.51 0.29 20 0.84 11.36 3.93 11104.40 2.107.98 14.632.20 1.300.64 1.900.23 2.10167 1.001.89 16.512.13 11.432.35 5.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 2.00 1.00 1.000 2.00 2.17 1436 7.70 3.49 0.42 0.25 70 1.11 10.39 3.65 At Kemper Rd 13875.00 7.791.89 21.332.22 0.851.33 0.252.56 34912.67 1.0002.18 18.312.57 0.012.66 5.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 3.00 2.00 1.000 2.00 2.50 Enriched with sep c effluent = cond + Op cal whiteners
2.43 Water Quality 2.17 GOOD 2.46
Impervious + housing 26% RM 27.7
Cond. RRM pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Chlor Opt.Wh 607 7.81 37.32 2.57 0.19 41 2.74 10.00 179.062 1.828620 2.0007.79 1.7813.93 2.5162.07 2.0940.12 1.734 1.2001.56 1.5959.70 14.8752.040 2.000 2.000 1.125 2.500 1.750 1.000 1.000 2.000 1.833
1.9
Water Quality EXCELLENT
Crops & pasture & forest= 90% No Effluent, low TP, high N: one of the best Dunlap Run, S. of Heritage Park
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Chlor Opt.Wh 886 7.81 1.21 0.61 -0.14 20 0.74 11.11 -9.57 779 8.03 11.81 0.69 0.13 108 1.70 15.21 5.867 4 2 1 1 1 1 1.00 2 2.1 3.13 2.25 2.00 1.25 2.00 1.63 1.00 2.17 2.10 Forested 66% watershed leads to 1.9 excellent water
Water Quality Excellent Landuse Forest & grass 80% Blue Rock Creek RM 21.7 Blue Rock Creek improved from 2013
1414 7.94 4.26 0.46 0.10 78 1.69 20.03 -3.95 NB at Colerain Ave 1275 7.97 2.46 0.60 0.12 1.69 18.32 5.05 1308 8.06 2.80 0.79 0.16 46 1.66 20.82 9.60 Newberry Wild life 1094 8.10 2.16 0.67 0.12 1.68 21.55 9.30 1090 8.05 8.78 0.69 0.23 44 1.42 16.99 11.999 N.B. @ Sheits Rd 982 8.14 2.05 0.51 0.14 1.36 19.94 10.178 At Sheits Rd 1067 7.94 9.15 0.89 0.24 27 1.49 19.47 8.380 11304.69 7.892.11 7.131.47 0.451.22 0.212.31 1.50 1.541.00 19.382.54 4.306 5 1 2 1 3 1 2.2
Avg. 2.54
Water Quality FAIR Landuse Forested & pasture 70% Paddys Run into GMR across from Dravo Park canoe ramp RM 20.1 & below Fernald Water Treatment Plant for Uranium and above the PCS phosphate plant (235 lbs/day or 106 kg P/day) largest single source in lower river. Now targeted for restora on in watershed.
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Chlor Opt.Wh Avg. 4 sites headwaters to GMR 733 7.93 3.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.8 2.3 2.73 2.03 3.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.8 2.3 2.73 2.03 4.0 5.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 2.6
Water Quality GOOD 2.1 Pasture & Forest 58%, crops 26% Wesselman Ck, Trib to Taylor Ck.
• Impervious 2.1 surface, 2.3 Impervious,d open space Water Quality ev. Open & and forest Rank GOOD low dev. =60% cover low density landscape Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Chlor Opt.Wh Field Duplicates 9 1066 8.14 5.11 0.95 0.40 12 1.37 18.73 8.53 dates 10911019 7.908.19 5.883.00 0.640.83 0.530.30 319 1.511.18 18.6419.71 1.646.16 1062 8.04 3.97 0.80 0.23 1.59 19.78 5.06 Hutchinson Rd Brdg 958 7.96 8.63 2.35 0.45 268 1.76 25.13 133.75 4.22968 2.118.05 1.785.64 2.561.92 2.890.41 2.56 1.0001.77 22.873.00 12.732.73 WQR 4.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 3.00 1.00 1.000 3.00 2.67 2.61 Taylor Creek Mouth above I74 Bridge RM 14.7
2.35 Landuse suburbs + impervious Water Quality FAIR surface 40%
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Total Colis Chlor Opt.Wh 948 8.14 12.47 0.97 0.22 645 10918 5.29 15.96 13.692 Taylor Creek 900 8.09 7.40 1.48 0.36 1121 14942 2.42 17.64 14.19 1343 7.96 3.47 0.69 0.20 224 7890 1.86 23.03 14.68 4.25 2.35 1.78 1.52 2.40 2.00 1.32 Morgan St Creek RM 10.7
Water Quality GOOD
2.85
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Total Colis Chlor Opt.Wh 1321 7.78 28.84 1.29 0.43 505 7740 1.87 25.66 -0.84 13434.89 7.872.00 16.612.56 0.901.56 0.362.78 5753.11 14250 1.731.29 26.322.71 4.05 5.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 3.00 3.00 1.00 3.00 Issues: Conduc vity, TP & WhitEners suggest sep c tank treatment in valley • Sand Run watershed is Sand Run the most forested of all the tributaries in the lower GRM watershed.
