Water Resources Study Component of the South Nation River Basin

Mlume II Report to South Nation River Conservation Authority

Mackren Plansearch October 1 982 Lava li n

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Page . -No. Letter of Transmittal

Table of Contents

L'ist of Tables

List of Figures

VOLUME I

Executive Summary

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 General 1.2 Location Extent 1.3 Physiography and Drainage 1.4 Previous investigations 1.5 Study Overview

ANALYSIS OF STREAMFLOW AND PRECIPITATION 2.1 Available Data 2.2 Analysis of the Data Base 2.2.1 General 2.2.2 Graphical Analysis 2.2.3 Statistical Analysis 2.2.4 Double-Mass Analysis 2.3 Frequency Analysis of Peak Discharge Rate 2.3.1 General 2.3.2 Flood Frequency Characteristics 2.3.3 Peak Discharge Estimates 2.3.4 Station Skewness Coefficient 2.3.5 Inter-correlation of Annual Flood Peaks 2.4 Flow Duration Curves 2.5 Conclusions

3.0 PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF WATER MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES 3.1 Introduction

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)

Water Zesources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Page -No.

3.1.1 Flooding Problems 3.1.2 Summary of Proposed Remedial Work 3.1.2.1 Brinston Flood Area 3.1.2.2 Plantagenet Flood Area 3.2 Hydrology 3.2.1 Selection of Flow Sequences 3.2.1.1 High Flow Event 3.2.1.2 Summer Low Flows 3.2.2 Methodology for Flow Distribution 3.2.2.1 High Flow Event 3.2.2.2 Low Summer Flows 3.3 Computer Simulation 3.3.1 General 3.3.2 Description of the HEC-5 Model 3.3.3 Schematic of the System 3.3.3.1 High Flow Event 3.3.3.2 Low Flow Event 3.3.4 Alternatives Modelled 3.3.4.1 High Flow Event 3.3.4.2 Low Flow Event 3.3.5 Tabulation of Results 3.3.5.1 High Flow Events 3.3.5.2 Law Flow Events 3.3.6 Discussion of Results 3.3.6.1 Flood Control Structures 3.3.6.2 Low Flow Augmentation 3.4 ~ecommendations/~onclusions

4.0 DELINEATION OF SECONDARY FLOOD PLAIN AREAS 4.1 General 4.2 Flood Hazard Categories 4.3 Method 4.3.1 Aerial Photograph Interpretation 4.3.2 Field Survey 4.3.3 Flow Estimates 4.3.4 Hydraulic Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River as in Development Plan

Page -No.

4.4 Discussion of Results 4.5 Conclusions

5.0 HYDROLOGIC MODELLING OF THE SOUTH NATION BASIN 5.1 General 5.2 Model Description 5.2.1 Snow ~ccumulationand Melt 5.2.2 Runoff from Pervious Areas 5.2.3 Channel and Reservoir muting 5.3 Data Base and Model Preparation 5.3.1 Data Requirements and Availability 5.3.2 Meteorological Data Base Preparation 5.3.3 Hydrometric Data Base 5.3.4 Model Set-up and Parameter Initialization

5.4 Model Calibration and Validation 5-15 5.4.1 Objectives of the calibration/ Validation Process 5-1 5 5.4.2 ~alibration/~alidationof the HSP-F Model of the South Nation River Basin 5-17 5.4.3 Results of the Calibration/~alidation5-20 5.4.4 Discussion of Final Model Parameters 5-29 5.5 Base Condition Model Runs 5-31 5.5.1 General 5-31 5.5.2 High Flow Frequency Analysis - Flood Prone Areas 5-32 5.5.3 High Flow Frequency Analysis - Outlet of Municipal Drains 5-3 3 5.5.4 Low Flow Frequency Analysis - Potential Water Supply Points 5-33

6.0 IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE PRACTICES 6-1 6.1 Introduction 6-1 6.2 Method Overview 6-2 6.3 Test Area Monitoring Data 6-3

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River as in Development Plan

Page No.

6.3.1 Analysis of Flow Data 6.4 Modifications to DRAINMOD 6.5 Model Calibration 6.5.1 Calibration of DRAINMOD 6.5.2 Calibration of HSP-F 6.5.3 Testing on Partially Tiled Areas 6.5.4 Conclusions on Calibration 6.6 Effects of Outlet Drain Improvements 6.6.1 Method of Outlet Drain Analysis 6.6.2 Impacts of Outlet Drain Improvement 6.6.3 Conclusions ~egardingOutlet Drain Improvement 6.7 Effects of Title Drainage 6.7.1 Method of Tile Drainage &alysis 6.7.2 Impacts of Tile Drainage 6.8 Lumped HSP-F Model 6.8.1 Method of Lumping. 6.8.2 Lumping Hydraulic Impacts 6.8.3 Lumping Tile Drainage Impacts 6.8.4 Conclusions Regarding Model Lumping 6.9 Low Flow Simulation

7.0 Analysis of Future Flood Control and Land Use Scenarios 7.1 Municipal Drain Improvement 7.1.1 Proposed Drain Improvements 7.1.2 Method 7.1.3 Impacts of Drain Improvements 7.2 Agricultural Drainage 7.2.1 Subsurface Dr ainage Improvement 7.2.2 Outlet Drain Improvement 7.2.3 Impacts of Agricultural Drainage Improvements 7.3 Channelization Works for Flood Control 7.3.1 Method 7.3.2 Impacts of Channel Works

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont' d)

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Page No.

7.4 Hydrologic Impact of Forestry 7.4.1 Background 7.4.2 Method 7.4.3 Impacts of Maximizing Forest Production 7.5 Evaluation of ~e servoir Scenarios 7.5.1 Introduction 7.5.2 Selection of High Flow Events 7.5.3 Method 7.5.4 Results of ~nalysis 7.6 Analysis of Flooded Areas 7.7 Water Supply 7.7.1 Surface Water Requirements

VOLUME I1

8.0 WATER QUALITY STUDIES 8.1 Overview of Basin Water Quality within the South Nation Basin 8.1.1 General 8.1.2 Sediment 8.1.3 Nutrients 8.1.3.1 Introduction 8.1.3.2 Analysis of Nutrient Export 8.1.3.3 Spatial Distribution of Nutrient Losses 8.1.4 Bacteria 8.1.5 Dissolved Oxygen 8.2 Point Sources 8.2.1 Inventory of Municipal Waste Sources 8.2.2 Inventory of Industrial Waste Sources 8.2.3 Relative contribution of Point and Non-Point Sources 8.3 Non-Point Sources 8.3.1 Subsurface Drainage Quality 8.3.1.1 Tile Drain Effluent Quality

vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Pag e No.

8.3.1.2 Base Flow Quality 8.3.1.3 Relative Subsurface Nutrient Contributions 8.3.2 Surface Runoff 8.3.3 Nutrient Losses Related to Land Use 8.3.3.1 Nutrient Contribution from Livestock Activities 8.3.3.2 Nutrient Losses Related to other Agricultural Activities 8.4 Impacts of Future Land Use Changes 8.5 point Source Modelling 8.5.1 Implications of Point Source Phosphorus Contributions 8.5.2 Dissolved Oxygen Modelling 8.5.2.1 DO Regime Downstream of Ault Foods 8.5.2.2 DO Regime Downstream of Nestles 8.5.2.3 Municipal Point Sources

9.0 GROUNIlWATER STUDIES 9.1 Geology of the South Nation Basin 9.1.1 Bedrock Geology 9.1.2 Surficial ~eposits 9.2 Basin Hydrogeology 9.2.1 Introduction 9.2.2 General Hydrogeology 9.2.3 Groundwater Occurrence and Aquifer Distribution 9.2.3.1 Groundwater in Bedrock 9.2.3.2 Groundwater in Overburden 9.2.4 Groundwater Quality 9.2.5 Groundwater Recharge 9.2.6 Recharge Areas 9.3 Present Groundwater Utilization 9.3.1 Introduction 9.3.2 Municipal Use

viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont' d)

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Pag e No.

9.3.3 Rural Domestic Use 9.3.4 Industrial Uses 9.3.5 Irrigation Uses 9.4 Groundwater ~vailability 9.4.1 Introduction 9.4.2 Winchester 9.4.2.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9.4.2.2 Hydrogeology 9.4.2.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9.4.3 Chesterville 9.4.3.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9.4.3.2 Hydrogeology 9.4.3.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9.4.4 St. Isidore de Prescott 9.4.4.1 xi sting Supplies and Future Requirements . 9.4.4.2 Hydrogeology 9.4.4.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9.4.5 Bourget 9.4.5.1 xi sting Supplies and Future Requirements 9.4.5.2 Hydrogeology 9.4.5.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9.4.6 Harnmond 9.4.6.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-44 9.4.6.2 Hydrogeology 9-45 9.4.6.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-4 9

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont' d)

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Page -No.

9.4.7 St. Pascal Baylon 9-50 9.4.7.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-50 9.4.7.2 Hydrogeology 9-51 9.4.7.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-53 9.4.8 Embrun 9-53 9.4.8.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-53 9.4.8.2 Hydrogeology 9-54 9.4.8.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-57 9.4.9 Finch 9-5 8 9.4.9.. 1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-5 8 9.4.10 Maxville 9-58 9.4.10.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-58 9.4.10.2 Hydrogeology 9-59 9.4.10.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-6 1 9.4.11 Russell 9-61 9.4.11.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-61 9.4.11.2 Hydrogeology 9-6 2 9.4.11.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-64 9.4.12 Vars 9-64 9.4.12.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-64 9.4.12.2 Hydrogeology 9-65 9.4.12.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-66 9.4.13 Limoges 9-67 9.4.13.1 xi sting Supplies and Future Requirements 9-67 9.4.13.2 Hydrogeology 9-6 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Pag e -No.

