Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identify Pollution Causes and Sources.

Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identify

Pollution Causes and Sources

Confirm impairments and identify pollutants

Compare available monitoring data to wqs:• Document magnitude of impairment• Document seasonal/temporal patterns• Document spatial distribution

Spatial Analysis

• Isolate critical subwatersheds• Combine with land use/land cover data

Flow Relationships

• Point vs. Nonpoint

Flow Relationships

• Point vs. Nonpoint

Temporal Analysis

• Seasonality• Stratify data by potential source activities

– Tillage– Crop canopy development– Manure/fertilizer applications– Grazing season– Logging– Construction projects– Street cleaning

Other tools:

• Stakeholder knowledge• Direct observation (streamwalk)• Specialized tools, e.g., microbial source

tracking, ground water aging

Supplementing available data

– Windshield surveys– Interviews with residents– Volunteer monitoring– Bioassessment– Targeted sampling– Chemical/biological sampling

Helps lay the groundwork for implementation!

Examples

St. Albans Bay VT RCWP

• Known WQ impairment due to eutrophication– Obvious algae blooms & macrophyte growth– Declining State Park visits, beach closures– State DEC P monitoring

• Excessive P loads to Bay• 75% point source/25% nps

• NRCS knowledge about current status of animal waste management, milkhouse waste, cropland erosion

St. Albans Bay VT RCWP

Lake Pittsfield IL

• Lake Pittsfield is a 220 ac lake located near the city of Pittsfield in the 25,393 ac Blue Creek watershed in Pike County, western Illinois

• Constructed in 1961 as a flood control reservoir.

• Sediment deposition the dominant water quality problem

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Lake Pittsfield IL

• 1979 vegetative practices on agricultural land slowed sedimentation rate

• Lake sedimentation still higher than desired• Additional practices needed – WASCOBs and

sediment retention basins

Lake Pittsfield IL

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WASCOBs installedConstruction of 12 rock riffles (Newbury Weirs)Station D annual sediment yield (tons/acre)Station C annual sediment yield (tons/acre)Station D yield/discharge (tons/ac-ft)Station C yield/discharge (tons/ac-ft)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

VT 319 NMP

04-Jan-9512-Apr-95

19-Jul-9530-Oct-95

07-Feb-9615-May-96

19-Aug-9616-Dec-96

31-Mar-9702-Jul-97

06-Oct-9721-Jan-98

29-Apr-9829-Jul-98

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E. Coli Counts 1995 - 1998Lake Champlain Basin Ag Watersheds NMP Project

VT 319 NMP

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Instantaneous Streamflow (ft3/sec)

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Streamflow and E. Coli CountsWS 2 1995 - 1998

Lake Champlain Ag Watersheds NMP Project

VT 319 NMP

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Instantaneous Streamflow (ft3/sec)

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Seasonal Streamflow and E. Coli CountsWS 2 1995 - 1998

Lake Champlain Basin Ag Watersheds NMP Project

VT 319 NMP

VT 319 NMP

Identification of stressors

• Where causes of biological impairment are unknown, use characterization data to help identify stressors

Stressor Identification

Stressor Identification

Resources:• USEPA Stressor Identification Guidance Document

www.epa.gov/waterscience/biocriteria/stressors/stressors.html

• USEPA Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS) http://cfpub.epa.gov/caddis/home.cfm