T72 Hydrologic Impacts of Urbanization and Suburbanization on Water Resources
Monday, 8 November 2004
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
WATER QUALITY MONITORING TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF NON-POINT SOURCE NUTRIENT AND OTHER POLLUTANT LOADS ON AN ESTUARINE WATERSHED
Paper number: T72-12
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:55 AM – 11:10 AM
Authors
-
John A. MadsenUniv of Delaware, Newark, DE
-
William F. RitterUniv of Delaware, Newark, DE
-
Robert W. ScarboroughDepartment of Nat Rscs and Environmental Control, Dover, DE
Abstract
Water quality monitoring includes the collection of field measurements and samples for laboratory analyses at two-week intervals. Additionally, a series of storm-event field and laboratory measurements are collected at the sampling sites. Field analyses include monitoring of: temperature, specific conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, depth, pH, and turbidity. Laboratory analyses include concentration measurements of: dissolved and particulate forms of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total Kjeldal nitrogen, orthophosphate, total phosphates, chemical oxygen demand, and solids. Additionally chlorophyll, pheophytin, and silicate are determined. Seasonal variability of nutrient utilization are determined for Beaver Branch and Hangman’s Run and compared to those at Blackbird Creek. Data are used to determine the extent to which nutrients accumulate in the water column and how the integrated nutrients in the study area respond to the loadings. Time series water quality data are analyzed on various time scales (from daily for storm discharges, to seasonal and annual for the biweekly sampling) for computation of nutrient loadings.
Preliminary results from 1.5 years of data collection reveal that nutrient concentrations are dependent on base flow discharge. As an example, biweekly grab sample levels of nutrients are generally lower during drought. In addition, nutrient concentrations in storm samples are dependent on the rate and duration of rainfall, as well as the spatial aspect of the tide cycle. As expected, Hangman’s Run has elevated nutrient levels compared to Beaver Branch and Blackbird Creek because of its relative restriction to tidal flow. Both Beaver Branch and Blackbird Creek demonstrate higher levels of nutrients in winter and spring. Spring levels may be associated with production and winter levels may be attributed to a reservoir effect.