Owasco Lake / Watershed 2011 Water Quality Surveypeople.hws.edu/halfman/Data/Halfman OwascoLake12-7-11.pdf · OWLA Meeting 12-7-11 2 Owasco Lake Phosphates (TP) Total Phosphate Annual

OWLA Meeting 12-7-11 1

Owasco Lake / Watershed Owasco Lake / Watershed 2011 Water Quality Survey2011 Water Quality Survey

John D HalfmanJohn D HalfmanEnvironmental Studies ProgramEnvironmental Studies Program

Department of GeoscienceDepartment of GeoscienceFinger Lakes InstituteFinger Lakes Institute

www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/basin_info/OWSN6.html

Background: Background: 20052005Water Quality & Its ProtectionWater Quality & Its Protection

Finger Lake Water Quality

Water Quality

Wat

er Q

ualit

y Pr

otec

tion

Legi

slat

ion

Honeoye

Canandaigua

Keuka

Seneca

Cayuga

Owasco

Skaneateles

Worst

Wor

st

Best

Best

Bush, 2006, Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Bacteria (Total Coliform & E. coli)Algae (Chlorophyll-a)Nutrients (Phosphates, Nitrates)Suspended Sediments (TSS)Water Clarity (Secchi disk)


Owasco Lake Phosphates (TP)Owasco Lake Phosphates (TP)Total Phosphate Annual Averages

0

5

10

15

20

A 1

1B B C 2

2B D

CC

1

CC

2 E

CC

3

CC

4

Tota

l Pho

spha

te (u

g/L,

P)

20052006

Total Phosphate Annual Averages

0

5

10

15

20

A 1

1B B C 2

2B D

CC

1

CC

2 E

CC

3

CC

4

Tota

l Pho

spha

te (u

g/L,

P)

200694 125 608

2007

2006 Emerson Foundation Funds2007 NYS Funds – Senator Nozzolio

2006 & 2007 Stream Data2006 & 2007 Stream Data2006

2007

Groton

Groton

Reduction of all Sources

Reduction of Runoff


Water Quality Water Quality ConcernsConcernsRunoff Runoff •• Human WastesHuman Wastes

–– Municipal WastewaterMunicipal Wastewater–– OnOn--Site Septic SystemsSite Septic Systems

•• Animal Agriculture Animal Agriculture ““CAFOCAFO”” OperationsOperations–– Steroids & AntibioticsSteroids & Antibiotics–– Animal WasteAnimal Waste

•• Plant AgriculturePlant Agriculture–– Fertilizers, PesticidesFertilizers, Pesticides–– Soil ErosionSoil Erosion

Ecological Health?Ecological Health?Nutrient CycleNutrient Cycle

Plankton

Fish (Lake Trout) &

Other Organisms

Dead Organics

Bacterial Decomposition

Dissolved Nutrients

Sediments

Outlet

Streams, Rain


Human Impact:Human Impact:Nutrient CycleNutrient Cycle

Plankton

Fish (Lake Trout) &

Other Organisms

Dead Organics

Bacterial Decomposition

Dissolved Nutrients

Agricultural FertilizersAnimal Feedlots

Wastewater NutrientsOn-Site Systems

Algae ScumWeeds

CAFO, Human &Soil Particle

Organic Matter Sediments

Outlet

Streams, Rain

EutrophicationAnoxia?

“Bottom Up” Approach

2011 2011 –– Funding Funding

•• Watershed BiWatershed Bi--Monthly MonitoringMonthly Monitoring–– Lake, Dutch Hollow Brook & Owasco Inlet Lake, Dutch Hollow Brook & Owasco Inlet –– Lake Status & Stream Segment AnalysisLake Status & Stream Segment Analysis–– Cayuga County Legislator, Peter Tortorici Cayuga County Legislator, Peter Tortorici -- Chairman Chairman

•• Detailed Analysis of Dutch Hollow BrookDetailed Analysis of Dutch Hollow Brook–– Timing of Nutrient DeliveryTiming of Nutrient Delivery–– OWLA, Charlie Green OWLA, Charlie Green –– PresidentPresident–– Underwritten by Local Foundations Underwritten by Local Foundations

