In cooperation with the MONROE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Effects of Flow Modification on a Cattail Wetland at the Mouth of Irondequoit Creek near Rochester, New York Water Levels, Wetland Biota, Sediment, and Water Quality Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4224 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey This page has been left blank intentionally. Effects of Flow Modification on a Cattail Wetland at the Mouth of Irondequoit Creek near Rochester, New York Water Levels, Wetland Biota, Sediment, and Water Quality By WILLIAM F. COON In cooperation with the Monroe County Department of Health Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4224 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Ithaca, New York: 2004 For more information write to: U.S. Geological Survey 30 Brown Road Ithaca, New York 14850 World Wide Web: http://ny.usgs.gov For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ 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. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to repro- duce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. iii CONTENTS Abstract . 1 Introduction . 2 Irondequoit Creek basin . 3 Previous studies . 4 Irondequoit Creek basin studies . 4 Ellison Park wetland studies . 5 Purpose and scope . 6 Acknowledgments . 6 Study area . 7 Study design . 8 Flow-control structure . 9 Additional flow modifications . 11 Ecological monitoring program. 12 Methods . 12 Water-surface-elevation and discharge measurements. 12 Plant surveys . 13 1991 and 1996 protocols . 15 1999 and 2001 protocols . 15 Fish surveys . 16 Sampling methods . 16 Species classification . 16 Age and growth-rate calculation . 16 Trophic classification. 17 Contaminant-related stress indicators . 17 Benthic-macroinvertebrate surveys . 17 Bird surveys . 17 Sediment studies . 18 Sedimentation rate . 18 Sediment quality. 18 Surface-water data . 20 Stream discharge . 20 Water quality . 20 Quality assurance and quality control . 20 Constituent loads and removal efficiency . 20 Statistical analyses of load data . 23 Effects of flow modification. 23 Water-surface elevations and discharge . 25 Plants. 26 Species richness and community composition . 26 Cattail productivity . 28 Chemical composition of cattail tissues . 30 Fish . ..