Landuse Forest & Grass 92%
Water Qualit 2.08 VERY GOOD
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Total Colis Chlor Opt.Wh 656 8.00 21.33 0.57 0.32 71 7997 3.21 45.02 -6.84 4.00687 8.182.11 7.571.67 0.701.22 0.222.89 1431.00 16550 1.003.50 30.072.14 2.142.03 4.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 3.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 2.17 Fox Run
Fox Run has the 2nd most forested 1.9 watershed in the Landuse lower GMR Forest & watershed. Pasture Water Quality 80% EXCELLENT
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Total Colis Chlor Opt.Wh Fox Run685 at Lawrenceburg7.84 Road16.62 Bridge1.70.74 2.1 0.24 2.9 51 1.4 42612.6 1.962.7 13.932.2 10.86 2.33672 7.872.00 11.002.22 0.591.11 0.192.89 1201.22 7584 1.291.50 13.812.00 1.977.28 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 3.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 2.00 Mouth of Whitewater River
Crops into GMR RM 6.1 dominate 48%
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Total Colis Chlor Opt.Wh State Street bridge 496 8.08 89.40 2.49 0.28 160 3435 3.35 10.45 13.63 7777 Lawrenceburg Road 503 8.00 98.96 2.68 0.29 12 3130 3.83 10.01 19.95 Suspension Bridge Road bridge 476 8.01 73.60 2.43 0.25 21 4427 3.47 10.07 3.40 Rt. US 50 Bridge 503 8.03 95.38 2.07 0.46 20 4778 4.15 9.54 36.38
Water Quality 2.1 Very GOOD 1.9 1.9 Water Quality Rank = GOOD Howards Ck 2.14 entering Dry Fork Creek RM 10.8 from Whitewater R
Cond. pH NTU NO3 TP E.coli Total Colis Chlor Opt.Wh California Rd Bridge average781 7.82 8.81 1.87 0.42 27 4284 2.18 17.69 Scgrabdub Rd Bridge average774 7.93 6.10 1.21 0.36 206 7494 1.43 15.50 Howard Rd. Bridge average723 7.83 8.11 1.60 0.23 146 1751 1.44 15.33 UC Center for Field Studies AVG674 8.03 15.88 1.55 0.34 309 5316 2.36 20.36 2.79 2.07 1.49 1.75 2.55 1.94 1.27 2.19 2.14
Pasture & Forest = 70%; Crops = 23% Dry Fork Creek RM 6.3 GMR+ 2.9 Whitewater
AVG(4) WATER 1.99 Quality EXCELLENT
Cond.RankpH Rank Turb.Rank NO3-N rankTP Rank E.coli Rank AVG.Stream DRY FORK CK 6 cond 1.5rank pH rank2.7 NTUs2.4 NO3-N2.5 rankTP Rank1.9 E.coli2.8 Rank 2.3 East of Lee Creek at Baughman Road Bridge3.3 2.2 2.9 1.7 2.8 3.6 2.7
Pasture & Forest 50%; Crops 40% Water Quality Rank EXCELLENT Ohio River 1.68 Ohio River at Mouth of the Great Miami River, the largest undeveloped Estuary mouth on the Ohio River.
Up stream 403 7.81 33.33 1.56 0.29 110 1.64 10.03 25.16 1.00404 2.117.81 18.282.33 2.001.90 2.560.11 1.11ERR 1.001.58 1.339.49 15.981.85 Confluence Down 515 7.94 28.91 1.71 0.28 25 3.64 11.42 20.94 1.33468 2.377.94 14.512.62 1.991.58 2.750.22 1.86 1.252.37 10.421.51 8.662.16
2.02 Oxbow of the GMR 2014
ConductivitypH Turbidity Nitrate TP E.coli Chlor a Whiteners cond371 rankpH8.19 rank163.21turbid rank0.70nitrate rank0.54TP rank 6E. coli46.72 rankChlor single11.43 a BMWOsprey 4.633 2.39 1.00372 2.888.11 119.644.25 1.380.62 4.000.53 1.00 52.903.13 11.011.38 Pd 3.3632.42 Water Quality Rank GOOD
470 7.96 234.49 1.45 0.99 83 50.39 16.51 2.55 Oxbow 1.11445 2.447.89 98.144.33 1.670.90 4.221.00 1.67 51.313.11 16.031.89 2.571.25 2.50 Pond Water Quality Rank GOOD
410 8.14 58.50 0.91 0.24 12 22.55 12.40 Cement 4.83 418 7.97 72.13 0.99 0.24 24.35 12.27 6.25 1.00 2.56 3.56 1.33 3.00 1.00 3.00 1.56 Pd 2.07 Water Quality Rank GOOD 2.14 Excellent Tributary 2014 1.0- 2.0
best to worst Site WQR(6) 1 Strimple Creek at Strimple Road bridge 1.81 2 Miami Whitewater Forest Lake outflow just below dam 1.87 3 Trib Dry Fork Ck E of Lee Ck @ Timberlakes Dr 1.97 Best 4 Pond 2 Althaus Rd Forfeit Run 8516 Althause Rd 2.00 5 Fox Run at Lawrenceburg Road bridge 2.06 tributaries 6 Trib Dry Fork Ck, E of Lee Ck @ DF Rd Brdg 2.06 7 Dry Fork Crk DS Atherton Rd Brdg 2.07 drained into 8 Oxbow Cement Pond 2.07 9 Indian Creek at New London Road 2.08 Dry Fork Ck 10 Lee Creek at Dry Fork Road bridge 2.09 11 Dry Fork Creek at Kilby Road bridge 2.09 and the 12 Dry Fork Creek at Oxford Road bridge 2.11 Whitewater 13 Whitewater River at 7777 Lawrenceburg Road 2.11 14 Trib Howards Ck at Brdg@4075 HC Road 2.12 River and 15 N. Branch Blue Rock Creek at Colerain Township Park 2.13 16 Trib to NE of Dry Fork Ck@New Haven Rd 2.17 Paddy’s Run. 17 Howards Creek at Howard Road bridge 2.17 18 Dry Fork Creek at Mt. Hope Road bridge 2.17 19 Paddy’s Run at Willey Road bridge 2.17 20 Whitewater River at Suspension Bridge Road bridge 2.19 Worst Tributaries are mostly good in 2014, but drain Taylor Ck.