9.4.13.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-69 9.4.14 Metcalfe 9-70 9.4.14.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-70 9.4.14.2 Hydrogeology 9-71 9.4.14.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-73 9.4.15 Spencerville 9-73 9.4.15.1 Existing Supplies and Future Requirements 9-73 9.4.15.2 Hydrogeology 9-74 9.4.1 5.3 Groundwater Potential for Development 9-75 9.5 Potential Impacts of Future Growth Scenarios 9-76 9.5.1 Introduction 9-76 9.5.2 Land Development 9-76 9.5.3 Water Supply 9-7 9 9.5.4 Waste Disposal 9-80 9.5.5 Aggregrate Extraction 9-82 9.5.6 Spray Irrigation of Municipal Wastes 9-83 9.6 Impacts of Land Use Activities 9-86 9.6.1 Introduction 9-86 9.6.2 Tile and Outlet Drainage 9-87 9.6.3 Forest Areas 9-89 9.6.4 Agricultural Operations 9-93 9.6.5 Effluent Polishing by Wetlands 9-94 9.7 Water Management Schemes 9-96 9.7.1 Introduction 9-96 9.7.2 Potential Impacts 9-96 9.7.3 Chesterville Channelization 9-98 9.7.4 Vernon Channelization 9-99 9.7.5 Bear Brook Channelization 9-100 9.7.6 Plantagenet Channelization 9-101 9.8 Groundwater Management 9-103 9.8.1 The Present Situation 9-103 9.8.2 The Benefits of a Planned Approach 9-104 9.8.3 Requirements for a Management Programme 9-105 9.8.4 Management Strategies 9-109

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)

Water Resources Study Component; South Nation River Basin Development Plan

Pag e -No. Appendix A Graphical Analysis of Hydrologic Time A.l Series

Appendix B Flood Frequency Analysis of Streamflow Data B .1

Appendix C Flood Control Measures: Background Data

Appendix D Geotechnical valuation: Golder Associates D. 1

Appendix E Water Quality E. 1 Available Data Base E.l E.2 Dissolved Oxygen Modelling Downstream of Point Sources E. 5 E. 2.1 Model Selection E. 2.2 Specifics of Model. ~pplicationto the South Nation River Basin E.9 E. 2.3 Results and Discussion E .10

Appendix F Description of DRAINMOD F.l

Appendix G List of References G.l

xii

LIST OF TABLES

Table Follows No. Page

VOLUME I

Summary of Available Discharge Data

Summary of Graphical Analyses for Cumulative Moving Mean Discharge and Precipitation Smary of Graphical Analyses of Temporal Distribution of Normalized Discharge and Precipitation

Summary of Graphical Analyses of Cumulative Moving Mean Flood Peak

Summary of Graphical Analyses of Temporal Di stribution of Normalized Flood Peak

Test for Trend and Persistence in Hydrologic Time Series

Summary of Historical Station Flood Statistics

Summary of Selected Best Fitting Distributions

Estimated Flood Peaks for the 1:5; 1: 50, 1:100 Year Recurrence Intervals

Standard Error and 95% Confidence Interval on Station Flood Skew

Concurrent Records of Annual Flood

Simple Correlations of Annual Flood

Pertinent Data for Proposed Reservoirs

Recurrent Interval for Various Flow Durations

xiii

LIST OF TABLES (cont'd)

Table Follows No. Page Drainage Areas for Selected Stream Gauges

Ratio of Monthly Volumes for the 1945 Event and the Long Term Station Flow Record

Magnitude of Simulated May Peak Flow at Selected Flp Points Alternatives Modelled Using HEC-5

Law Flow Magnitudes for Various Flow Durations for Pr e-Reservoir and Pos t-Reservoir Conditions Effectiveness of the Proposed Structural Alternatives in Reducing Peak Flows and Area Flooded in the Brinston and Plantagenet Areas

Comparison of Flood Reduction at Plantagenet with Inundation at Reservoir Sites

Estimated Extent of Flooded Areas

Details of Meteorological Data Used in the HSP-F Data Base

Details of Data Infilling and Record Extension for the Precipitation Data Base Details of Available Hydrometric Data in the South Nation River Basin

Physical Parameters of the Sub-Areas Used in the HSP-F Model of the South Nation River

Typical Range of Values for HSP-F Parameters

Reliability of Hydrometric Data in the South Nation River Basin

xiv

LIST OF TABLES (cont'd)

Table Follows No. Page Comparison of Observed and Simulated Annual Runoff Volumes (Based on the October to September Water Year)

Comparison of Observed and Simulated Return Period Flws at Calibration/ Validation Points

Final Parameter Values for Pervious Land Segments

Flws for the 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Year Return Periods at Five Specified Flood Areas

Flows for the 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Year Return Periods at Four Specified Drains

Average Seven-Day Minimum Flows for the 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Year Return Periods at Selected Sites Agricultural Drain Test Catchments

Recorded Runoff Events Potential Extent of Future Outlet Drain Improvements

Evapotranspiration Rates Used to Derive DRAINMOD Input

Increase in Maximum Annual Flow with Drain Improvements

Variation of Lumped HSP-F INTFW Parameter With Various Percent Tile Drainage

Increase in Mean 2 Hour Peak Flows With Dr ain Improvements

LIST OF TABLES (cont'd)

Tab1e Follows No. Page

Impact of Drain Improvement on March 1976 Flood Event 7-6

Derivation of Spring HSP-F INTEW Parameter For Future Tile Drainage 7-7 Derivation of Summer HSP-F INTEW Parameter For Future Tile Drainage 7-7 Changes in Peak Flows Due to Agricultural Drainage Improvement Senario 7-8

Land Use Changes For Each Site Selected For Evaluation of Impacts 7-9 Changes in Peak Flows Due to Agricultural Drainage Improvements and Major Channel Works 7-10

Percent Forest by PERLND Segment For Existing and Future Conditions

Changes in Peak Flows Due to Maximum Forestry Scenario

Selected Flow Events 7-1 8

Relevant Data for Proposed Reservoirs 7-19 Average Annual Area Flooded at 4 Flood Prone Sites 7-23

Average Annual Total Flooded Area at Chesterville (~ayto ~ctober)

Comparison of Surface Area Flooded by Additional Reservoirs and Reduction in Area Flooded at Plantagenet 7-2 4

Community Surface Water Demands and Firm Supply 7-24

xvi

LIST OF TABLES (cont'd)

Table Follows No. Page VOLUME I1

Suspended Sediment Load at Plantagene t Springs

Peak Daily Suspended Sediment Concentrations at Existing Stations

Magnitude of Potential Sheet Erosion Losses from Cropland in Southern Ontario

Nutrient Export from Mixed Agricultural Watershed -

Spatial Distribution of Non-Point Source Nutrient msses for 1976

Municipal Sewage Lagoon Facilities

Relative Contribution of Point and Non-Point Nutrient Sources

Quality of Water from Agricultural Sources

Tile and Outlet Drain ~uality - 1981 Field Programme Relative Phosphorus Contributions from Various Sources

Estimated Non-Point Nutrient Losses for 1976 for Animal Livestock Contributions of 10, 20 and 35 Percent

Unit Area Phosphorous Losses by Sub-basin for Various Livestock Contributions, 1976

Impacts of Future Land Use Changes

Summary of Municipal Supplies and Projected Future Demands to the Year 2001

xvii LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No. Follows Page

VOLUME I

Location of Gauging Station and Flood- Prone Zones in the South Nation River Basin

Double-Mass Analyses: Annual Precipitation Double-Mass Analyses: Monthly Discharge . l-Day Flow Duration Curves (Annual)

l-Day Flow Duration Curves ( December-May)

1-Day Flow Duration Curves ( June-November)

7-Day Flow Duration Curves (Annual) 7-Day Flow Duration Curves (December-~ay)

7 -Day Flow Duration Curves (June-~ovember)

Structural Proposals for the South Nation River Basin

South Nation River at Spencerville: Flow Duration Analysis for Low Flows

Castor River at Russell: Flow-Duration Analysis for Low Flows

Bear Brook at Bourget: Flow-Duration Analysis for Low Flows

South Nation River at Plantagenet: Flow-Duration Analysis for Low Flows South Nation River - Observed Flows at Plantagenet Springs for the Years 1945 and 1973

xviii

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page 3.7 Schematic of South Nation River System for Input to the HEC-5 Model Under High Flow Conditions

3.8 Schematic of South Nation River System for Input to the HEC-5 Model Under bw Flow Conditions

3.9 Flow Sequences Modelled

3.10 Flow Reduction in the Brinston Area due to the Proposed Structural Alternatives

3.11 Effect of Spencerville Reservoir in Reducing Area Flooded in the Brinston Area 3-16

3.12 - Flow Reduction in the Plantagenet Area due to the Proposed Structural Alternatives 3-17