•• Both due to the Persistence of Dr. Joe WasileskiBoth due to the Persistence of Dr. Joe Wasileski

Dutch HollowHourly Readings

Stage, Cond., Temperature

Dutch Hollow Autosampler3 Water Samples/DayBi-Monthly Stream Surveys

Bi-Monthly Lake Surveys


The Plan:The Plan:

•• LakeLake–– Sites 1 & 2Sites 1 & 2–– Trends over TimeTrends over Time

•• WatershedWatershed–– Two TributariesTwo Tributaries

•• Dutch Hollow BrookDutch Hollow Brook•• Owasco InletOwasco Inlet

–– NutrientsNutrients•• Locate Locate Source(sSource(s))•• Timing of DeliveryTiming of Delivery

–– EventsEvents–– SeasonalSeasonal

•• Estimate LoadingEstimate Loading

Lake Results:Lake Results: Temperature & SalinityTemperature & Salinity2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005


Lake Results:Lake Results: FluoresenceFluoresence & Turbidity& Turbidity2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

No Fluorescence2006 & 2005

Different Turbidity Sensor2006 & 2006

Lake Results:Lake Results: PAR & Dissolved OxygenPAR & Dissolved Oxygen2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

No PAR2006 & 2005

Different DO Sensor2006 & 2006


Lake Results:Lake Results:Secchi Disk Depths and Secchi Disk Depths and Suspended SedimentSuspended Sediment

Owasco Averaged Secchi Depths

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

4/8/

114/

22/1

15/

5/11

5/17

/11

5/31

/11

6/14

/11

6/28

/11

7/12

/11

7/26

/11

8/16

/11

8/23

/11

9/5/

119/

19/1

110

/1/1

110

/17/

1110

/31/

11

Dep

th (m

)

Daily AverageAnnual Averages

Owasco Averaged Total Suspended Solids

0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.04.5

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

4/8/

114/

22/1

15/

5/11

5/17

/11

5/31

/11

6/14

/11

6/28

/11

7/12

/11

7/26

/11

8/16

/11

8/23

/11

9/5/

119/

19/1

110

/1/1

110

/17/

1110

/31/

11

Surf

ace

TSS

(mg/

L)

Annual Averages Daily Average

< 2 m Depth – Eutrophic Lake> 4 m Depth – Oligotrophic Lake

Lake Results:Lake Results:Total and Dissolved PhosphatesTotal and Dissolved Phosphates

Owasco Averaged Total Phosphates

0

5

10

15

20

25

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

4/8/

114/

22/1

15/

5/11

5/17

/11

5/31

/11

6/14

/11

6/28

/11

7/12

/11

7/26

/11

8/16

/11

8/23

/11

9/5/

119/

19/1

110

/1/1

110

/17/

1110

/31/

11Surf

ace

Phos

phat

es (T

P ug

/L) Annual Averages Daily Average

Owasco Averaged Dissolved Phosphates

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.6

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

4/8/

114/

22/1

15/

5/11

5/17

/11

5/31

/11

6/14

/11

6/28

/11

7/12

/11

7/26

/11

8/16

/11

8/23

/11

9/5/

119/

19/1

110

/1/1

110

/17/

1110

/31/

11

Surf

ace

Phos

phat

es (S

RP,

ug/

L)

Annual Averages Daily Average4.9

> 20 ug/L TP – Impaired & Eutrophic Lake< 10 ug/L TP – Oligotrophic Lake


Lake Results:Lake Results:Chlorophyll and NitratesChlorophyll and Nitrates

Owasco Averaged Chlorophyll

0

1

2

3

4

5

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

4/8/

114/

22/1

15/

5/11

5/17

/11

5/31

/11

6/14

/11

6/28

/11

7/12

/11

7/26

/11

8/16

/11

8/23

/11

9/5/

119/

19/1

110

/1/1

110

/17/

1110

/31/

11Surf

ace

Chl

orop

hyll-

a (u

g/L) Annual Averages Daily Average

Owasco Averaged Nitrates

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

4/8/

114/

22/1

15/

5/11

5/17

/11

5/31

/11

6/14

/11

6/28

/11

7/12

/11

7/26

/11

8/16

/11

8/23

/11

9/5/

119/

19/1

110

/1/1

110

/17/

1110

/31/

11

Surf

ace

Nitr

ate

(mg/

L)

