Prepared in cooperation with the Onondaga Lake Partnership Water-Quality Characterization of Surface Water in the Onondaga Lake Basin, Onondaga County, New York, 2005–08 Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5246 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Photographs showing land types that are representative of those found in the Onondaga Lake basin, New York, including a steep boulder-covered channel in a forested basin (2007), a low-gradient channel in a wetland area (2005), an agricultural area overlooking Otisco Lake (2008), and commercial and transportation land uses in an urban setting (2008). All photos were taken by William F. Coon. Water-Quality Characterization of Surface Water in the Onondaga Lake Basin, Onondaga County, New York, 2005–08 By William F. Coon, Brett A. Hayhurst, William M. Kappel, David A.V. Eckhardt, and Carolyn O. Szabo Prepared in cooperation with the Onondaga Lake Partnership Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5246 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2009 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names 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 reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Coon, W.F., Hayhurst, B.A., Kappel, W.M., Eckhardt, D.A.V., and Szabo, C.O., 2009, Water-quality characterization of surface water in the Onondaga Lake basin, Onondaga County, New York, 2005–08: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5246, 67 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Previous Studies ...................................................................................................................................4 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................4 Study Area.......................................................................................................................................................5 Site Selection.........................................................................................................................................5 Climate ....................................................................................................................................................8 Geology ...................................................................................................................................................8 Soils .........................................................................................................................................................8 Land Use and Land Cover ....................................................................................................................8 Groundwater .......................................................................................................................................10 Methods.........................................................................................................................................................10 Sample Collection ...............................................................................................................................10 Sample Processing and Analyses ...................................................................................................12 Stage and Streamflow Measurements ...........................................................................................13 Estimation of Flows and Loads at Selected Sites ..........................................................................13 Quality Assurance...............................................................................................................................13 Blank Samples ............................................................................................................................13 Split-Replicate Samples ...........................................................................................................14 Concurrent-Replicate Samples ...............................................................................................14 Paired-Replicate Samples ........................................................................................................14 Characterization of Water Quality .............................................................................................................15 Water Quality Related to Land Use and Land Cover .....................................................................15 Specific Water-Quality Constituents ......................................................................................16 Factors that Affect Relation Between Water Quality and Land Type ...............................16 Comparison of Storm Runoff and Snowmelt ..................................................................................17 Longitudinal Comparison of Water Quality .....................................................................................17 Major Tributaries ........................................................................................................................17 Onondaga Creek ..............................................................................................................18 Ninemile Creek .................................................................................................................18 Minor Tributaries .......................................................................................................................18 Rattlesnake Gulf ................................................................................................................18 West Branch Onondaga Creek .......................................................................................18 Spafford Creek .................................................................................................................23 Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Subbasins ......................................................23 Effect of the Mudboils on Onondaga Creek ...................................................................................25 Sediment Loads to the Upper Onondaga Creek ............................................................................27 Mitigative Effects of Onondaga Reservoir ......................................................................................28 Mitigative Effects of Otisco Lake .....................................................................................................28 Effects of Groundwater Discharge .................................................................................................31 Precipitation and Snowpack Quality ...............................................................................................31 Comparison of Suspended Sediment and Total Suspended Solids ............................................31 Suspended-Sediment Particle-Size Characteristics ....................................................................36 iv Contents—Continued Summary........................................................................................................................................................37 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................38 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................39 Appendix 1. Constituent Concentrations in Surface Water of Onondaga Lake Basin ....................49 Appendix 2. Constituent Concentrations in Storm Water and Snowmelt ..........................................55 Appendix 3. Additional Notes on Selected Sites ...................................................................................59 Appendix 4. Suspended Solids and Sediment Data from Selected Sites ..........................................63 Appendix 5. Steps to Retrieve Water-Quality Data ...............................................................................67 Figures Figure 1. Map showing locations of water-quality monitoring sites in the Onondaga Lake Basin, Onondaga County, N.Y …………………………………………………… 3 Figure 2. Land use and land cover in the Onondaga Lake Basin, Onondaga County, N.Y. … 9 Figure 3. Photographs showing hand-held water-quality samplers ………………………… 11 Figure 4. Graphs showing mean concentrations of selected constituents in base-flow, stormflow, and snowmelt water samples from streamflow