3.13 Effect of Reservoir(s) in Reducing Area Flooded in the Plantagenet Area 3-17

3.14 Reduction of Area Flooded in the Plantagenet Area due to the Proposed Reservoir (s)

3.15 Reduction in the Duration of Flooding in the Plantagenet Area due to the Proposed ~eservoir(s)

3.16 South Nation River at Plantagenet: Flow-Duration Analysis for Low Flows

3.17 Reservoirs and Diversion Capacities Required to Reduce Flows in the Plantagenet Area to Non-Damage Levels (226.3m3, 8000 cfs)

xix

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page 4.1 Categorization of Flood Hazard Areas From Aerial Photographs Chapter 7 4.2 Flood Plain Location Plan: Village of Limoges 4-10 4.3 Flood Plain Location Plan: Village of Kenmore 4-10 4.4 Flood Plain Location Plan: Town of Spencerville 4-10 4.5 Flood Plain Location Plan: Town of Ehbrun 4-1 0 4.6 Flood Plain Location Plan: Payne River 4-10 4.7 Flood Plain Location Plan: Scotch River near St. Elmo 4-10 4.8 Flood Plain Location Plan: South Branch of South Nation River 4-10

4.9 Flood Plain Location Plan: North Branch of South Nation River near Van Camp 4-1 0 4.10 Flood Plain Location Plan: Main Branch of South Nation River near Hyndman 4-1 0 4.11 Flood Plain Location Plan: Town of Crysler 4-10 4.12 Flood Plain Location Plan: Town of Ehbrun - Russell 4-10

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page 4.13 Flood Plain Location Plan: Town of Chesterville 4-10 Flood Plain Location Plan: Village of Hammond 4-10

Generalized Flow Chart for HSP-F Representation of Pervious Land Segment 5 -4

Locations of Meteorological Stations and Associated Thiessen Polygons in the Region of the South Nation River Chapter 7

Locations of the W. S.C. Flow Gauges, Subarea Boundaries and Routing Re aches Chapter 7 Observed and Simulated Daily Flows at Plantagenet for the 1976 Water Year

Observed and Simulated Daily Flows at Plantagenet for th 1979 Water Year

Observed and Simulated Daily Flows at Plantagenet for the 1961 Water Year Comparison of Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Plantagenet, 1958-1979 5-20 Comparison of May Peak Flow Frequency Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Plantagenet, 1958-1979

Comparison of Summer Peak Flow Frequency Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Plantagenet, 1958-1979

Comparison of Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curves for Observed and Simulated Flow Using a 2-Hour Time Step at Plantagenet, 1958-1979

xxi

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page

5.11 Flow Duration Curves for Observed and Simulated Flaws at Plantagenet, 1958-1979 5-20 Comparison of Observed and Simulated Flows for LGW Flow Period at Plantagenet, July to November 1964 Observed and Simulated Daily Flows at Russell, Castor River for Water Year 1976

Observed and Simulated Daily Flows at Prescott, E. Branch, Scotch River for Water Year 1976 Comparison of Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Spencerville, 1958-1979 Comparison of Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Chesterville, 1958-1979

Comparison of Annual Peak Frequency Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Russell, Castor River, 1969-1979 Flow Duration Curves for Observed and Simulated Flaws at Spencerville, 1969-1979

Flow Duration Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Russell, Castor River, 1969-1979 Flow Duration Curves for Observed and Simulated Flows at Prescott, E. Branch, Scotch River, 1970-1978

Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Pl antagenet

xxii

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page 5.22 Growing Season (May to October) Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Plantagenet 5-32

Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Bear Brook 5-32

Growing Season (May to October) Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Bear Brook 5-32

Annual Flow Peak (May to October) Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Vernon 5-32 Growing Season (May to October) Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Vernon 5-32

Annual Peak Flow ~re~uenc~Curve at Chesterville 5-32

Growing Season (May to ~ctober)Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Chesterville 5-32

Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Spencerville 5-32 Growing Season (May to ~ctober)Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Spencerville 5-32

Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Payne Creek Drain 5-33

May Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Payne Creek Drain 5-33

Summer Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Payne Creek Drain 5-33

Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Van Camp Drain 5-33

May Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Van Camp Drain

xxiii

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure FolIows Page 5.36 Summer Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Van Camp Drain 5-33 Annual Peak Flow .Frequency Curve at Ferguson Drain 5-33 May Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Ferguson Drain 5-33

Summer Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Ferguson Drain 5-33 Annual Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Mullen (Gannon) Drain 5-33 May Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Mullen (Gannon) Drain 5-33

Summer Peak Flow Frequency Curve at Mullen (Gannon) Drive Seven Day Minimum Flow Frequency Curve at Chesterville

Seven Day Minimum Flow Frequency Curve at St. Isidore de Prescott Seven Day Minimum Flow Frequency Curve at Bourget Seven Day Minimum Flow Frequency Curve at Ehbrun Seven Day Minimum Flow Frequency Curve at Casselman Seven Day Minimum Flow Frequency Curve at Pl antagenet Method Schematic for Evaluating Impacts of Drainage Improvements

xxiv

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page

6.2 Test Area Data Analysis; ~ainfall/~unoffRatios vs. Percent Tile Drainage 6-5

6.3 Test Area Data Analysis; Unit Runoff vs. Percent Tile Drainage

6.4 Test Area Data Analysis; Unit Peak Runoff vs. Percent Tile Drainage

6.5 Soil Water Characteristics Curves 6-7

6.6 Castonguay Test Site Calibration Results Chapter 7

Seguin Test Site Calibration Results Chapter 7

Leclerc Test Site Calibration Results Chapter 7

~auv&Test Site Calibration Results Chapter 7

Comparison of DRAINMOD and HSP-F Models for Saturated Spring Conditions Chapter 7

Brisson Test Site Model Results Chapter 7

Dillabough Test Site Model Results Chapter 7

Rectangular and Square Test Area Schematics 6-13

Typical Stream Cross Sections 6-1 3

meal Impact of Outlet Drain Improvements Chapter 7

Impact of Outlet Drain Improvements at Outlet of Hypothetical Area Chapter 7

Local Impact of Tile Drainage Chapter 7

Impact of Tile Drainage at Outlet of Hypothetical Area Chapter 7

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page

6.19 Comparison of Hydraulic Routing with Outlet Drain Improvements for the Detailed and Lumped Models Chapter 7 6.20 Variation of INTFW Parameter With % Tile Drainage

6.21 Comparison of Lumped to Detailed Model for 35% Tile Drainage Chapter 7

t 6.22 Comparison of Lumped to Detailed Model for 75% Tile Drainage Chapter 7 7.1 Location of Proposed Municipal Drain Improvements 7.2 Flow Duration Curve: South Castor Drain 7-4 .-, 7.3 Flow Duration Curve: Payne Creek Drain 7-4

Flow Duration Curve: Mullen Drain Flow Duration Curve: Van Camp Drain Flow Duration Curve: Ferguson Drain

Annual Flood Frequency Curve at the South Castor Drain with Municipal Drain Improvements Annual Flood Frequency Curve at the Payne Creek Drain with Municipal Drain Improvements

Annual Flood Frequency Curve at the Mullen Drain with Municipal Drain Improvements Annual Flood Frequency Curve at the Van Camp Drain with Municipal Drain Improvements Annual Flood Frequency Curve at the Ferguson Drain with Municipal Drain Improvements

xxvi

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page Annual Flood Frequency Curve at Plantagenet with Municipal Drain Improvements 7 -4 Annual Flood Frequency Curve at Chesterville with Municipal Drain Improvements 7-4

Annual Flood Frequency Curve at the Mouth of Castor River with ~unicipalDrain Improvements 7-4

Annual Flood Frequency Curve at the Mouth Payne River with Municipal Dr ain Improvements 7-4

Annual Flood Frequency Curve at Plantagenet With Agricultural Drainage Improvements 7-8

May-October Flood Frequency Curve at Plantagenet With Agricultural Drainage Improvements Annual Flood Frequency Curve at Chesterville With Agricultural Drainage Improvements 7 -8

May-October Flood Frequency Curve at Chesterville With Agricultural Drainage Improvements

Annual Flood Frequency Curve at Bear Brook With Agricultural Drainage Improvements

May-October Flood Frequency Curve at Bear Brook With Agricultural Drainage Improvements

Annual Flood Frequency Curve at Vernon With Agricultural Drainage Improvements

xxvii

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page

7.2 3 May-October Flood Frequency -Curve at Vernon With Agricultural Drainage Improvements 7-8

Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Plantagenet With Major Channel Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements 7-10

May-October Flood Frequency Curves at Plantagenet With Major Channel Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements

Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Chesterville With Major Channel Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements May-October Flood Frequency Curves at Chesterville With Major.Channe1 Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements

Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Bear Brook With Major Channel Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements

May-October Flood Frequency Curves at Bear Brook With Major Channel Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements

Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Vernon With Major Channel Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements May-October Flood Frequency Curves at Vernon With Major Channel Works and Agricultural Drainage Improvements

Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Plantagenet With Maximum Forest

May-October Flood Frequency Curves at Plantagenet With Maximum Forest

Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Chesterville With Maximum Forest

xxviii

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page

7.35 May-October Flood Frequency Curves at Chesterville With Maximum Forest

7.36 Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Bear Brook With Maximum Forest

7: 3 7 May-October Flood Frequency Curves at ear Brook With ~axim& ore st 7.38 Annual Flood Frequency Curves at Vernon With Maximum Forest

7.39 May-October Flood Frequency Curves at Vernon With Maximum Forest

7.40 Partial Schematic of South Nation River System 7-19

7.41 Summary of HEC-5 Runs for May-October Events 7-20

7.42 Area Flooded for May-October Events 7-21

7.43 Shift in May-October Flood Frequency Curve at Pl antagenet Due to Reservoir Operation 7-21

VOLUME I1

8.1 Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen Export and Annual Mean Flaw at Plantagenet Springs (1975-1980) 8-9 8.2 South Nation River Watershed 8-1 3

8.3 The Basic Configuration of a Box Plot 8-3 7

8.4 Box Plots of Nitrogen Export Coefficients From Various Land Uses 8-37

8.5 Box Plots of Phosphorus Export Coefficients From Various Land Uses 8-37

9.1 Distribution of Bedrock Aquifer Showing Piezometric Surface Appendix G

xxix

LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Figure Follows Page

9.2 Distribution of Overburden Aquifers Showing Water Table Configuration Appendix G

Village of Winchester Recommended Test Drilling Areas 9-30

Village of Chesterville Recommended Test Drilling Areas

Village of Embrun Recommended Test Drilling Areas

Village of Limoges Recommended Test Drilling Areas

Village of Metcalf e Recommended Test Drilling Areas

Village of Spencerville Recommended Test Drilling Areas 9-75

Sensitive Areas Appendix G Groundwater Susceptibility to Contamination Appendix G

Paqe No. A1.1A Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Precipitation, Ottawa CDA A- 2

A1.1B Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Discharge, South at ion River near Plantagenet Springs

A1.1C Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Discharge, Rideau River at Ottawa A1.2 Cumulative Moving Mean: Total Discharge in May, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

XXX

LIST OF FIGURES (cont' )

Figure Page No.