Annual Averages Daily Average

> 10 mg/L Nitrate – Impaired Lake> 5 mg/L TN – Eutrophic Lake

< 2 mg/L TN – Oligotrophic Lake

> 10 ug/L Chlorophyll-a – Eutrophic Lake< 4 ug/L Chlorophyll-a – Oligotrophic Lake

StreamsStreams


Stream Concentration DataStream Concentration DataNutrient Sources:Nutrient Sources:Total & Dissolved PhosphateTotal & Dissolved Phosphate

2011 Total Phosphate Annual Average Concentration

0102030405060

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

TP (u

g/L,

P)

2011 Dissolved Phosphate Annual Average Concentration

05

1015202530354045

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

SRP

(ug/

L, P

)

Nutrient Sources:Nutrient Sources:Suspended Suspended Sediments and Sediments and NitratesNitrates

2011 Total Suspended Solids Annual Average Concentration

05

10152025303540

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

TSS

(mg/

L)

2011 Nitrates Annual Average Concentration

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.61.8

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

Nitr

ate

(mg/

L, N

)


Nutrient Fluxes:Nutrient Fluxes:Discharge Discharge –– Spring FloodsSpring Floods

2011 DischargeSeasonal Average Flow

0

5

10

15

20

Dutch Hollow Inlet Moravia

Dis

char

ge (m

3/s)

Spring

Summer

Fall

Ignored Early March Spring Floods

2011 Stream Discharge Annual Average Flow

0123456789

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

Dis

char

ge (m

3 /s)

2011 Stream Discharge Annual Average Flow

w ithout spring f loods

012345

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

Dis

char

ge (m

3 /s)

NutrientNutrient Fluxes:Fluxes:Total & Dissolved PhosphateTotal & Dissolved Phosphate


2011 Dissolved Phosphate Annual Average Flux

w ithout spring floods

0123456

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

SRP

(kg/

day,

P)

2011 Total Phosphate Annual Average Flux


012345678

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

TP (k

g/da

y, P

)


NutrientNutrient Fluxes:Fluxes:Sediments and NitratesSediments and Nitrates


2011 Total Suspended Solids Annual Average Flux


0500

1,0001,5002,0002,500

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

TSS

(kg/

day) 2011 Nitrates

Annual Average Fluxw ithout spring floods

050

100150200250300350

Dut

chBa

rski

Trib

Bars

ki R

dN

orth

Sout

hBe

nson

B. T

ribO

ld S

tate

Inle

tM

ill C

rAu

rora

Fillm

ore

VWF

Rou

nds

LnSu

cker

port

Hem

lock

Cou

nty

Gro

ton

Nitr

ate

(kg/

day,

N)

Dutch Hollow Brook - Rt 38A Site - Data Loggers

0

30

60

90

120

150

3/1

3/11

3/21

3/31

4/10

4/20

4/30

5/10

5/20

5/30 6/9

6/19

6/29 7/9

7/19

7/29 8/8

8/18

8/28 9/7

9/17

9/27

10/7

10/1

710

/27

Tem

pera

ture

(C) &

Sta

ge (c

m)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

Pre

cipi

tatio

n (m

m)

Stage (cm) Sample Date Precipitation

Dutch Hollow FlowDutch Hollow Flow

Detailed “R2D2” Samples


Discharge Estimates:Discharge Estimates:Spring FloodsSpring Floods

Estimated Dutch Hollow Spring Discharges from Owasco Inlet USGS GaugeFor Flood Events, Discharge Information only at Stream Terminus

Owasco Inlet Flow

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 100 200 300

Day of the Year

Mea

n Da

ily D

isch

arge

(m3/

s)

