SOUTHWEST MISSOURI WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (WQIP) SPRING RIVER BASIN WATER QUALITY GAP ANALYSIS November 2008 PREPARED FOR: Environmental Resources Coalition 3118 Emerald Lane Jefferson City, Missouri 65109 PREPARED BY: MEC Water Resources, Inc. 1123 Wilkes Boulevard, Suite 400 Columbia, Missouri 65201 Ozarks Environmental Water Resources Institute, Missouri State University Temple Hall 328 901 South National Avenue Springfield, Missouri 65897 (page intentionally left blank) Southwest Missouri Water Quality Improvement Project Missouri State University Spring River Basin Water Quality Gap Analysis MEC Water Resources, Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................................................i LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................................................iv LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................................................................... v ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS........................................................................................................................vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................ix I. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................1 II. STUDY AREA..................................................................................................................................................................3 2.1. Basin Characteristics.........................................................................................................................................3 2.2. Population and Land Use.................................................................................................................................3 2.3. Permitted Point Source Discharges ........................................................................................................7 2.4. Geology and Soils..............................................................................................................................................11 2.5. Climate and Hydrology .................................................................................................................................17 2.6. Regulatory Issues ..............................................................................................................................................21 2.6.1. Metals Contamination from Mining Activities...................................................................22 2.6.2. Biological Impairments Due to Sediment...............................................................................25 2.6.3. Nutrient Impairments ..........................................................................................................................25 2.6.4. Bacteria Impairments............................................................................................................................25 2.6.5. Low Dissolved Oxygen Impairments..........................................................................................26 III. METHODS.................................................................................................................................................................. 27 3.1. Data Collection...................................................................................................................................................27 3.2. Data Management ...........................................................................................................................................31 3.3. Data Assessment...............................................................................................................................................33 3.3.1 Data Quality Assessment .....................................................................................................................33 3.3.2. Parameters of Interest .........................................................................................................................35 November 2008 I Environmental Resources Coalition Page i Southwest Missouri Water Quality Improvement Project Missouri State University Spring River Basin Water Quality Gap Analysis MEC Water Resources, Inc. 3.3.3. Periods of Interest...................................................................................................................................35 3.3.4. Data Analysis...............................................................................................................................................41 3.3.5. Data Limitations.......................................................................................................................................42 IV. WATER QUALITY SUMMARY AND STATISTICS ................................................................................. 43 4.1. Nutrients and Algal Biomass.....................................................................................................................43 4..1.1. Phosphorus..................................................................................................................................................43 4..1.2. Nitrogen........................................................................................................................................................49 4.1.2.1 Total Nitrogen.....................................................................................................................................49 4.1.2.2 Nitrate plus Nitrite Nitrogen....................................................................................................54 4.1.3 Nutrient Limitations................................................................................................................................58 4.2. Escherichia coli...................................................................................................................................................59 4.3. Lead and Zinc.......................................................................................................................................................64 4.3.1. Historical Lead Data Analysis...........................................................................................................65 4.3.1. Historical Zinc Data Analysis ...........................................................................................................72 4.3.2. May 2006 EPA Metals Study Data.................................................................................................79 4.3.2.1. EPA Lead Data....................................................................................................................................79 4.3.2.2. EPA Zinc Data ....................................................................................................................................82 4.3.2.2. EPA Zinc Data ....................................................................................................................................83 V. BIOLOGICAL MONITORING.............................................................................................................................. 88 VI. DATA GAPS .............................................................................................................................................................. 91 6.1. Spatial Gaps ..........................................................................................................................................................91 6.2. Temporal Gaps....................................................................................................................................................93 6.3. Parameter Gaps..................................................................................................................................................94 6.4. Detection Limit Gaps .....................................................................................................................................96 6.5. Metadata Gaps....................................................................................................................................................98 November 2008 I Environmental Resources Coalition Page ii Southwest Missouri Water Quality Improvement Project Missouri State University Spring River Basin Water Quality Gap Analysis MEC Water Resources, Inc. 6.6. Unincorporated Data................................................................................................................................... 100 VII. RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................................................................................101 VIII. REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................................105 November 2008 I Environmental Resources Coalition Page iii Southwest Missouri Water Quality Improvement Project Missouri State University Spring River Basin Water Quality Gap Analysis MEC Water Resources, Inc. LIST OF TABLES 1. Spring River