A1.3 Cumulative Moving Mean: Total Discharge in October, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

A1.4A Normalized Time Series: Annual Precipitation, Ottawa CDA

A1.4B Normalized Time Series: Annual Discharge, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

A1.5 Normalized Time Series : Total Discharge in May, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

A1.6 Normalized Time Series : Total Discharge in October, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

A1.7 Cumulative Moving Mean : Annual Peak Discharge, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

A1.8 Normalized Time Series : Annual Peak Discharge, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

A1.9 Normalized Time Series: May Peak Discharge, South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs

A2.1 Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Discharge, South Nation River at .Spencerville

A2.2 Cumulative Moving Mean: Total Discharge in May, South Nation River at Spencerville

A2.3 Cumulative Moving Mean: Total Discharge in October, South Nation River at Spencerville

xxxi

LIST OF FIGURES (cont')

Figure Page No.

A2.4 Normalized Time Series : Annual Discharge, South Nation River at Spencerville A-1 4

A2.5 Normalized Time Series : Total Discharge in May, South Nation River at Spencerville A-1 5

A2.6 Normalized Time Series : Total Discharge in October, South Nation River at Spencerville

A2.7 Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Peak Discharge, South Nation River at Spencerville

A2.8 Normalized Time Series : Annual Peak Di scharge, South Nation River at Spencerville

A2.9 Normalized Time Series : May Peak Discharge, South Nation River at Spencerville

A3.1 Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Discharge, Castor River at Russell

A3.2 Cumulative Moving Mean : Total Discharge in May and October, Castor fiver at Russell

A3.3 Normalized Time Series : Annual Discharge, Castor River at Russell

A3.4 Normalized Time Series : Total Discharge in May, Castor River at Russell A-2 2

A3.5 Normalized Time Series : Total Discharge in October, Castor River at Russell A-2 2

xxxii

LIST OF FIGURES (cont' )

Figure Page No. A3.6 Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Peak Discharge, Castor River at Russell A-2 3

Normalized Time Series : Annual Peak Discharge, Castor River at Russell A-2 4

Normalized Time Series : May peak Discharge, Castor River at Russell Cumulative Moving Mean: Annual Precipitation, Ottawa CDA, Ottawa International Airport, Kemptville A-2 6

Cumulative Moving Mean: Total Precipitation in May, Ottawa, CDA

Cumulative Moving Mean: Total Precipitation in October, Ottawa, CDA

Normalized Time Series : Total Precipitation in May, Ottawa CDA

Normalized Time Series : Total Precipitation in October Ottawa, CDA

Flood Frequency Curve : South Nation River at Spencerville (Annual) Three Parameter Log-Normal Distribution (~aximumLikelihood) Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Spencerville (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

xxxiii

LIST OF FIGURES (cont' )

Figure Page No. B1.3 Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Spencerville (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (~oments)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Spencerville (Summer) Three Parameter Log-Normal Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Spencerville (Summer) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Spencerville (Summer) Three Parameter Log-Normal Distribution (~oments)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Spencerville (May) Three Paremeter Log-Normal Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation at Spencerville (May) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Spencerville (May) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (~oments)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River at Chesterville (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

xxxiv

LIST OF FIGURES (cont')

Figure Page No.

Flood Frequency Curve : South Nation River at Chesterville (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments) Flood Frequency Curve: Castor River at Russell (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: Castor River at Russell (~nnual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments)

Flood Frequency Curve: Castor River at Russell (Summer) Three Parameter Log-Normal Distribution (Maximum Likelihood) Flood Frequency Curve: Castor River at Russell (Summer) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood) Flood Frequency Curve: Castor River at Russell (Summer) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments) Flood Frequency Curve: Castor River at Russell (May) Three Parameter Log - Normal Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: Castor River at Russell (May) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

xxxv

LIST OF FIGURES (cont ' )

Figure Page No.

B3.8 Flood Frequency Curve : Castor River at Russell (~ay) Lag Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments)

Flood Frequency Curve: Bear Brook near Bourget (Annual) Three Parameter Log-Normal Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: Bear Brook near Bourget (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: Bear Brook near Bourget (Annual) .Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments)

Flood Frequency Curve: East Branch Scotch River (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: East Branch Scotch River (Annual) Lag Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (~aximumLikelihood)

Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (Annual) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments)

xxxvi

LIST OF FIGURES (cont')

Figure Page No.

B6.3 Flood Frequency Curve : South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (summer) Three Parameter Log-Normal Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

B6.4 Flood Frequency Curve : South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (summer)

Log Pearson Type I11 ' Distribution (~aximumLikelihood) B6.5 Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (~ay) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments) B6.6 Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (~ay) Three Parameter Lag-Normal Distribution (Maximum Likelihood)

B6.7 Flood Frequency Curve : South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (May) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Maximum Likelihood) B6.8 Flood Frequency Curve: South Nation River near Plantagenet Springs (May) Log Pearson Type I11 Distribution (Moments)

8.0 WATER QUALITY STUDIES

8.1 Overview of Water Quality Within the South Nation Basin

An overview of water quality in the South Nation River basin has previously been reported(1). In general, water quality in the basin does not satisfy Provincial water quality objectives for bacterial and phosphorus concentrations. These elevated levels have been attributed to the agricultural activities within the watershed. As phosphorus losses from agricultural drainage areas have been found to be closely related to sediment 'yield, sediment production and its sources also become important considerations in basin water quality management.

In the future as communities grow the surface water resource will become increasingly important. Not only will it be called upon to augment limited groundwater supplies, but it will also be required to assimilate both agricultural runoff and municipal and industrial wastewater discharges.

A summary of the water quality sampling programmes which have been u,ndertaken in the South Nation River basin is included in Appendix E.l.

8.1.2 Sediment

The total annual suspended sediment discharge measured at Plantagenet Springs decreased during the period 1972 to 1977 with the exception of 1976 (Table 8.1). During this year approximately 2/3 of the total annual load occurred during a four day period in May. On the peak day (20 May) more sediment passed the station than was discharged over the entire year for either 1975 or 1977. No marked increase in sediment discharge at Casselman or Lemieux was reported during this same May event suggesting the source of this sediment to be a major bank failure somewhere downstream of Lemieux. Mass wasting of this nature has been identified as the major source of sediment in the basin(3).

The major landslide which occurred in 1971 near Lemieux is well documented (4) and the decreasing effect of the event on in-stream sediment levels has been reported (2). Table 8.2 'illustrates this decreasing effect by comparing peak sediment concentrations at the three stations for the years 1972-1977. While Table 8.1 shows a decreasing trend in sediment production, the diminishing effect of the landslide is not obvi- ous because of the generally decreasing basin runoff volumes. The peak sediment concentrations at Casselman, upstream of the 1971 slide, are relatively constant while, with the exception of 1976, peak sediment levels have been steadily decreasing at Lemieux and Plantagenet (both located downstream of the slide).

An intensive study of erosion and sedimentation was undertaken in 1981 (3). This study concluded that most of the sediment is being derived from sources in the northern part of the the watershed with little contribution from areas upstream of Crysler. The Bear Brook and Castor River systems are producing most of the sediment. Horse Creek, Caledonia Creek and the Scotch River basins are also significant sediment producers. TABLE 8.1

Suspended Sediment Load @ Plantagenet Springs (After Drennan and St ichling, 1979)

Flow Discharge Suspended Sediment Load Max. Daily Total Max. Daily Total Areal Loading m3 Isec m3 x lo9 tonneslday tonnes tonne s Ihect ar e -Year (cf s (ac -ft ) (tonslday ) (tons ) (tonslacre ) - 1972

Not e : Missing suspended sediment data for some low flow months during 1975, 76, 77 were estimated by regression analysis using available low flow data.

TABLE 8.2

Peak Daily Suspended Sediment Concentrations at Ekisting Stations (after Drennan and Stichling, 1979)

Stations - Peak Values (rna/~) -Year Cas selman Lemieux Plan tagene t

event, the sediment production rate would be 1.4 tonnes/ hectare (0.64 tons/ac)(~able8.1).

The sediment production rate of 0.43 tonnes/hectare (0.19 tons/ac) for 1976 and the other' rates shown in Table 8.1 should be compared to the mean sheet erosion losses tabulated in Table 8.3 for Southern Ontario from PLUARG studies(5). Total losses in the basin are of a similar order of magnitude as those for sheet erosion losses from permanent pasture. The low sediment production rate for the basin is consistent with the fact that over 50% of the watershed area is associated with either pasture, woodland or idle land, land uses which typically produce little sediment.

