Embayment Nitrogen Loads Jamie Vaudrey, UConn September 17, 2015 – LISS STAC & CAC Collaborators Charlie Yarish, UConn (2011, 2013) Chris Pickerell, CCE (2011, 2013) Lorne Brousseau, CCE (2013) Justin Eddings, CCE (2013) Jang Kim, UConn (2013) Field and Lab Support Claudia Koerting, Roni Ortiz, Nick Krupski, Barry Udelson, Stephen Schott Josh Carter, Joel Corso, Melissa Cote, Adam Chlus, Jenny Dootz, Amanda Dostie, Kim Gallagher, Rafeed Hussain, Christopher Kunz, Leigha Krize, Corey Leamy, Marissa Mackewicz, Kelsey Olguin, Rachel Perry, Michelle Slater, Carolyn Sukowski SUPPORT no official endorsement should be inferred Use N-load to predict problem areas & identify sources of impairment. • nutrient load to 110 embayments • eutrophic status in 15 embayments • use N-load (+) to predict eutrophic status – the “+” includes freshwater flushing time and hypsography = field site #1 #48 #110 #95 colored areas = watershed embayments other areas draining to LIS (not shaded) COLORS are different land cover categories. Estimate N Load from: land type population houses sewer districts WWTF reported inputs note – watershed boundary is correct, other lines are approximations for this presentation Wequetequock Cove, Eastern CT TOTAL LOAD (includes Atm Dep to embayment surface) 8.0e+7 80 million kg / y = 176 million lb / y East River 6.0e+7 4.0e+7 NLoad y) (kgN / 2.0e+7 New Haven Harbor Housatonic River PawcatuckThames River River Black Rock Harbor MamaroneckManhasset River Bay 0.0 NorwalkStamford Harbor Harbor 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 site ID, moving E>W to NYC, then W>E 140,000 kg / y = 308,647 lb / y TOTAL LOAD 1.4e+5 1.2e+5 1.0e+5 8.0e+4 6.0e+4 NLoad y) (kgN / 4.0e+4 2.0e+4 0.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 site ID, moving E>W to NYC, then W>E tidal restriction? no inner 25% midway at mouth multiple TOTAL LOAD, NORMALIZED TO EMBAYMENT SIZE 30000 25000 Mamaroneck River / y) 20000 East River estuary Calf PenPequonnock Meadow Creek River 15000 Byram R. Black Rock Harbor Oyster River, CT 10000 Fence Creek NLoad ha (kgN / 5000 Stamford Harbor Pawcatuck River Manhasset Bay 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 site ID, moving E>W to NYC, then W>E TOTAL LOAD (includes Atm Dep to embayment surface) 1,200,000 1,000,000 Sewer 800,000 Septic 600,000 Fertilizer 400,000 N Load (kg / y) Atm Dep 200,000 Atm Dep to - Embayment Niantic River, Mamaroneck CT River, NY Proportion of Nitrogen Source Niantic River, CT Mamaroneck River, NY Atm Dep to septic Embayment Atm Dep (to embayment) rain & dust Fertilizer fertilizer (to land) sewer Septic Sewer Remove sewer: fertilizer is main source. (for this watershed) Mamaroneck River, NY Atm Dep to Embayment Atm Dep Fertilizer Septic FERTILIZER CONTRIBUTION OutBUFF200 FAR OutBUFF200 NEAR BUFF200 NEAR OutBUFF200 NEAR OutBUFF200 FAR BUFF200 NEAR note – watershed boundary is correct, other lines are approximations for this presentation Questions? Our research group is available to meet with you for longer discussions. Contact Jamie Vaudrey [email protected] University of Connecticut .