T184 Integrated Approaches to Modeling Geochemical, Hydrological, and Ecological Processes in Watersheds (Posters)

Tuesday, 2 November 2010
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Hall D

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING STORM EVENT P LOADING TO A SMALL WATERSHED OF LAKE ONTARIO NEAR ROCHESTER, NY

Paper number: T184-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Authors

  • Holly Schulz Presenting Author
    The College at Brockport, State University of New York, Brockport, NY
  • Mark R. Noll
    The College at Brockport, State University of New York, Brockport, NY

Abstract

Water quality of streams discharging to Lake Ontario has received increased attention over the past several decades. Phosphorus loading has been shown to play a significant role in the degradation of water quality in this area, and previous work suggests these results from land-use changes (Noll and Magee, 2007). Current research suggests that local variations in rainfall patterns may complicate analysis of P contributions from different stream segments in the watershed. GIS analysis of the watershed has divided it into 11 distinct sub-watersheds or segments. While each segment does not have a distinct land use, the segments vary from agriculture dominated to dense suburban, and have several areas of ongoing land use change. This ongoing investigation uses a segment analysis approach, GIS analysis of land use and local variations in precipitation to evaluate relationships that influence phosphorus export in the Northrup Creek watershed of the Lake Ontario lake plain region near Rochester, NY.

Analyses of water samples from both storm event and base flow conditions for total phosphorus (TP) and related water quality parameters has been completed. Results of analyses shows variations in TP concentrations, representative of other monitored parameters, which are found to range from 6.4 to 113.9 μg/L during base flow and from 35.4 to 430.6 μg/L during storm flow events. Evaluating TP loading spatially identifies stream segments where TP loading increases downstream by as much as a factor of four during storm events. The segments identified, however, are not always consistent between storm events and have variations in land use. In an effort to elucidate causes for increased P loading, the analysis of local variations in rainfall patterns using Doppler radar rainfall estimates is ongoing.