It has been assumed in the above analyses that most of the sediment being produced in the basin is being measured at the sediment sampling gauge at Plantagenet and that the eroded material is not being stored upstream. This is a reasonable . assumption since the actual areas of deposition identified in the basin are very small in relation to the overall size of the basin (3). In addition, during field sampling of bottom sediments in the basin (11), hard pan or rocky bottoms with little accumulated sediment were encountered in the five impoundments on the South Nation River system. Impoundments are typically potential areas of instream deposition.

Sediment yields for rural watersheds in Southern Ontario range from 0.10 to 0.90 tonnes/ha-yr (0.045 to 0.40 tons/ac- yr) (6). Causes for this variation are attributed to soil and landuse factors, as well as watershed transport capacity. Areas with highly erodible soil and erosion sensitive land- uses such as corn did not always yield high sediment loading TABLE 8.3

Magnitude of Potential Sheet Erosion Losses

From Cropland in Southern Ontario .

(After Van Vliet , 1981)

Sheet Erosion Losses by Crop Mean angel tonneslha-yr (tonslac-yr) tonneslha-yr (tonslac-yr)

Horticultural crops (potatoes , tomatoes, etc) Beans (soy and white) Cont inuous corn Corn in rotation Tobacco Small grains Meadow in rotation Permanent pasture Woodlands

1 Range values reflect a combination of soil, topographic and rainfall I variations between watersheds . rates. Watershed transport factors such as bank buffering or stream channel density were considered important factors in determining erosion potential.

The importance of mass wasting and channel erosion sources in the South Nation River basin is further substantiated by the application of the following regression equation which was £0-und to be applicable to agricultural drainage areas in Southern Ontario (6):

Sediment Load = -204 + 7.9 (% clay) + 11.0 (% row crops) (kg/ha-yr (r2= 0.64) Equation 8.1

The equation is representative of farmland only. To estimate the net effect of agricultural sediment loadings, reference must be made to the distribution of farmland to the total rural area.

In the South Nation Basin approximately 20% of the agricultural area (i.e. about 13% of basin area) is under row crop cultivation. Assuming the average soil clay content is 40% (high estimate) and substituting into Equation 8.1 yields a sediment production rate of 332 kg/ha-yr (0.15 tons/ac-yr) . Taking into account that approximately 60% of the South Nation River watershed is associated with agricultural activity and assuming forested and idle lands are not major contributors of sediment, the equation predicts a sediment production rate representative of the whole basin would be in the order of 200 kg/ha-yr (0.09 tons/ac-yr) . However, this is lower than the actual areal sediment loss rates reported in Table 8.1.

Since the regression equation underestimates the actual areal sediment loss rate for the basin, it is apparent that mass wasting and bank sources are major contributors of sediment in the South Nation River basin, unlike the other watersheds on which the equation was based. The contribution from channel sources ranged from 2 to 32% for PLUARG watersheds in Canada with the average annual streambank erosion rate for agricultural areas in Southern Ontario reported to be 38 kg/ha-yr (0.017 tons/ac-yr)(7).

About 80% of the total sediment load is transported from the basin during the months of March, April and May. These correspond to the months of greatest runoff. High intensity summer storm events can produce peak sediment concentrations, however, mean monthly flow rates are much lower and the total sediment load transported is not as large.

The actively contributing sediment areas vary during the year with different soil moisture conditions(6). Under high moisture conditions, such as during the spring runoff, about 15- 20% of the total watershed would be actively contributing sediment. Under low soil moisture conditions (summer) only about 0-5% of area would be actively contributing sediment.

8.1.3 Nutrients

8.1.3.1 Introduction

With respect to the nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient forms the Ministry of the Environment has developed the following guidelines and criteria(8): nuisance concentrations of algae in rivers and streams for the ice-free period.

- drinking water criteria has been set at 10 mg/L to prevent methemoglobinemia in infants.

Ammon ia-N - un-ionized ammonia concentration should not exceed 0.02 mg/L for the protection of aquatic life.

Nitrate nitrogen concentrations in the surface waters of the South Nation River basin have rarely been reported over 10 mg/L, except for tile drain effluents which would be effec- tively diluted in the stream. ~ypically,nitrate levels recorded in the basin are less than 2 mg/L, and only during storm events or snowmelt runoff would this level be expected to be exceeded.

The percent fraction of un-ionized ammonia in an aqueous ammonia solution is a function of ambient water temperature and pH. For the majority of the basin recorded ammonia concentrations are too low for a potential un-ionized ammonia problem to exist. One notable exception is the tributary of the East Castor River downstream of the Ault Foods lagoon outfall. Concentrations of un-ionized ammonia almost ten times tFe guidelines are potentially possible given the effluent quality and the inadequate diluti~nafforfled by the receiving stream, This is a local problem which is an exception, rather than the rule. However, while the available historical data base for the remainder of the basin shows no high un-ionized ammonia levels, this data base is limited both temporally and spatially. Short term exceedance of the guideline in isolated areas of the basin is poss;ible but it is doubtful they would be important on a basin sca$e.

Elevated total phosphorus concentrations have been identified as the major nutrient problem. During the intensive 1976 MOE summer nutrient survey in the South Nation River basin almost every sample had concentrations of total phosphorus in excess of the Ministry guidelines with a majority of stations repor- ting levels higher than twice the guideline. These elevated levels were not restricted to the major rivers but were also found in the small tributaries and the headwaters. General- ly, total phosphorus levels were slightly lower in the southern half of the basin.

8.1.3.2 Analysis of Nutrient Export

The available grab sample nutrient concentration data since 1975 at Plantagenet, Casselman and Chesterville were parti- tioned on a seasonal basis (3 month intervals), in order to determine whether the recorded concentrations were seasonally flow dependent. Linear regression analysis was employed and the resultant correlation coefficients were tested for signi- ficance. Analysis for the summer (June, July, August) and the autumn (September, October, November) months showed that instream nutrient concentrations at the three stations were generally not flow dependent. During the spring (March, April , May) nutrient concentrations appeared to be flow dependent at all three stations for at least total nitrogen or total phosphorus. Total nitrogen concentrations were also found to be flow dependent at Plantagenet and Casselman for the winter months.

Using the results of the linear regression analysis for Plan- tagenet monthly nutrient losses for the basin were calculated. Where the correlation was found to be significant the appropriate seasonal regression equations were used to estimate monthly average concentrations based on the corresponding monthly average flow rates. Where the correlation coefficients were not shown to be significant the appropriate seasonal average concentrations were applied to the months in question. The monthly nutrient loads were summed to yield total annual losses. The total annual nutrient losses calculated for 1975-1980 are shown in Figure 8.1.

The variability of the annual basin nutrient losses are not very pronounced except for the high total nitrogen loss estimated for 1978. This peak can be attributed to an abnormally high April runoff with a correspondingly high average monthly total nitrogen concentration. In general, the total nutrient losses for the basin would appear to be decreasing slightly in unison with the annual mean flow rate. Since approximately 60 and 70% of the total annual nitrogen and phosphorus losses, respectively, are discharged in the spring months where nutrient concentrations were found to be flow depen-

I dent, this measure of the flow dependence on an annual basis can be explained.

In addition to runoff the following factors must be considered when analyzing the annual nutrient export from the basin; i) changes in fertilizer usage ii) changes in land use iii) changes in application of best management practices.

Based on Fertilizer Institute of Ontario data, fertilizer use from 1973 to 1979 increased by 30%. However, in 1980 fertilizer use declined 5% and in Eastern Ontario this decline was more pronounced and probably in the order of 12%(9).

During the period of 1961-1971 the acreage under crop cultivation increased. Recent FARINEO land use systems mappings completed in 1979-1980 show this trend seems to be continuing at the expense of improved pasture in the South Nation River basin. Also the cropping pattern has changed appreciably with an increase in corn acreage and a decrease in the acreage of oats.

Both an increase in fertilizer usage and crop cultivation, particularly corn, would be expected to lead to increased nutrient exports from a watershed. This does not seem to be the case in the South Nation River basin for the period 1975- 1980. One possible reason is that the increased application of best management practices has accompanied the changes in land use and fertilizer usage thus mitigating their deleter- ious effects. It is difficult to confirm this since a six - Figure 8- 1 Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen Export and Annual Mean Flow ! at Plantagenet Springs ( 1975-1 980) - % Average = 180 tonnes/year 250 - \ (200 tons/year)

8 P C s 200 - tn 2 - r0 Q 150- .c CL - -m - 100- r-0 I I I I I 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Year

4350 - CI - Average =2800 tonnes/year ri (3100 tonslyear) 3600 - >aa cE - +0 Y 2900- d) TJ, - +e -Z 2200 - B - I-6 1450 I I 1 I I 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Year

Year year period may not be sufficient time to eliminate inaccu- racies in the data and demonstrate actual trends.

PLUARG studies have identified the transport of fine soil particles associated with field erosion to be the prime mechanism for the removal of phosphorus from agricultural lands (LO). For this reason the two most significant factors associated with the loss of total phosphorus from agricultural land are the percentage of row crop cultivation and the clay content of the surface soil.

Clay soils have the following charactertistics;

i) high cation content (high phosphorus adsorption capacity ii) high erodability, and; iii) low infiltration capacity.

Thus phosphorus export via runoff from clay soils is high. Row crop cultivation also leads to high phosphorus losses due to: i) increased fertilizer application; ii) increased erosion losses when compared to non-row crop cultivation because of reduced canopy during the growing season and minimal crop residue after harvesting, and; iii ) the increased potential for channelization of runoff .