Taylor Creek at intersection of Reemlin and Johnson Roads 2.61 Taylor Creek at E. Miami River Road bridge 2.61 Taylor Creek at Harrison Ave. bridge adjacent to Sheed Rd. 2.67 Forfeit Creek adjacent to Forfeit Run Rd. (near 7289 Forfeit) 2.67 Wesselman Creek US Taylor Rd Brdg Dupl. 2.70 Hubble Road Creek just before confluence with Sheed Creek 2.72 Banklick Creek at Kemper Road / Bank Road intersection 2.76 Sheed Creek adjacent to Sheed Rd between Hanley and Desertgold2.76 Tributary to Wesselman Creek at Hutchinson Road bridge 2.89 Morgan Rd Creek at OH128 3.04 Tributary to Taylor Creek at Snyder Road near Sheed Road 3.56 Urban Eastern tributaries were the worst stream based on water quality all running into Taylor Creek, except two, one of which drain Rumpke landfill site. Water Quality Rank of Tributaries
• Water Quality Rank Scores for GMR Tributaries is good in 2014 with a median of 2.1. Only one tributary scored greater than 3.0 while almost 30% were be er than a WQR of 2.0 or excellent. Indian Ck Banklick Ck Tributaries of Dry Run Paddys Run Dunlap Run lower GMR Sheits Ck Owl Ck
Dry Fork Ck Blue Rock Ck Sheed Ck Brierly Ck Howards Ck, Eagle Ck
Morgan Forfeit Run Rd Ck Sand Ck Fox CK Taylor Ck
Hutchinson Ck Whitewater R. Jordan Ck
Oxbow Kolb Ck OHIO RIVER
Chemistry Sample days (9) Avg. = 1336 cfs is driven by Median = 1120 cfs river flow
• Median discharge in 2014 was highest in Year Sample dates Average cfs 4197 4917 spring Mar-Jun Median cfs 2350 1330 than the summer- autumn (Jul- Nov). Discharge 2014 Normal
• GMR Discharge was comparable to 2013 and 2010. Only 2011 was higher during GMR SSS.
2010 2011 2012 2013 CONDUCTIVITY
Conduc vity as a measure of total salts increased up river in both the mainstem and the tributaries. Why? A) Upper tribs are enriched with effluent. B) Water from upper tribs is ground water in this dry year supersaturated with bicarbonate dissolved by elevated CO2 in groundwater. pH measures [H+] and [OH-]
• pH is elevated by
photosynthesis. Both pH and invivo chlor a increase downriver.
• pH increases downstream in the tributaries as size of
tributaries increases with ] more depth, slower flows allowing algal growth. pH of the mainstem is always higher from intense algal photosynthesis. Great Miami River TP 2010 Target for urban 3 streams= 2.5 Avg NO3-N = 3.98 mg/l Avg TP = 0.282 mg/l 0.3 mg TP/l 2 and 1 mg 1.5 N/l. 1 Target for 0.5
Total P (mg P/l) (mg P Total Ohio 0 -0.5 streams = 0 10 20 30 40 0.16 mg TP/ River Mile l Both average annual TP and NO3-N increased somewhat up river. Nitrate-N increased in tributaries downriver and decreased in the mainstem Avg NO3-N = 3.98 mg/l Avg TP = 0.282 mg/l in 2014 Nitrate is highest up river, likely derived from agricultural nonpoint sources, likely percolated ground water in aquifer and led row-crop fields. The avg. concentra on of NO3-N was 2.83, >>than 1 mg N/l as a target to reduce excess algal growth. The Nitrate tributaries was half that in the mainstem and tended to decrease up river. However the highest concentra ons came from ag. Regions in Dry Fork Creek at RM 6. Nitrogen Load GMR Nitrate concentra on OR increased with high discharge, 60100 leached from row crops & led fields. NO3-N load is about 1/2 of the load in 2013. The molar N:P ra o is 17:1 Total Phosphate mainstem 2011 1.0 TP is diluted Avg. TP = 0.301 mg P/l Median TP = 0.258 mg P/l 0.8 Avg 0.473 mg TP/l with
0.6 increased flow at low 0.4 flows, but 0.2 increases Total Phosphorus mgP /l mgP/l Phosphorus 0.0Total when -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 River Mile sediment-P is eroded at high flow. • Total Phosphorus appeared to increase up river in the GMR mainstem. The average TP was 0.507 mg P/l, higher than the recommended 0.3 mg P/l in urban streams and > than 0.41 mg TP/l in large rivers. • TP in the tributaries appeared to decrease in the tributaries entering the GMR and their average concetra on was 0.288 mg TP/l, less than the 0.3 mg TP/l in urban streams. Avg.TP load in 2014 was 3X higher than in 2013 despite the similarity of flow in 2014. The June event was large enough to bias the whole year. The TP load of is highest with nonpoint source runoff and erosion of river bed sediments.
Rainfall was less at Cincinna Airport in 2014 than in 2013, perhaps local non point source loading was lower in 2014???
Average Median
TP-load = concentra on x discharge • Chlorophyll for 7 of 9 dates is >4X higher than that in In vivo Chlor = 4.14 ug/l the tributaries and Turbidity = 17.2 NTU increases towards the Ohio River as nutrients are assimilated into algal cells at these low flows in 2014. • Chlorophyll in tributaries is low except for ponds of the Oxbow. Small streams should have li le suspended algae; most colonizes rocks on the bo om. Median coliforms = 16,125 cfu/100ml Minimum of the median E.Coli 16125 appear to increase upriver tribs., but Median =100 cfu/100ml average does not. Geomean = 114/100ml Total Coliforms are Avg. 567 cfu/100ml 2010 uniformly around 10000/ 100ml at all tribs along the river. \
• Eschericheri coli in the GMR mainstem had an average annual geometric mean of 848 Avg. Geometric mean =848 cfu/100ml cfu/100ml, which is well below the recrea onal canoeing and kayaking standard of 1030 cfu/ 100ml • Over the year TP and NO3-N were poorest in GMR mainstem, with turbidity from algae high. E. coli and Op cal Whiteners were best. Eight parameter WQ rankings of average of tributary by river mile 2014
The water quality ranking improves down river as the agricultural and WWTP effluents are assimilated , like 2013 Water Quality Rank of Mainstem does not change up or down river. WQR of mainstem is slightly worse than that of the tributaries, 2.67 vs 2.35. The WQR appears to improve toward the Ohio River.
