Top Banner
Pilot Pilot NWQMC Meeting NWQMC Meeting Philadelphia, PA: July Philadelphia, PA: July 2007 2007
24

National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Feb 04, 2016

Download

Documents

emele

National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot. NWQMC Meeting Philadelphia, PA: July 2007. Presentation Overview. National Issues/DRB Issues DRB Partners DRB Pilot Study Area Resource Components Snapshots Data Management Status “Dry Run” Nutrient Analysis. Basin Facts - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

National Water Quality National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot Basin Pilot

NWQMC Meeting NWQMC Meeting

Philadelphia, PA: July 2007Philadelphia, PA: July 2007

Page 2: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

National Issues/DRB IssuesNational Issues/DRB Issues DRB PartnersDRB Partners DRB Pilot Study AreaDRB Pilot Study Area Resource Components SnapshotsResource Components Snapshots Data Management StatusData Management Status ““Dry Run” Nutrient AnalysisDry Run” Nutrient Analysis

Page 3: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Basin Facts

● Largest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi – 330 miles

● 13,539 square mile drainage

● 17 million water users

● 216 tributaries

● Three reaches included in National Wild and Scenic River System

● One of the world’s largest freshwater tidal estuaries

● Delaware Bay- 782 sq. miles

● One five MACOORA subregions

Page 4: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

MonitoringMonitoring

PartnersPartners

in the in the

DelawareDelaware

RiverRiver

BasinBasin

Page 5: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

NMN Objectives and Management IssuesNMN Objectives and Management IssuesNMN ObjectiveNMN Objective NMN Management QuestionsNMN Management Questions Delaware ManagementDelaware Management

1. Define status and trends of key 1. Define status and trends of key water quality parameters water quality parameters and conditions on a nationwide and conditions on a nationwide basis.basis.

What is the condition of the Nation’s What is the condition of the Nation’s surface, ground, estuarine, coastal, and surface, ground, estuarine, coastal, and offshore waters?offshore waters?

Where, how, and why are water quality Where, how, and why are water quality conditions changing over time?conditions changing over time?

Development of management Development of management strategies for protecting areas strategies for protecting areas of high water quality.of high water quality.

2. Provide data relevant to 2. Provide data relevant to determining whether goals, determining whether goals, standards, and resource standards, and resource management objectives are being management objectives are being met, thus contributing to met, thus contributing to sustainable and beneficial use of sustainable and beneficial use of coastal and inland water coastal and inland water resources.resources.

Are strategies that protect or remediate Are strategies that protect or remediate water quality working effectively?water quality working effectively?

Are we meeting water quality goals and Are we meeting water quality goals and standards?standards?

Environmental sources, Environmental sources, transport and effects of transport and effects of contaminants in the contaminants in the region (e.g. PCBs, region (e.g. PCBs, pesticides, and pesticides, and contaminants of contaminants of emerging concern).emerging concern).

3. Provide data to identify and 3. Provide data to identify and rank existing and emerging rank existing and emerging problems to help target more problems to help target more intensive monitoring, preventative intensive monitoring, preventative actions, or remediation.actions, or remediation.

What are the water quality problems?What are the water quality problems?

Where are the water quality problems?Where are the water quality problems?

What is causing the problems?What is causing the problems?

Maintain freshwater quantity Maintain freshwater quantity and quality.and quality.

4. Provide data to support and 4. Provide data to support and define coastal oceanographic and define coastal oceanographic and hydrologic research, including hydrologic research, including influences of freshwater inflows.influences of freshwater inflows.

What research activities will help us to What research activities will help us to understand water resources and ensure understand water resources and ensure they are sustainable?they are sustainable?

Assuring public health Assuring public health (pathogen contamination and (pathogen contamination and fish advisories.)fish advisories.)

5. Provide quality-assured data for 5. Provide quality-assured data for use in the preparation of use in the preparation of interpretive reports and interpretive reports and educational materials.educational materials.

All management questions require All management questions require these data.these data.

Potential impacts of nutrient Potential impacts of nutrient overload and nutrient overload and nutrient imbalance in the estuary.imbalance in the estuary.

Page 6: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Table 1-1: Water Quality Issues from NMN Report

• Oxygen depletion• Nutrient enrichment (arguable)• Toxic contamination• Sedimentation• Harmful algal blooms• Habitat degradation• Invasions by exotic species• Pathogens (indicator bacteria)

Page 7: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Technical Needs from Technical Needs from Estuary Science Estuary Science ConferenceConference1. 1. ContaminantsContaminants (forms, sources, fates & effects for different classes) (forms, sources, fates & effects for different classes)

2. 2. Tidal WetlandsTidal Wetlands (status, trends and relative importance of different types) (status, trends and relative importance of different types)

3. 3. Ecologically Significant Species & Critical HabitatsEcologically Significant Species & Critical Habitats (oysters, benthos, (oysters, benthos, horseshoe crabs)horseshoe crabs)

4. 4. Ecological FlowsEcological Flows (effects of flow changes on salt balance & biota) (effects of flow changes on salt balance & biota)

5. 5. Physical-Chemical-Biological LinkagesPhysical-Chemical-Biological Linkages (e.g., sediment budgets, toxics & (e.g., sediment budgets, toxics & biota)biota)

6. 6. Food Web DynamicsFood Web Dynamics (key trophic connections among functional dominant (key trophic connections among functional dominant biota)biota)

7. 7. NutrientsNutrients (forms, concentrations and balance of macro- and (forms, concentrations and balance of macro- and micronutrients)micronutrients)