A regression equation relating percent clay of the surface soils and the percent of land covered in row crops was developed in PLUARG studies for agricultural land(6). This equation takes the form:

Total phosphorus = 0.149 + 0.000655 (% clay)2 (kg/ha-year) + 0.000162 (% row crops)*

r2 = 0.92 Equation 8.2

Applying this equation to the South Nation River basin would yield a total basin loading of 280 tonnes/year (310 tons/

I year). This is assuming clay content of the soil equals 40% I ~ and only agricultural land (60% of the basin and of which 20% are in row crops) is contributing to the phosphorus load. This calculated loss is high in comparison to those shown previously in Figure 8.1

Taking an average of the annual nutrient losses calculated for the years 1975 to 1980 yields nutrient export coefficients of 7.6 kg/ha-yr (6.8 lb/ac-yr) and 0.49 kg/ha-yr (0.44 lb/ac-yr) for the entire basin for total nitrogen and total phosphorus, respectively. These nutrient export coefficients are low in comparison to most of those shown in Table 8.4 for other mixed agricultural watersheds in Ontario. The variability of the nutrient export coefficients reported in the literature can be attributed to watershed site-specific fea- tures such as slope, soil type and cropping pattern, as well as the quality and quantity of precipitation and farming practices. Table 8.4 Nutrient Export froni Mixed ~~riculLral Watersheds (After EPA, 1980) Total kitrogen Total P~;sF~o~uS Soi 1 Precipitation Export Ext.ort Land Use Location Type/iexture cm/y r kg/ha/yr kg/hJ/yr ------.------

At least 80: Southern of wat21.shed 011Lari0, devoted to Canada agricultural activities

37.4: soybean Thamcs River, lacustrine clay 72.9 and whitebean Southern over till plain 21.1: cereal Ontario, Can3da over liwstane 23Z corn (5090 ha)

36.11woodland 8i9Creek, deep level 25.0; cereal Southern deltaic, sands 22.2; tobacco Ontario, Can~da 10.1: corn 3: pasture and hay (7913 ha)

31.3: corn AuSable River level clay 26.4: cereal Southern till plain 17.92 pasture Ontario. Canada over shjle and hay 12.11 soybean and whitebe~n 7.5% woodland (6200 ha)

27.8: VegetdbleS Hi llnldn Creek, st~alio*;moraine 77.0 22.8: corn southern Sand over clay 10.0: woodland Ontario. Canada till plain over 8.9; cereal limcs t~ne 7.9: roybejn and hi tebcan (1990 ha)

66.6: pasture Saugcen River rrworked and hay Southern lacustrine 12.1: cereal Or~tario, Canada clay over 9.5: corn cl~ytill 9.4: woodland (4534 ha) * L 0 C L k:? 00- aC UC=\ - -"," C"' aJ ;; 3'- .,-E= 44 r E

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The South Nation River watershed was divided into three sub- basins in order to evaluate the origin of the annual nutrient losses recorded at Plantagenet Springs. The three sub-basins as shown in Figure 8.2 are defined as; i) The drainage area between Plantagenet Springs and Cas- selman (1400 km2); ii) The drainage area between Casselman and Chesterville (1360 km2 ); and

iii) The drainage area upstream of Chesterville (1050 km2).

The total nutrient losses past Casselman and Chesterville were calculated for 1976 using the results of the linear regression analysis of flow versus nutrient concentration. This method was outlined earlier for Plantagenet Springs in Section 8.1.3.1. Taking point sources into account (Section 8.5) the incremental non-point nutrient losses associated with each drainage sub-basin was calculated using a back- differencing technique (Table 8.5).

Table 8.5 shows that the lower and middle basins (which include both the Castor River and Bear Brook) are contributing total phosphorus to the basin at the same areal rate. The rest of the watershed, on the other hand is contributing phosphorus at only about half this rate. As total phosphorus is usually related to sediment yield (see Section 8.3.2), the higher phosphorus loss rate in the northern half of the watershed corresponds with the fact that this half of the watershed has been identified as the major supplier of suspended sediment to the river system (3). As described in Section 8.3.3.1, livestock operations are more intensive in the northern half of the watershed. This could also account for the higher phosphorus losses found in the northern half.

An attempt was made to characterize nutrient loss rates for smaller sub-basins in the watershed. Ten sub-basins were defined by ten quality stations along the mainstem of the South Nation River. Since a sufficiently long data base existed at only three stations, Plantagenet, Casselman and Chesterville, water quality survey data at the remaining seven stations were examined to see if any relationship existed between them and the nearest three aforementioned stations. Data from the MOE intensive nutrient survey undertaken in the summer and early fall of 1976 were used. This survey included quality sampling at each of the ten stations on six different days. All samples were taken within approximately 24 hours of each other. The MOE in-stream nutrient concentrations were plotted against upstream drainage area. Steady state conditions were assumed to prevail. Unfortu- nately, ,the concentrations at each station were highly variable and no trends could be established between adjacent stations. Since no consistent increases or decreases in concentration were found, it may be assumed that areal nutrient loss rates for the smaller sub-basins would be similar to the corresponding larger sub-basin to which it belongs. The very small variability in land use distributions for the small sub-basins in comparison to the larger sub-basins tends to support this conclusion for the middle and lower sub-basins. In the upper basin the intensity of Figure 8-2 South Nation River Basin

TABLE 8 05

Spatial Distribution of Non-Point Source Nutrient Losses for 1976

Increment a1 Nutrient Export Area Nutrient Losses Coefficients km2 Phosphorus Nitrogen Phosphorus Nitrogen Land Use (%) (Square tonnes t onnes kg/ha-yr kg /ha-yr Drainage Basin Row Grain Pasture Woods* miles) (tons) (tons) (lblac-yr) ( lb/ac-yr)

Lower Basin 12 19 30 39 1400 8 9 1430 0.64 10.2 (includes (541) (98) ( 1580) (0.57) (9.1) Bearbrook and Scotch Rivers)

Middle Basin 16 21 28 35 1360 86 71 2 0.64 5.3 (includes Castor ' (525) (9 5) (785) (0.57) (4.7) River Systems) Upper Basin 12 18 25 4 5 1050 33 51 7 0.31 4 .9 (includes (404) (36) (570) (0.28) (4.4) headwaters)

* Includes all remaining land uses the majority of which are classified as idle. agricultural activity .decreases as one moves further south from Chesterville.

8.1.4 Bacteria

The Ministry of the Environment has set the following objectives for instream bacteriological quality (8).

Total Coliforms - geometric mean density for a series of water samples not to exceed 1000 per 100 ml.

Fecal Coliforms - geometric mean density for a series of water samples not to exceed 100 per 100 ml.

These bacteriological water quality indicators are assumed to be related to the presence of sewage or fecal matter, and therefore to the risk of contracting a disease from exposure to the pathogens contained within. The objectives are relevant where the water is used for swimming, bathing and other recreational activities requiring immersion, and where the water is used for irrigation of crops which may be eaten raw or with little processing. In the South Nation River basin the objectives are exceeded throughout much of the basin, notably in the northern areas(1).

The presence of total and fecal coliforms in the basin are attributable to both human and animal sources. The human sources would not be expected to be a major component since communal sewerage systems exist at a number of municipalities. The animal sources would include runoff from manured fields, feedlots and manure storage facilities, as well as by the direct contact of wild or livestock animals with the streams. The exact mechanism by which fecal contamination from animals reaches the stream cannot be determined from the data.

Analyses of instream baseflow quality (Section 8.3.1.2) during periods of little or no surface runoff reveal high total and fecal coliform levels. As these are periods of little or no runoff, direct access of animals to the stream could be a mechanism of fecal contamination. However, small quantities of concentrated feedlot runoff could account for these high levels since little dilution would be availble.

In PLUARG studies (6) on some test watersheds, livestock operations appeared to be the major source of bacterial pol- lution. However, there were no consistant data obtained in any of the detailed watershed studies which related indicator bacteria to the presence of livestock. In some watersheds bacterial quality was extremely poor although the livestock density was very low. ~t would follow that the way in which livestock operations are managed and not just their size, is also an important consideration.

8.1.5 Dissolved Oxyqen

The Ministry of the Environment (8) has specified dissolved oxygen concentrations for different instream water temperatures. For the protection of warm water biota in the South

Nation River during the summertime (water temperatures 20 OC) the dissolved oxygen concentration must not be less than 4 mg/L (approximately 47% saturation) at any time. Preliminary examination of the available historical water quality data in the basin revealed that instream dissolved oxygen concentrations were apparently meeting the objectives. However, it was thought that the grab sample nature of these previous programmes was inadequate to identify whether com- pliance was always the case. It was thought that dissolved oxygen concentrations might be depressed during the night when photosynthetic oxygen production was insufficient to meet waste assimilation needs.

A continuous monitoring programme was recommended, and sub- sequently undertaken during July 1981 to investigate the anticipated diurnal fluctuations in dissolved oxygen concentration (11). The results of this programme at the three monitored stations on the south Nation River (upstream of Casselman, downstream of Bear Brook, upstream of Plantagenet) showed that for the most part dissolved oxygen concentrations were greater than 50% saturation. Of the over 250 measure- ments, only four were less than 4.0 mg/L. These occurred at the station upstream of Plantagenet during the night after two successive cloudy days followed by a sunny day which could not reoxygenate the stream to more than about 60% saturation.

The diurnal fluctuation in dissolved oxygen concentration was very pronounced on sunny days. The dissolved oxygen levels would approach 100% saturation during mid-afternoon and decline to about 70% saturation during the middle of the night. During the 2-day rainy period the dissolved oxygen levels were roughly between 50 and 70% saturation. At the two upstream stations, a pronounced diurnal fluctuation was quickly reinstated following af ter the two day cloudy period. At the Plantagenet station this was not the case since the dissolved oxygen concentration did not rise markedly during the following sunny day. This may be due to the presence of an increased oxygen demanding pollutant load which could have originated further upstream as a result of the previous days rainfall.

