In cooperation with Monroe County Department of Health Water Resources of Monroe County, New York, Water Years 1997-99, with Emphasis on Water Quality in the Irondequoit Creek Basin Atmospheric Deposition, Ground Water, Streamflow, Trends in Water Quality, and Chemical Loads to Irondequoit Bay Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4221 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey This page has been left blank intentionally. Water Resources of Monroe County, New York, Water Years 1997-99, with Emphasis on Water Quality in the Irondequoit Creek Basin Atmospheric Deposition, Ground Water, Streamflow, Trends in Water Quality, and Chemical Loads to Irondequoit Bay By DONALD A. SHERWOOD U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4221 In cooperation with MONROE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Ithaca, New York 2003 i Contents U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GAIL NORTON, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: Subdistrict Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 30 Brown Road Box 25286 Ithaca, NY 14850 Denver, CO 80225 ii Contents CONTENTS Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose and Scope....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Study Area ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Atmospheric Deposition........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Precipitation Volume.................................................................................................................................................... 6 Chemical Yields ........................................................................................................................................................... 6 Ground Water......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Water Levels ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Chemical Concentrations............................................................................................................................................. 9 Spatial Variability .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Temporal Trends .............................................................................................................................................. 13 Surface Water......................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Water Temperature....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Temporal Trends in Streamflow................................................................................................................................... 16 Irondequoit Creek at Blossom Road.................................................................................................................. 16 Allen Creek near Rochester............................................................................................................................... 16 Black Creek at Churchville................................................................................................................................ 19 Chemical Concentrations............................................................................................................................................. 19 Spatial Variability .............................................................................................................................................. 23 Erie (Barge) Canal Diversions................................................................................................................. 23 Irondequoit Creek Basin Sites ................................................................................................................. 26 Western Monroe County Sites................................................................................................................. 30 Temporal Variability .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Temporal Trends ............................................................................................................................................... 31 Irondequoit Creek Basin Sites ................................................................................................................. 33 Northrup Creek and Genesee River......................................................................................................... 33 Chemical Loads and Yields ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Irondequoit Creek Basin Sites ................................................................................................................. 38 Western Monroe County Sites................................................................................................................. 41 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................... 42 References Cited.................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Appendix ............................................................................................................................................................................... 47 FIGURES 1. Map showing principal geographic features of Monroe County, N.Y. and locations of streamflow-gaging stations in study area ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 2. Map showing locations of streamflow-gaging stations, canal-diversion sites, and atmospheric-deposition collection sites within the Irondequoit Creek basin..................................................................................................... 5 3. Bar graph showing ammonia in atmospheric deposition at Mendon Ponds County Park. A. Annual yield of ammonia to the Irondequoit Creek basin 1984-99. B. Mean monthly concentration of ammonia in bulk atmospheric deposition ................................................................................................................................................ 7 4. Graph showing monthly concentration of dissolved ammonia in bulk atmospheric deposition at Mendon Ponds County Park and locally weighted scatterplot smooth (LOWESS) trend line 1984-99............................................... 8 5. Map showing locations of observation wells in Ellison Park ..................................................................................... 9 Contents III 6. Hydrographs showing water levels in Ellison Park wells, 1985-99 ............................................................................. 10 7. Plot of mean monthly water levels at wells Mo 2 and Mo 3, for 1997-99, with mean monthly, maximum, and minimum water levels for 1985-96 .................................................................................................... 11 8. Bar graphs showing median concentrations of selected constituents in Ellison Park wells for period of record through 1996 and for 1997-99........................................................................................................... 12 9. Bar plot of monthly water-temperature range and mean monthly water temperature at four sites in the Irondequoit Creek basin and Northrup Creek, water years 1997-99............................................................................ 17 10. Daily mean water temperatures at four sites in the Irondequoit Creek basin and Northrup Creek, water years 1997-99. .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 11. Monthly mean flows of three streams in Monroe County, N.Y., water years 1997, 1998, and