Great Miami River sites were best in the mid river and worst in the lower river and up river below the Hamilton WWTP. Ohio River was clearly be er than any GMR sites
RM Site WQR (6) 0.0 Ohio River upstream of confluence with Great Miami River 1.701 0.0 Ohio River at confluence with GMR (downstream fork) 1.979 24.1 Great Miami River at Heritage Park 2.446 14.9 Great Miami River at Harrison Avenue 2.524 12.2 Great Miami River at 5011 E. Miami River Road 2.571 25.6 GMR just upstream of Old Colerain Avenue bridge 2.603 0.8 Great Miami River at Shawnee Lookout Oxbow 2.619 5.2 Great Miami River at Lawrenceburg Road bridge 2.630 7.9 Great Miami River at Rt. 50 bridge 2.717 21.1 Great Miami River at Blue Rock Road bridge 2.831 33.0 Great Miami below Hamilton Sewage Treatment Facility 2.750 TP point source load OEPA 2012 • Point source 1995-1999 reduc ons of 19% in the last decade. • Nonpoint load likely has not decreased. • TP load 1635 lbs/day in 2013 AND 5425 lbs/ day in 2014 for River = ~ WWTP
2006-2010 load.
TP load 2014 = 5425 lbs/day for 9 days of year. 1. pH is elevated to extremes by severe suspended algal densi es > avg. pH = 8.2. Summary GMR Mainstem All average pHs were less than 8.2 with higher flow in 2013. pH increased down river. 2. Total Phosphorus was elevated, avg 0.507 mg P/l, more than 0.3 mg/l targeted for urban rivers by OEPA, > target of 0.16 mg P/l for WWH. TP was much higher than 2013 when effluent was diluted more than in 2014. TP load unexpectedly greater in 2014 than 2013. 3. Nitrate was higher, 3.48 mg N/l ,> than in 2012 & 2013, and equivalent to ~4.0 mg N/l in 2011 when spring cfs were higher. Conc. of N in GMR was > 2X that in tributaries. 4. N:P molar ra o was higher 19.7 in GMR & 21:1 in tribs. Both slightly > Richardson ra o of 14, with excess N. Algae are likely P-limited. 5. Conduc vity in GMR = 657uS, < 726us 2012, and < 673 uS in 2011,, slightly elevated by from 550uS in limestone ll, likely by effluent salts. Tribs. Were elevated to 813 uS. 6. Fecal coliforms = an average geometric mean of 62 cfu/100ml in GMR, vs =244 avg for tributaries, well below the swimming level for swimming in 2014. Good news. OEPA 2010 found fish IBI met WWH at 6 of 8 sta ons in lower GMR. Best ever since CWA 1972. 8 Parm. = 0.885 * 6 Parm. • WQR were uniformly green for tribs. and mainstem, N except for 2 yellow mainstem sites and 2 tribs. Several tribs were in the blue- excellent range Water Quality Ranks were be er in 2014 Why were they be er in 2014. TP, NO3 and Cond. all scored highest (worst in both years) even with methods changes. Discharge years were comparable. Same 71 sites compared for seasonal mean.
Worst sites in 2013 improved, where the best sites were nearly the same. ¡ Samples by waterway.
¡ Measures of data quality. ¨ Program development
¡ Purpose ú Address NPDES Phase II Storm Water requirements ¡ Priority waterways (2012-2014). ú Leverage resources ú Engage the public – reproduce citizen educators ú Better understanding of GMR watersheds ú Positive changes through partnerships ¡ ¡ Chemical parameters Data applica ons and water quality ¡ Equipment ¡ Funding best management prac ces (BMPs). ¡ Sampling strategy ¡ Personal ac on items.
Great Miami River flowing along East Miami River Rd., Colerain Township Waterway Sampled # sample sites (93 Total Sites) # sample sites Lee Creek tributaries 2 (+1) Banklick Creek 3 Miami Whitewater Lake 0 (-1/2012) Banklick Creek tributary 1 Miami Whitewater Lake ou low 1 (+1) Blue Rock Creek 1 Muddy Creek 2 (+2) Brierly Creek 1 Mullen Creek 0 (-1/2012) Dry Fork of Whitewater River 7 (+2) North Branch Blue Rock Creek 3 Dry Fork of Whitewater River tributaries 4 (+3) Ohio River 2 (-1/2012) Dunlap Run 1 Owl Creek 2 (+1) Eagle Creek 1 Oxbow Ponds 5 (+2) Forfeit Creek 1 Paddys Run 4 Forfeit Lake (Lockwood Proper es) 2 Sand Run 2 Fox Run 1 Sheed Creek 3 Great Miami River 12 (+1)(-1/2012) Sheed Creek tributary 1 Great Miami River tributaries 2 Strimple Creek – MWW Lake inflow 1 (+1) Howard Creek 6 (+2) Taylor Creek 3 Howard Creek tributaries 1 (+1) Taylor Creek tributaries 2 Indian Creek 1 Two-Mile Creek 1 Jameson Creek 1 Wesselman Creek 4 (+1) Jordan Creek 1 Wesselman Creek tributary 1 Kolb Creek 0 (-1/2011) Whitewater River 4 Lee Creek 2 (+1) Whitewater River tributary 1 QC = Quirky Great Miami River Citizens’ Coliforms right??????
Water Quality Monitoring I’d rather be bailing hay.
Didn’t we already run these samples?
Why do we have to do this? Great Miami River Citizens’ QC = Quirky Coliforms Water Quality Monitoring right?????? I’d rather be bailing There’s an hay. I’ve got “I” in Team, invisible but no “I” in gloves on Fecal. so leave me alone.
Didn’t we already run these samples?
Why do we have to do this?