It is difficult to characterize the entire basin based on only three stations, however it would appear that the dissolved oxygen regime, in general, meets Ministry objectives. The data would suggest that potential dissolved oxygen problems could occur during the night, especially downstream of local sources of high oxygen demanding wastes. The potential for dissolved oxygen depression downstream of the point sources is addressed in Section 8.5.

8.2 Point Sources

While many agricultural activities behave as point sources (e.g. tile drain outfalls, feedlot runoff discharges, drainage from specific fields) it is not always possible to measure the loads attributable to each specific source. These sources therefore cannot be individually analyzed due to an inadequate inventory, an insufficient water quality data base or because their sheer number and inherent variability make them impossible to handle individually on a basin scale. For convenience these various point sources are lumped into a diffuse load.

Point sources in this report are defined as those loads whose quality can be individually represented both spatially and temporally. These include the six municipal lagoon discharges and the two industrial lagoon discharges.

I 8.2.1 Inventory of Municipal Waste Sources

The Ministry of the Environment operates sewage lagoon facilities serving the municipalities in the South Nation River basin (Table 8.6). Except for the Russell and St. Isidore facilities where annual discharge is practiced, the municipal lagoons are discharged semi-annually in the basin. Low autumn flows unable to provide adequate dilution of the wastes can lead to potential in-stream water quality impair- , ment. For this reason, the Ministry of the Environment have specified flow proportional discharge rates for some of the facilities. These rates are based on maintaining a Biochemi- cal Oxygen Demand (BOD) level during the fall of less than or equal to 4 mg/~in the receiving stream after mixing with the lagoon discharge. No depressed dissolved oxygen concentrations would be anticipated instream if BOD concentrations are diluted below 4 mg/~.

To date no dissolved oxygen surveys have been carried out upstream and downstream of the municipal lagoon out falls during discharge periods. Therefore, it is not known whether depressed dissolved oxygen levels do exist as a result of the municipal discharges (see Section 8.5).

The Winchester lagoon system is currently overloaded, and discharging semi-annually into a water course where sufficient dilution is not available. The problems are further compounded by a local industrial waste discharge and a reali- zation that surface water supplies may be required to supple- ment a limited local groundwater supply in the future.

8.2.2 Inventory of Industrial Waste Sources

The Nestle plant located in Chesterville discharges into the South Nation River on a continuous basis with an average flow of 700 m3/day (0.15 mgd) . The effluent quality from the mechanical secondary treatment plant has generally been considered acceptable by the Ministry of the Environment. The plant's performance is continually monitored by the owners and the Ministry. The average effluent quality is char- acterized as follows:

Average BOD5 = 15 mg/L Average NH3 = 3 mg/~ Average NO3 = 10 mg/L Average Total Phosphorus = 10 mg/~

Ault Foods plant in Winchester is provided with three aerated and two polishing lagoons which discharge into a small tributary of the East Castor River. For most of the year, the treatment system is operated on a seasonal retention basis. Daily flows to the lagoons which average 450 m3/day (0.1 IMGD) are stored till March, at which time the lagoons are completely emptied over a 3-day period. During the summer, the lagoons are refilled. Once filled, usually around August, the lagoons are allowed to overflow continuously until November when they are again completely emptied over a 3-day period. During the period of continuous discharge the effluent flows are in the order of 450 rn3/day (0.01 mgd). The overall effluent quality is as follows: TABLE 8 -6

Municipal Sewage Lagoon Facilities

Lagoon Area M scharge Receiving Operat ional Municipality Population ha (ac) Practice St ream Since

Casselman 1600 16 (40) Flow South Nation Spring 1978 proportional River s emi-annual discharge

Chest erville 1400 20 (30) Flow South Nation Fall 1970 proportional River semi-annual discharge

Plant agenet 950 7 (17) Semi-annual South Nation Spring 1977 River

Russell 17 (42) Flow Castor River Fall 1979 proportional annual discharge

St. Isidore 740 16 (39) Annual Scotch River Summer 1977 discharge

Winchester 1900 6.7 (16.5) Semi-annual Tributary of 1960 1st Cell discharge East Castor 1971 2nd Cell River

Average BOD5 = 78 mg/L Average SS = 72 mg/~ Average NH3 = 27 mg/L Average TKN = 34 mg/L Average Total Phosphorus = 51 mg/L

The MOE effluent standards for discharge to headwaters are 15 mg/L for BOD, 15 mg/L for suspended solids and 1 mg/~for total phosphorus. All of these standards are exceeded.

During 1976-1977 Environment Canada undertook an intensive sampling programme at Ault's to evaluate process performance and measure instream water quality, upstream and downstream of the outfall. Instream total phosphorus concentrations downstream of the outfall were in the order of 5 mg/L and 35 mg/~during continuous discharge during the fall and winter (since discontinued), discharge periods respectively. These levels are orders of magnitude greater than the Ministry objective of 0.03 mg/L set for total phosphorus. It should be noted that total phosphorus concentrations were in the order of 0.8 mg/L upstream of the outfall during these same periods.

8.2.3 Relative Contribution of Point and Non-Point Sources

In order to determine the proportion of the total nutrient export from the basin attributable to the lagoon point sources, the annual load from each point source was estimated for the year 1976. i) for continuous discharge periods a) average effluent nutrient concentrations b) average effluent discharge rate

ii) for lagoon emptying a) average effluent nutrient concentrations b) lagoon volume based on cell acreage and estimated drawdowns

iii) where total nitrogen data was not available for municipal discharges, total nitrogen concentrations were assumed to be ten times the given phosphorus concentra- t ions.

Subtracting the point sources from the total nutrient losses calculated for the basin in Section 8.1.3 yields the results shown in Table 8.7.

Although the estimates in Table 8.7 clearly show that point source nutrient contributions are not important on a basin scale, they may be important on a local scale when temporal and spatial discharge variables are considered. Most notably the Winchester municipal and industrial lagoon discharges to the East Castor River warrant more intensive study. Over 60% of the total estimated point source phosphorus loadings can be attributed to the operations at Ault Foods. TABLE 8 7

Relative Contribution of Point and Non-point Nutrient Sources

Total Phosphorus Tot a1 Nitrogen Estimated Load Estimated Load tonne s /vr tonneslyr Source (t on81 yr X of Total (tonslyr X of Total

Point Source 9 ( 10) 4 (say 5) 14 ( 15) 0.5

Non-point 208 (230) 9 5 2671 (2945) 9 9.5

Total (1976) 218 (240) 100 2685 (2960) 100.0

8.3 Non-Point Sources

In Section 8.1.3, the magnitude and spatial distribution of nutrient losses in the South Nation River basin were dis- cussed. In Section 8.2.3, calculations show that non-point agricultural losses represent a vast majority of these basin nutrient losses. In the sections which follow, the non-point nutrient losses are examined in more detail. First, the nutrient losses are examined in terms of their origin, i.e. the relative proportion associated with subsurface drainage (Section 8.3.1.3), bank and channel erosion, and field erosion sources (Section 8.3.2). Second, the nutrient losses are related to land use activities including livestock operations (Section 8.3.3.1) and the remaining agricultural activities (Section 8.3.3.2).

The detailed examination of nutrient losses will provide the information required for setting water quality and land management priorities and predicting the impacts of future land use changes (Section 8.4).

8.3.1 Subsurface Drainage Quality

8.3.1.1 Tile Drain Effluent Quality

Baker and Johnson(l2) undertook an extensive literature survey of subsurface drainage in primarily agricultural land. Water quality data for surface runoff, tile drainage and base flow were compared to explain quality patterns of streams draining agricultural areas. The results of this literature survey are reproduced in Table 8.8 where quality of surface runoff, tile drainage and base flow (or groundwater) with respect to N03-N, NH4-N and P04-P are given. From these data certain generalities can be made. i) concentrations of N03-N in tile drainage (often in excess of 10 mg/L) are usually higher than those in surface runoff (rarely in excess of 10 mg/L) ii) P04-P concentrations in tile drainage are usually lower than those in surface runoff.

These generalizations can be explained by the chemical leach- ing which occurs as water moves through the soil profile. The soluble negative ion NO? moves readily through the soil and is not absorbed to the similarily negatively charged clay particle surfaces. Being very soluble and not absorbed, NO? is flushed below the influence of overland flow with the first infiltrating rainfall. Phosphorus movement in soil is largely due to the po4'3 ion or to one of its acid forms in solution. This ion can form insoluble salts with cations such as M~+Z,~a+2, ~1+3 and ~e+3and can undergo adsorption - desorption reactions in the soil. Therefore is not readily leached and, in the case of inorganic phosphorus fertilizer applications, the phosphorus remains close to the point of application (i.e. the surface), resulting in lower available phosphorus levels in the subsoils than at the surface.