2009

2010

2011

Stream Comparison

020406080

100120140160180200

4/3

4/18 5/3

5/18 6/2

6/17 7/2

7/17 8/1

8/16

8/31

9/15

9/30

10/1

5

10/3

0

Dutc

h Ho

llow

Sta

ge (c

m)

05101520253035404550

Ow

asco

Inle

t Dis

harg

e (m

3/s)

DH Data Logger Sample Dates Ow asco Inlet Flow

Data Logger Calibration

y = 0.2888xR2 = 0.987

02468

1012141618

0 10 20 30 40 50 60Owasco Inlet Flow

Dut

ch H

ollo

w F

low

Detailed “R2D2” Samples

Sample Every 8Sample Every 8--Hours :Hours :Runoff Induced LoadingRunoff Induced Loading

“R2D2”-Sampler

Total Suspended SolidsAutosampler (8 hr samples)

050

100150200250300350400450500

6/6

6/16

6/26 7/

6

7/16

7/26 8/

5

8/15

8/25 9/

4

9/14

9/24

10/4

10/1

4

10/2

4

Date (2011)

TSS

(mg/

L)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Stag

e (c

m)

TSS (mg/L) Stage (cm) Precipitation (mm)

1500 560

Runoff Flux ~ 24,400 kg / dayBase Flow Flux ~ 110 kg / dayMean Flux ~ 8,700 kg / day


Sample Every 8Sample Every 8--Hours:Hours:Runoff Induced LoadingRunoff Induced Loading

NitratesAutosampler (8 hr samples)

0

1

2

3

6/6

6/26

7/16 8/

5

8/25

9/14

10/4

10/2

4

Date (2011)

Nitr

ate

(mg/

L, N

)0

10

20

30

40

50

Stag

e (c

m)

Nitrate (mg/L, N) Stage (cm) Precipitation (mm)

Total PhosphatesAutosampler (8 hr samples)

0

50

100

150

200

250

6/6

6/26

7/16 8/

5

8/25

9/14

10/4

10/2

4Date (2011)

TP (u

g/L,

P)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Stag

e (c

m)

Total Phosphate (µg/L, TP) Stage (cm) Precipitation (mm)

TP Runoff Flux ~ 6.9 kg P / dayBase Flow Flux ~ 0.4 kg P / dayMean Flux ~ 2.7 kg P / day

Runoff Flux ~ 180 kg N / dayBase Flow Flux ~ 20 kg N / day

Mean Flux ~ 75 kg N / day

SRP Runoff Flux ~ 4.5 kg P / dayBase Flow Flux ~ 0.08 kg P / dayMean Flux ~ 1.7 kg P / day

Seasonal Concentration & Seasonal Concentration & Flux:Flux:

2011 Total Suspended SolidsSeasonal Average Flux

020,00040,00060,00080,000

100,000120,000140,000


TSS

(kg/

day)

Spring

Summer

Fall

2011 Total Suspended SolidsSeasonal Average Concentration

0

20

40

60

80

100


TSS

(mg/

L) Spring

Summer

Fall

2011 DischargeSeasonal Average Flow

0

5

10

15

20


Dis

char

ge (m

3/s)

Spring

Summer

Fall

2011 ConductivitySeasonal Average Concentration

0

100

200

300

400

500

600


Sp C

ond

(uS/

cm)

Spring

Summer

Fall


Seasonal Concentration & Seasonal Concentration & Flux:Flux:2011 Total Phosphate

Seasonal Average Flux

010203040506070


TP (k

g/da

y, P

)

Spring

Summer

Fall

2011 Total PhosphateSeasonal Average Concentration

0

10

20

30

40

50


TP (u

g/L,

P)

Spring

Summer

Fall

2011 NitratesSeasonal Average Concentration

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.6


Nitr

ate

(mg/

L, N

)

Spring

Summer

Fall

2011 NitratesSeasonal Average Flux

0

200

400

600

800

1000


Nitr

ate

(kg/

day,

N)

Spring

Summer

Fall

Stream Annual Averages:Stream Annual Averages:Flow and ConductivityFlow and Conductivity