Commentary from the “Fecal Team” Great Miami River Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring Program
% of 2014 MEDIAN rela ve % of 2014 MEDIAN rela ve Chemical samples that % difference samples that % difference were LAB (RPD) between were FIELD (RPD) between Parameter duplicates LAB duplicates duplicates FIELD duplicates
Conduc vity 10.00 0.30 7.88 1.75
pH 10.38 0.36 7.88 0.60
Turbidity 10.63 10.94 7.88 18.47
Phosphorus 13.46 33.33 8.65 34.31
Nitrate 17.31 19.20 8.65 36.93 Taylor Creek tributary at Snyder Rd., Green Township
Wow! A three-peat monitoring site as the worst site! 2012 2013 2014 6 Parameter Ranking Score Priority Priority Priority Waterway # samples (sum of ave. of median-ave. Rank Rank Rank score for 6 parameters) 1 1 1 Taylor Creek trib. @ Snyder Rd. 8 225.5 2 East Fork Mill Creek 15 210.5 2 19 3 Great Miami River trib. @ Morgan Rd. / Rt. 128 9 198.5 6 2 4 Great Miami River 81 197.5 12 7 5 Sheed Creek trib. - Hubble Rd. 9 185 11 17 6 ALL RIVERS 135 178.5 8 9 7 Wesselman Creek 34 174.5 8 Mill Creek 23 174 10 6 9 Taylor Creek 22 167 10 Wesselman Creek trib. @ Taylor Rd. 9 164 33 22 11 Lee Creek 11 162 9 4 12 Brierly Creek 9 159.5 3 12 13 Sheed Creek 26 155.5 27 10 14 Forfeit Creek 9 153 30 20 15 ALL STREAMS in GMR watershed 540 152.5 7 5 16 Lee Creek trib. - SW 19 148 37 27 17 Dry Fork Whitewater River 63 146.5 23 13 18 Banklick Creek 27 146 21 26 19 Jordan Creek 7 143 20 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - Knollman Farm trib. 6 141 14 21 Great Miami River trib. @ Rt. 128 bridge near Crosby Rd. 9 141 13 16 22 Whitewater River trib. - Interstate Exchange Creek 7 140.5 29 23 23 Whitewater River 36 134.5 5 15 24 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - NE Lee Creek 28 134 39 36 25 Paddys Run 24 132.5 16 33 26 Howard Creek 40 131 4 8 27 Oxbow Lake 28 129 28 21 28 Owl Creek 12 129 15 29 29 Two Mile Creek 6 124.5 22 3 30 Dunlap Run 8 124 35 30 31 Ohio River 18 112.5 25 11 32 Blue Rock Creek 9 110.5 33 Muddy Creek 7 110 24 34 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - Miami Whitewater Forest Lake outflow 9 109.5 32 35 Forfeit Run Lake 16 106.5 36 28 36 Banklick Creek trib. @ W. Kemper, US of COL08 9 105.5 32 35 37 Sand Run 16 104.5 26 25 38 North Branch Blue Rock Creek 27 104.5 17 24 39 Taylor Creek trib. @ Race Rd. 9 102 18 18 40 Eagle Creek 9 100.5 31 41 Jameson Creek 9 99.5 42 Howard Creek trib. @ 4075 Howards Creek Rd. 10 95 34 37 43 Indian Creek 6 91.5 20 34 44 Fox Run 10 85 38 45 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - Strimple Creek (MWW Lake inflow) 7 50.5
Turbidity pH Conduc vity Nitrate Total E-coli - geometric 2011-2014 Seasonal (NTU) (6.5 < pH (uS/cm) (mg NO3/L) Phosphorus mean (# colonies / Averages & (Medians) (< 25) < 8.5) (500-600) (< 1.0) (mg/L) 100 mL) Turbidity (NTU) pH Conduc vity Nitrate (mg (< 0.08)Total (< 126 – 30 day ave.)E-coli (# (< 20) (6.5 < pH < 8.5) (uS/cm) NO3/L) Phosphorus colonies/100 (< 550) (< 1.0) (mg/L) mL) (< 126 – 30 day ave.) 2011 Rivers 39 8.22 606 2.73 0.21(< 0.1-0.3) 123 2011 Oxbow (117 samples) 47.3 8.25 679 2.74 0.27 1249 Ponds Average 2012 Rivers Whitewater 13.8 GMR US278.21 GMR US50 662 3.41 0.17 25 Values(136 samples) (13.8) (8.20) (637) (2.82) Whitewater(0.16) GMR US27 GMR US50 2013 Rivers 55 8.12 601 4.33 0.22 389 2011 River (144 samples) 39 (26) 8.22(8.12) (555) 606 (3.36) 2.73 (0.18) 0.21 649 Average Values 2014 Rivers 86.2 8.08 620 3.07 0.43 39 (135 samples) (16.8) (8.09) (593) (2.20) (0.30)
2011 Tributary 19.7 8.07 751 1.28 0.23 974 Average Values 2011 Tributaries 19.7 8.07 751 1.28 0.23 247 (329 samples) 2012 Tributaries 2011 GMR Seasonal10.0 Averages7.97 771 20112.48 WWR Seasonal0.16 Averages91 (373 samples) (5.47) (7.97) (731) (0.97) (0.12)
2013 Tributaries • Turbidity – 42.4 NTU27 8.01 722 • 2.17 Turbidity – 36 0.20 NTU 572 (434 samples) • pH – 8.33 (12.4) (8.05) (689) •(1.35) pH – 8.11 (0.17) • Conductivity – 690 uS/cm • Conductivity – 508 uS/cm 2014 Tributaries • Nitrate – 3.11 mg/L 17.6 7.97 864 • 1.35 Nitrate – 2.23 mg/L0.33 102 (540 samples) • Total Phosphorus – (6.4) 0.26 (8.03) (813) •(0.90) Total Phosphorus(0.24) – 0.14 • E-coli – 836 colonies/100mL • E-coli – 445 colonies/100mL Turbidity pH Conduc vity Nitrate Total E-coli - geometric (NTU) (6.5 < pH < (uS/cm) (mg NO3/L) Phosphorus mean (# colonies / 2011-2014 Seasonal (< 25) 8.5) (500-600) (< 1.0) (mg/L) 100 mL) Averages & (Medians) Turbidity (NTU) pH Conduc vity Nitrate (mg (< 0.08)Total (< 126 – 30 day ave.)E-coli (# (< 20) (6.5 < pH < 8.5) (uS/cm) NO3/L) Phosphorus colonies/100 (< 550) (< 1.0) (mg/L) mL) (< 126 – 30 (< 0.1-0.3) day ave.) 2011 Oxbow 2011 Great Miami River 47.3 42.4 8.258.33 679690 3.11 2.74 0.26 0.27 122 1249 Ponds Average (66 samples) Values Whitewater GMR US27 GMR US50 Whitewater GMR US27 GMR US50 2012 Great Miami River 15.8 8.30 735 3.78 0.21 23 (89 samples) (14.2) (8.32) (720) (3.21) (0.21) 2011 River 39 8.22 606 2.73 0.21 649 Average Values2013 Great Miami River 61.7 8.16 671 5.27 0.26 540 (90 samples) (35.7) (8.15) (659) (3.98) (0.24) 2014 Great Miami River 98.4 8.14 708 3.65 0.50 50 (81 samples) (19.3) (8.16) (707) (2.47) (0.37) 2011 Tributary 19.7 8.07 751 1.28 0.23 974 Average Values