No generalizations about groundwater (or base flow) quality were made because of the great variation in the age of the water and the underground strata' to which it may come in contact. TABLE 8.8

Quality of Water From Agricultural Sources (After Baker and Johnson)

NH ,-N NO 3-N PO4-P Flow ...... pp m...... Location cm -C mg/L

fallow Minnes toa corn-continuous corn-rotation oats-rotation hay-rotation cotton (irrigated & dryland) Oklahoma wheat (dryland) alfalfa pasture (grazed) corn (high & mod. fert.) New York beans-wheat (high & mod. fert) wheat (high & mod. fert.) cont-corn (high fert.) Iowa cont-corn (mod. fert.) pasture-corn (mod. fert.) cont-corn (mod. fert.) row-crop (corn & beans) Iowa corn Georgia oats South Dakota corn alfalfa fallow corn Ohio cont-corn Missouri con t -beans meadow alfalfa Vermont corn hay-pas ture TABLE 8.8 (Cont'd. ...2) Quality of Water From Agricultural Sources (After Baker and Johnson)

Flow Description Location -cm

Subsurface

corn-continuous Iowa 14.6 cropland Iowa - row crops (corn & beans) . Iowa 7 -3 citrus (high rainfall period) Florida - citrus (low rainfall period) - cotton, alfalfa & rice California - wheat New york - corn - beans corn Georgia 39.1 corn-oats-alfalfa-blue grass (no fert.) Ontario 7.0 corn-oats-Alfalfa-blue grass (f ert.) 9.3 - intensively cropped England - 0.02 grassland - 0.07 agricultural drainage Illionis - range : 5-22 alfalfa Ohi 0 - corn corn Ohi o 13.6 row-crops S. California - alfalfa Vermont - corn - hay-pasture TABLE 8.,8 (Conttd....3)

Quality of Water From Agricultural Sources (After Baker and Johnson)

Flow Location -cm

Base flow (or groundwater)

shallow under corn N. Carolina - shallow under beans - shallow under wheat shallow under tobacco shallow under pasture shallow under woods mainly grass & corn Kentucky - , cont-corn (high fert.) Iowa 9.9 cont-corn (mod. fert.) 11.8 pasture-corn (mod. fert.) 15.5 cont-arn (high f ert .) 17.6 irrigation wells (10-100 m) Nebraska - wells Nebraska - agricultural watershed Pennsylvannia - wells Missouri - shallow (no fert.) S. Carolina - I shallow (112 kglha N) - shallow (336 kg/ha N) shallow (672 kglha N) deep wells (<20 m) Arkansas - deep wells (20-70 m) - springs native groundwater New York - soil drain (fert. corn) Ohio - aquifer discharge -

Tile drain effluent quality in the South Nation River basin has been monitored as part of the Tile/~rain Study Project. This project commenced in the summer of 1980 and was designed to gather the appropriate quality and quantity data on which the impacts of increased subsurface drainage in the basin could be gauged. Two representative outlet surface drains were selected and monitored in each of the three major phy- siographic regions in the basin - Winchester Clay Plain, Russell Sand Plain and the Ottawa Clay Plain. In each region, one outlet drain represents a sub-basin with a low level of drainage improvement and the other a high level of drainage improvement; the low and high levels being a quali- lative measure of the proportion of the sub-basin area being tile drained. In each region, a representative tile drain was also selected and monitored for water quality. The results of the 1981 field programme are shown in Table 8.9.

The quality of the Winchester Clay Plain tile drain is extremely poor. The high turbidity and suspended solids levels measured would suggest the tile has failed or is exposed to the surface somewhere along its length. The high BOD, organic nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations can pos- sibly be attributed to manure and/or fertilizer contamination. Therefore, the water quality of this tile effluent cannot be considered representative of the cultivated clay soils which it drains. However, it does illustrate the poor quality of water which can result from agricultural activities.

In general, with the exclusion of the Winchester Clay Plain tile drain data, tile drain quality is better than that of the outlet (surface) drains with respect to all the measured Parameters, except nitrate nitrogen. (In Table 8.9, a good approximation of NOJ-~is obtained by subtracting total Kjeldahl Nitrogen from Total Nitrogen). It follows, therefore, that the poorer quality in the outlet drains is due to the contribution of pollutants from surface runoff which would necessarily be of poorer quality. The poorer quality of surface runoff in comparison to subsurface (tile) sources is evident in the literature sources tabulated in Table 8.8. Analyses of the mean water quality measured in the Ottawa Clay Plain tile drain and the two corresponding outlet drains (Table 8.9) further support this conclusion.

The mean quality of the drainage water becomes progressively better, with the exception of nitrate nitrogen, as the proportion of surface to subsurface drainage is decreased. The outlet drain representative of a low level of drainage improvement and hence a high ratio of surface drainage is cha- racterized by the poorest quality. Where the high level of drainage improvement exists and the subsurface drainage component is greater, the water quality is improved and begins to approach that of the tile drain itself where there is no surface runoff component to the quality measured. For nitrate nitrogen the analogy is reversed. Being very soluble the nitrate is readily transported down through the soil \ profile and discharged through the tile drains. As the net- work of the tile drainage is increased so are the nitrate nitrogen losses from this source.

Further analyses of Table 8.9 shows that phosphorus losses from the clay soils are greater than those of the sandier soils. This is consistent with findings reported by Patni at the Greenbelt Farm in Ottawa.

Base Flow Quality

An estimate of base flow water nutrient concentrations is required in order to determine the proportion of the total annual nutrient losses attributable to active groundwater recharge. During late summer and sometimes in the winter active groundwater recharge can constitute the majority of the flow recorded in the stream.

In Water Resources Report No. 13 (1) the results of the 1976 summer well water quality survey were summarized for shallow and bedrock aquifers. Examination of the shallow aquifer data which would be the most representative of active groundwater recharge, reveals that well water quality with respect to nutrients is very variable throughout the basin and even between adjacent well sites. Reported total phosphorus and nitrate nitrogen concentrations varied from 0.02 to 0.25 mg/L and 0.1 to 30. mg/L, respectively. (Note: Well water total nitrogen concentrations are roughly equivalent to nitrate concentrations). This variability would suggest contamination on a local scale from either feedlot runof f, ex- cessive fertilization, or septic tank tile bed seepage. Determination of representative groundwater nutrient concentrations based on this variable record was not deemed appropriate.

To overcome this lack of representative data, instream water quality was examined for base flow periods. Base flow periods were identified from streamflow hydrographs as low flow periods of at least one month in duration without any appre- ciable runoff events occurring. Instream nutrient concentrations were obtained from the historical record for the corresponding periods. Based on the concentrations thus determined, the levels of total nitrogen and phosphorus were found to be highly variable and often higher than those determined for well water. correspondingly high organic nitrogen, and total and fecal coliform concentrations would suggest that the elevated nutrient levels could be the result of contamination by manure. The mechanism by which this manure enters the watercourse cannot be determined from the data. Possible mechanisms include runoff drainage from feedlots or manure storage facilities adjacent to streams or direct animal contact with the stream where access to the watercourse is not restricted.

Based on the lower ranges of total phosphorus and total nitrogen found in the well water and instream during base flow periods, concentrations of 0.02 and 0.05 mg/L, respectively, were assumed to be good approximations for active groundwater nutrient concentrations for the basin as a whole.

8.3.1.3 Relative Subsurface Nutrient Contributions

The relative contribution of subsurface drainage to the total phosphorus load exported from the basin for 1976 was calculated using the following assumptions: i) The proportion of interflow and active groundwater recharge to the total water yield for the basin is in the order of 70% and 3.5%, respectively, based on HSP-F hydrologic simulations. ii) Total phosphorus concentrations in active groundwater equals 0.02 mg/L. iii) Interflow water quality is comparable to tile drain effluent quality (high estimate since only small portion of basin would be as intensively farmed as the drain test sites).

iv) Average total phosphorus concentration in tile drain effluent equals 0.025 mg/L.

Based on these assumptions, roughly 36 tonnes (40 tons) and Y 1.4 tonnes (1.5 tons) of phosphorus would be lost from the basin from interflow and active groundwater recharge, respectively. This constitutes approximately 15 % of the total phosphorus export from the basin for 1976. Therefore, approximately 85% of the phosphorus losses would be associated with surface runoff.

8.3.2 Surface Runoff

Many studies have found non-point pollutants from agricultural lands to be correlated to soil erosion (13,14,15). This means that for a particular quality constituent, its removal from the land will be proportional to sediment loss. Even those pollutants such as ammonia, BOD and coliforms which are not extensively absorbed to the sediment, can be considered to be highly correlated to sediment yield.

The relationship between pollutant loss and sediment yield is specified by what is termed a "potency factor". Literature sources (15) show potency factors for agricultural basins ranging from 0.0005 to 0.028 and 0.0001 to 0.0045 tonnes/ tonnes of sediment for total nitrogen and phoshorus, respectively. The upper limits of the ranges apply to snowmelt runoff potency factors which are in the order of 3 to 4 times greater than rainfall associated runoff potency factors. For the Grand River basin the potency factors based on total instream sediments and nutrients are 0.002 tonnes Total P/tonnes sediment and 0.025 tonnes Total ~/tonnes sediment (16). If only agriculturally derived sediment and nutrients are considered the potency factors would be 0.0016 and 0.02 respectively. Since all of the potency factors reported above are based on total instream nutrients and sediment, they do not take into account;

i) the proportion of nutrients from subsurface sources which are not associated with sediment erosion,

ii) the relative contribution of river bank erosion versus field erosion and the different nutrient potency factors characteristic of each.

In the South Nation River basin a majority of the sediment losses originate from river banks and not from field sources

With respect to the lower, upper and middle sub-basins (as defined in Section 8.1.3.3), it would appear that the intensity of livestock operations is greater in the lower and middle sub-basins than in the upper sub-basin (or headwaters). This spatial distribution of livestock could to some degree account for the higher nutrient losses in the northern half of the basin.

Assuming 140 000 animal units in the basin and 17.6 kg phosphorus/animal unit per year, the total annual phosphorus production associated with livestock operations would be in TABLE 8 05