Stream Discharge Annual Average

0123456789


Dis

char

ge (m

3 /s) 2006

2007

2009

2010

2011*

*estimated spring f lood data

Conductivity Annual Average Concentration

0

100

200

300

400

500

600


Sp C

ond

(uS/

cm) 2006

2007

2009

2010

2011


Annual Average: Annual Average: TP & SRPTP & SRPTotal Phosphate

Annual Average Concentration

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


TP (u

g/L,

P)

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

Dissolved Phosphate Annual Average Concentration

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


SRP

(ug/

L, P

) 2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

Total PhosphateAverage Annual Flux

0

5

10

15

20

25

30


TP (k

g/da

y, P

) 2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

Dissolved PhosphateAverage Annual Flux

0

2

4

6

8

10

12


SRP

(kg/

day,

P) 2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

Annual Average: Annual Average: Nitrate & TSSNitrate & TSSNitrates

Annual Average Concentration

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.61.8


Nitr

ate

(mg/

L, N

) 2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

Total Suspended Solids Annual Average Concentration

05

10152025303540


TSS

(mg/

L)

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

NitrateAverage Annual Flux

050

100150200250300350400


Nitr

ate

(kg/

day,

N)

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

Total Suspended SolidsAverage Annual Flux

05000

10000150002000025000300003500040000


TSS

(kg/

day)

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011


2005 2005 –– 2011 Finger Lake Rankings2011 Finger Lake Rankings2005-2011 Average Ranking

02468

1012141618202224262830323436

Honoey

e

Canand

iagua

Keuka

Senec

a

Cayug

a

Owasco

Skane

ateles

Otisco

Ran

k

Water Quality Protect LegislationWater Quality Protect LegislationPLUSPLUS Runoff Agricultural LandscapeRunoff Agricultural Landscape

Agricultural Land

Exclude HoneoyeR2 = 0.98

AllR2 = 0.05

0

5

10

15

20

10 20 30 40 50 60

Agricultural Land Use (%)

Mea

n W

ater

Qua

lity

Ran

k

HoneoyeCanandaiguaKeukaSenecaCayugaOwascoSkaneatelesOtisco

Linear ( )Linear ( )


Other Other PossibilitiesPossibilities

Zebra & Quagga MusselsRemove Algae

Asian Clams, Add P?

Spiny Water FleaTop Down Approach

Cercopagis pengoiCarnivorous Zooplankton

RecommendationsRecommendations•• Watershed Protection LegislationWatershed Protection Legislation•• Owasco Inlet FloodplainOwasco Inlet Floodplain

–– Remove ChannelizationRemove Channelization•• Agricultural Agricultural BMPsBMPs

–– Contour Plowing, Buffer Strips, Minimum TillageContour Plowing, Buffer Strips, Minimum Tillage–– Agricultural Environmental ManagementAgricultural Environmental Management–– J Wright, NRCS Conservation Innovative ProposalJ Wright, NRCS Conservation Innovative Proposal

•• Watershed InspectorWatershed Inspector–– Inspects Onsite & Municipal WW FacilitiesInspects Onsite & Municipal WW Facilities–– CAFO Manure Storage, Disposal & SpillsCAFO Manure Storage, Disposal & Spills–– Information about Information about BMPsBMPs

•• Education, esp. KEducation, esp. K--1212–– Educate People so they Care!Educate People so they Care!

•• MonitoringMonitoring–– Nutrient Fluxes: Nutrient Fluxes:

•• ““RR22DD22””, Stage & Flow Dutch Hollow & Owasco Inlet, Stage & Flow Dutch Hollow & Owasco Inlet–– Details of My 2012 Monitoring Details of My 2012 Monitoring Proposal(sProposal(s) Forthcoming ) Forthcoming

•• New Threat New Threat –– Marcellus Shale DrillingMarcellus Shale Drilling


2011 Research Team

Questions?Questions?John Halfman, HWSJohn Halfman, HWSemail: [email protected]

Documents

Owasco Lake / Watershed 2011 Water Quality Surveypeople.hws.edu/halfman/Data/Halfman OwascoLake12-7-11.pdf · OWLA Meeting 12-7-11 2 Owasco Lake Phosphates (TP) Total Phosphate Annual