2011 Whitewater River 36 8.11 508 2.23 0.14 90 2011(42 samples) GMR Seasonal Averages 2011 WWR Seasonal Averages 2012 Whitewater River 6.5 8.07 533 3.08 0.07 40 •(30 samples) Turbidity – 42.4 NTU(6.1) (8.06) (534) • Turbidity(1.90) – 36 NTU(0.05)
2013 Whitewater River • pH – 8.33 46.8 8.13 509 • pH2.69 – 8.11 0.11 302 •(33 samples) Conductivity – 690 uS/cm(13.3) (8.13) (534) • Conductivity(1.66) – 508(0.09) uS/cm • Nitrate – 3.11 mg/L • Nitrate – 2.23 mg/L 2014 Whitewater River • Total Phosphorus – 89.5 0.26 8.03 501 • Total2.47 Phosphorus0.33 – 0.14 28 •(36 samples) E-coli – 836 colonies/100mL(7.5) (8.02) (535) • E-coli(1.51) – 445 colonies/100mL(0.23)
2014 Great Miami River E. Coli Counts Associated with Discharge
18450
18000 Turbidity (NTU) pH 1416 Conduc vity Nitrate (mg Total 1400 E-coli (# (< 20) (6.5 < pH < 8.5) (uS/cm) NO3/L) Phosphorus colonies/100 (mg/L) mL) (< 126 – 30 16000 (< 550) Great Miami River discharge (< 1.0) labels in red and GMR E. coli (< 0.1-0.3) 1200 day ave.) 1159 geometric means in blue.
2011 Oxbow 14000 47.3 8.25 679 2.74 0.27 1249 Ponds Average Whitewater GMR US27 GMR US50 1000 Values 12000 Whitewater GMR US27E.Coli GMR US50
837 GEOMEAN 2011 River 10000 39 9585 8.22 606 2.73 0.21 800 649 Average Values Discharge (cfs) 8000 7320 600 Data Source: U.S. Geologic Survey 565
6000 559 2011 Tributary 19.75120 8.07 751 1.28 0.23 974 Average Values 400 4000 294
200 2000 142 1490 122 86 981 777.5 941 917 2011 GMR Seasonal Averages 2011 WWR36 Seasonal AveragesAvg Discharge 12 18 43 0 4 6 0 • Turbidity – 42.4 NTU • Turbidity – 36 NTU GMR E. Coli • pH – 8.33 • pH – 8.11 • Conductivity – 690 uS/cm • Conductivity – 508 uS/cm Ohio River E.Coli • Nitrate – 3.11 mg/L 2014 GMR Ci zen Lab Sampling Dates • Nitrate – 2.23 mg/L • Total Phosphorus – 0.26 • Total Phosphorus – 0.14 WWR E. Coli • E-coli – 836 colonies/100mL • E-coli – 445 colonies/100mL 2012 2013 2014 6 Parameter Ranking Score Priority Priority Priority Waterway # samples (sum of ave. of median-ave. Rank Rank Rank score for 6 parameters) 1 1 1 Taylor Creek trib. @ Snyder Rd. 8 225.5 2 East Fork Mill Creek 15 210.5 2 19 3 Great Miami River trib. @ Morgan Rd. / Rt. 128 9 198.5 6 2 4 Great Miami River 81 197.5 12 7 5 Sheed Creek trib. - Hubble Rd. 9 185 11 17 6 ALL RIVERS 135 178.5 8 9 7 Wesselman Creek 34 174.5 8 Mill Creek 23 174 10 6 9 Taylor Creek 22 167 10 Wesselman Creek trib. @ Taylor Rd. 9 164 33 22 11 Lee Creek 11 162 9 4 12 Brierly Creek 9 159.5 3 12 13 Sheed Creek 26 155.5 27 10 14 Forfeit Creek 9 153 30 20 15 ALL STREAMS in GMR watershed 540 152.5 7 5 16 Lee Creek trib. - SW 19 148 37 27 17 Dry Fork Whitewater River 63 146.5 23 13 18 Banklick Creek 27 146 21 26 19 Jordan Creek 7 143 20 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - Knollman Farm trib. 6 141 14 21 Great Miami River trib. @ Rt. 128 bridge near Crosby Rd. 9 141 13 16 22 Whitewater River trib. - Interstate Exchange Creek 7 140.5 29 23 23 Whitewater River 36 134.5 5 15 24 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - NE Lee Creek 28 134 39 36 25 Paddys Run 24 132.5 16 33 26 Howard Creek 40 131 4 8 27 Oxbow Lake 28 129 28 21 28 Owl Creek 12 129 15 29 29 Two Mile Creek 6 124.5 22 3 30 Dunlap Run 8 124 35 30 31 Ohio River 18 112.5 25 11 32 Blue Rock Creek 9 110.5 33 Muddy Creek 7 110 24 34 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - Miami Whitewater Forest Lake outflow 9 109.5 32 35 Forfeit Run Lake 16 106.5 36 28 36 Banklick Creek trib. @ W. Kemper, US of COL08 9 105.5 32 35 37 Sand Run 16 104.5 26 25 38 North Branch Blue Rock Creek 27 104.5 17 24 39 Taylor Creek trib. @ Race Rd. 9 102 18 18 40 Eagle Creek 9 100.5 31 41 Jameson Creek 9 99.5 42 Howard Creek trib. @ 4075 Howards Creek Rd. 10 95 34 37 43 Indian Creek 6 91.5 20 34 44 Fox Run 10 85 38 45 Dry Fork Whitewater River trib. - Strimple Creek (MWW Lake inflow) 7 50.5 Fox Run Comeback Waterway of the Year! Fox Run Comeback Waterway of the Year!
June 21, 2014: Fox Run turbidity of 52 NTU compared to Great Miami River turbidity of 946 at US 50 bridge. Lee Creek Highest increase in priority since 2012
2012 -201 3 Brierl Lee Creek y Cree k Seas onal Aver ages
Dry Fork Whitewater River Lee Creek Parameter changes from 2012-2014
2012 -201 3 Brierl y Cree k Seas • pH: Median increase from 8.01 to 8.09. Peaks of 8.22 in March & May. onal Aver • Turbidity: Average increase from 9.84 to 31.7 (NTU). June value of 273 with ages high discharge.
• Nitrate: Median increase from 0.96 to 1.1 (mg/L).
• Total Phosphorus: Median increase from 0.11 to 0.3 (mg/L). August high of 1.28 and 0.73 in June.
• E. coli spike of 6400 colonies/100 mL in June. Dry Fork Whitewater River Parameter changes from 2012-2014
2012 -201 3 Brierl y Cree k Seas • pH: Median increase from 7.93 to 8.10. Peak of 8.31 at Oxford Rd in August. onal Aver • Turbidity: Average increase from 5.47 to 26.2 (NTU). June value of 335 NTU at ages Kilby Rd. with high discharge.
• Nitrate: Race Lane Rd. (farthest upstream) had highest ave. of 2.9 with June spike of 7.99.
• Total Phosphorus: Average increase from 0.07 to 0.33 (mg/L). Spikes > 1.0 at West Rd. in July and August.
Paddys Run Watershed
Paddy’s Run Watershed
2011-2013 Paddys Run Seasonal Averages
• Turbidity – 10.6, 4.1, 10.5 NTU Restored • pH – 7.97, 7.88, 7.95 Fernald • Conductivity – 662, 650, 649 Preserve uS/cm • Nitrate – 1.29, 0.81, 1.18 mg/L • Phosphorus – 0.16, 0.11 mg/L • E-coli (geometric mean) – Drain Tile Erosion 287, 32, 427 col./100mL
Buffer along waterway Howard Creek- Dry Fork Whitewater River HUC (Hydrologic Unit Code, 42.6 square miles)
Dry Fork Whitewater River Race Lane Rd. bridge Butler County
2014: Dry Fork WWR NE LC trib. May TP up to 0.54 (mg/L) & TP of 0.61 at Timberlakes Drive with 0.27” of rain on 7/18-7/19/14. Howard Creek at California Rd. - 1.6 mg/L in July.
2014 Nitrate levels were consistently above 7.0 (mg/l) with June discharge spike of 7.99 at Race Lane Rd. 2014 Nitrate tributary levels: - Farm trib. upstream of Willey Rd., 11.4 (mg/L) in May. - Howard Creek at California Rd. (farthest upstream site), 7.28 in June. Howard Creek at California Rd. Farthest upstream site in series of 4 sites Howard Creek drainage just upstream of Howard Rd.
I haven’t seen John Kerr yet. Do I need to moooooooove so he can sample? Dry Fork Whitewater River Tributary Between Willey & Atherton Rd.
2014 Real Time Data Acquired
- pH - Dissolved oxygen (% saturation and concentration) - Conductivity - Total dissolved solids - Salinity - Turbidity - Temperature Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
Dry Fork Whitewater River Watershed Fall Cover Crop Seeding Project
Ø A cover crop is a crop that is not harvested but is grown to benefit the soil and/or other crops in a number of ways. Ø reduced soil erosion Ø improved soil quality Ø Improved water quality Ø reduced weed pressure Ø reduced insect and other pest problems Dry Fork Whitewater River Watershed Fall Cover Crop Seeding Project
Ø # Farmers involved: 4 Ø Acreage: 418 Ø Seeding date: 9/19/2014 Ø Pounds of Seed: 26,334 Ø Seeding rate: 63 lbs./acre Ø Seed mix: Daikon Oilseed Radish, Crimson Clover, Winter Cereal Rye, Oats Ø Project Cost: $21,124.62 (50.54/acre) Ø Cost share funds: $6,301.40 (29.8%) Ø Obstacles: Lack of rain for 3 weeks a er seeding date. Dry Fork Whitewater River Watershed Fall Cover Crop Seeding Project
In Partnership with Rick Haney, PhD, Soil Chemistry/Microbiology, USDA-ARS, Texas A&M, Temple, Texas Spring 2014
Phosphorus Potassium Nitrogen (N) (P2O5) (K2O) Farm (lbs per acre) (lbs per acre) (lbs per acre) He - Howard Creek 35.5 153.7 91.2
Kn - Dry Fork WWR (upstream Mt. Hope Rd.) 33.0 86.3 81.9 Mi - Dry Fork WWR N P2O5 K2O Nutrient value (upstream Oxford Rd.) 14.01 100.87 80.85 Sample ID (lbs per acre ) (lbs per acre) (lbs per acre) per acre Ho - Dry Fork WWR trib. NE of Lee HEYOB farm (2 years) 28.09 93.82 191.10 $197.19 Creek 56.72 150.12 247.20 C Cat Garden (2 years) 134.45 124.62 191.10 $282.56
HCSWCD Raised Bed (2 years) 49.47 68.59 189.80 $191.57
Imago Garden (5 years) 64.63 523.18 297.70 $583.62
Walnut Hills Garden (5 years) 182.59 399.77 209.30 $514.98
OTR Peoples Garden (5 years) 208.72 435.03 263.90 $588.09 Dry Fork Whitewater River Watershed Dry Fork Whitewater River Fall Cover Crop Seeding Project Tributaries Further Considera ons
Ø Timing of soil sampling: Legume nutrient (nitrogen) release back into the soils typically occurs when soil temperatures reach 50 degrees F. Soil tes ng should be med to capture nutrient release in the spring prior to fer liza on and plan ng.
Ø Measurement of cover crop biomass will reveal sequestra on of nutrients as a result of cover crop plan ng.
Ø Evalua ng alterna ve means for cover crop seeding (use of high clearance air seeder).
Ø Effect of drain le installa on on water quality and leaching of nitrate. In the Yard… Don’t Overfer lize…….Test Soils First Before Fer lizing our Lawn, We Must Consider…
• Lawns contribute more soil par cles and phosphorus to water pollu on than streets. • Unlike lawns, thick green ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams are neither aesthe cally pleasing nor healthy. Pesticide Alternatives: dishwashing soap, garlic and red pepper sauce. Great Miami River Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring
Additional Data Applications
Ø Hamilton County Soil & Water Conserva on District & Natural Resources Conserva on Service establishment of priority areas for installa on of agricultural best management prac ces. Assessment of those prac ces.
Ø Hamilton County Storm Water District/Hamilton County Public Health Modelling of Illicit Discharge and pollutant hotspot areas.
Ø Comment on Ohio EPA Lower Great Miami River Total Maximum Daily Load studies.
Ø Comment on Indiana Department of Environmental Management Whitewater River Total Maximum Daily Load studies.
Ø Coordina on with Hamilton County Park District on tree plan ng areas and infrastructure upgrades.
Ø Establishment of a regional database for extrac on of water quality data – effort
¨ Hamilton County Soil & Water Conserva on District (HCSWCD) Soil Fer lity Study in the Howard Creek-Dry Fork Whitewater River HUC watershed. facilitated by Green Umbrella. ¨ HCSWCD working with Natural Resources Conserva on Service (NRCS) to target land owners regarding implementa on of agricultural best management prac ces (BMPs).
¨ Coordina on with Hamilton County Public Health regarding follow-up monitoring in areas where our data show poten al impacts from sep c systems.
¨ Reaching out to school groups regarding the water quality monitoring process and importance of these efforts.
¨ Data u lized in the OKI Regional Council of Governments Taylor Creek Study.
¨ Future Uses: ¡ Evaluate Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report on the Lower Great Miami watershed when released by Ohio EPA. ¡ Develop a Watershed Ac on Plan (WAP) for the Lower Great Miami River. Great Miami River Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring Program
Year Volunteer Hours # Sample Sites, Analyses Collaborative Data Presentations and Events and Value and Samples 2010 Hours: 750 • Total sites: 71 • Data sharing presentation to volunteer samplers in February 2011 on Value: $18,870 • Monthly range: 15-45 samples 2010 data. • Analyses: 1,644 • Total samples: 274 - 30/mo. ave 2011 Hours: 1,066 • Total sites: 73 • Local TV segment (Channel 5 Project Earth) Value: $27,300 • Monthly range: 38-64 samples • Ohio EPA • Analyses: 2,994 • Greater Cincinnati MSD • Total samples: 499 - 55/mo. ave. • Hamilton County Environmental Action Commission • Land Lab for Price Hill Middle School students • Oxbow Inc. • Green Umbrella • University of Cincinnati Planning Students 2012 Hours: 1,233 • Total sites: 74 • Data sharing presentation to volunteer samplers in February 2012 on Value: $32,144 • Monthly range: 63-80 samples 2011 data. • Analyses: 3,942 • OKI Council of Governments Regional Conservation Council annual • Total samples: 657 - 73/mo. ave. meeting. May 2012 • StormCon National Conference (Denver, CO). • Great Miaimi River Days. • Great Outdoor Weekend event. • Hamilton County Public Health. • Land Conservancy of Hamilton County annual meeting. • Watershed Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) annual meeting (Columbus, OH). 2013 Hours: 1,358 • Total sites: 72 • Data sharing presentation to volunteer samplers in February 2013 on Value: $36,123 • Monthly range: 62-88 samples 2012 data. • Analyses: 4,098 • Miami Conservancy District display presentation. • Total samples: 683 - 76/mo. ave. • Hamilton County Park District display presentation. • Metropolitan Sewer District informational meeting.. • WVXU radio program. 2014 Hours: 1,427 • Total sites: 93 • Data sharing presentation to volunteer samplers in February 2014 on Value: $39,257 • Monthly range: 73 – 89 sites; 2013 data. and 79 – 99 samples • Green Umbrella presentation and data coordination meetings • Analyses: 6,932 • Hamilton County Public Health • Total samples: 832 - 92/mo. ave. • Hamilton County Storm Water District • Parameters: 9 • National College students.
Individual Actions Can Help to Improve Water Quality
• Preserve streamside vegeta on and seed bare soil
• Reduce pes cide use, use nontoxic pes cides and/ or engage in integrated pest management
• Test soil before using fer lizer
• Do not dump anything into storm drains or waterways
• Compost and mulch yard waste
• Clean up pet waste
• Store and dispose of automo ve or hazardous supplies properly
• Minimize salt use or use alterna ve products for mel ng ice
• Wash vehicles at a car wash or on an unpaved surface
• Recycle and do not li er
• Consider installa on of storm water best management prac ces such as rain gardens and pervious pavement Questions?
Brian Bohl, MES, CPSWQ, CPESC Stream Specialist Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District 22 Triangle Park Drive Cincinnati, OH 45246 Phone: (513) 772-7645 ext. 15 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.hcswcd.org