8. 8. Ecosystem FunctionsEcosystem Functions (assessment and economic valuation of ecosystem (assessment and economic valuation of ecosystem services)services)

9. 9. Habitat Restoration and EnhancementHabitat Restoration and Enhancement (science & policy) (science & policy)

10.10. Invasive Species Invasive Species (monitoring, management & control) (monitoring, management & control)

Page 8: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Estuary Program Estuary Program Operational NeedsOperational Needs

Top Six Operational NeedsTop Six Operational Needs

1. Strengthen 1. Strengthen Linkages Between Science and Linkages Between Science and ManagementManagement

2. Develop a 2. Develop a Conceptual FrameworkConceptual Framework Describing the Describing the EcosystemEcosystem

3. Implement an 3. Implement an Ecosystem ManagementEcosystem Management Approach Approach

4. Grow the 4. Grow the MonitoringMonitoring Infrastructure and Link to Improved Infrastructure and Link to Improved Indicators and GoalsIndicators and Goals

5. Improve 5. Improve DataData Coordination, Compatibility, Quality, Sharing, Coordination, Compatibility, Quality, Sharing, Access and ArchivingAccess and Archiving

6. 6. EducateEducate Public and Build Public and Build Identity Identity for Defining Traits and for Defining Traits and IssuesIssues

Page 9: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Number of Cells = 141

Main

Cha

nnel

Tribu

tarie

s to

Delaw

are

Rive

r (e

.g.,

Lehig

h)

Schu

ylkill

Rive

r &

Its T

ribut

aries

Chris

tina

Rive

r &

Its T

ribut

aries

Othe

r Trib

utar

ies

Main

Cha

nnel

Shall

ow S

ubtid

al

Inte

rtida

l Edg

es,

Shor

eline

s

Wet

lands

Main

Cha

nnel

Shall

ow S

ubtid

al

Inte

rtida

l Edg

es,

Shor

eline

s

Wet

lands

Main

Cha

nnel

Shall

ow S

ubtid

al

Inte

rtida

l Edg

es,

Shor

eline

s

Wet

lands

Physical 1a 2a 3a 4a 5a 6a 7a 8a 9a 10a 11a 12a 13a 14a 15a 16a 17a

Chemical 1b 2b 3b 4b 5b 6b 7b 8b 9b 10b 11b 12b 13b 14b 15b 16b 17b

Biological 1c 2c 3c 4c 5c 6c 7c 8c 9c 10c 11c 12c 13c 14c 15c 16c 17c

Physical 1d 2d 3d 4d 5d 6d 7d 8d 9d 10d 11d 12d 13d 14d 15d 16d 17d

Chemical 1e 2e 3e 4e 5e 6e 7e 8e 9e 10e 11e 12e 13e 14e 15e 16e 17e

Biological 1f 2f 3f 4f 5f 6f 7f 8f 9f 10f 11f 12f 13f 14f 15f 16f 17f

8g 9g 12g 13g 16g 17g

1h 2h 3h 4h 5h

1i 2i 3i 4i 5i 8i 9i 12i 13i 16i 17i

1j 2j 3j 4j 5j 6j 7j 8j 9j 10j 11j 12j 13j 14j 15j 16j 17j

Watershed Uplands**

Terrestrial

* Tidal buffers refer to upland areas immediately adjacent to tidal wetlands and shorelines that are at an elevation of less than 2 m above mean high tide. These are areas most susceptible to sea level rise and most important for managing the landward migration of shorelines and wetlands. ** Terrestrial areas are distinguished as being either riparian zone habitat (here termed "riparian buffers") or watershed uplands, which is here taken to include forests, meadows, and developed lands. The width of the riparian buffer will depend on the data source, with preference for the most widely adopted standards.

Aquatic

Approximately River Mile 58 to 82Approximately River Mile 82 to 133 Approximately River Mile 0 to 58

Pelagic

Benthic

Delaware River (above River Mile

133)

Other Rivers and Streams (below River Mile

133)

Conceptual Matrix for the Delaware Estuary Ecosystem

Socioeconiomic

Bay (>8 ppt)

Tidal Buffers*

Riparian Buffers**

Tidal Estuary

Freshwater

Nontidal Watershed

Freshwater (<1 ppt) Brackish (1-8 ppt)

Page 10: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Delaware River Basin Pilot Delaware River Basin Pilot Steering CommitteeSteering Committee

Chair: Bob Tudor, DRBCChair: Bob Tudor, DRBC Organizations participating: Organizations participating:

DRBC, MACOORADRBC, MACOORA USEPA Regions 2 & 3USEPA Regions 2 & 3 NOAANOAA USGS NJ, PA, DE, NY and NAWQAUSGS NJ, PA, DE, NY and NAWQA NJDEP, DNREC, PADEP, NYDEC NJDEP, DNREC, PADEP, NYDEC Rutgers, UDelRutgers, UDel PDEPDE

Set boundaries for study areaSet boundaries for study area Integrate with NMN Interagency Integrate with NMN Interagency

Work GroupsWork Groups Coordinate DRB Work Group Coordinate DRB Work Group

effortsefforts Data Management effortsData Management efforts

Other DRB Pilot Work Other DRB Pilot Work GroupsGroups Data ManagementData Management AtmosphereAtmosphere Rivers above head of tideRivers above head of tide EstuaryEstuary Near shoreNear shore Off ShoreOff Shore WetlandsWetlands Ground waterGround water

Page 11: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Entire Delaware BasinEntire Delaware Basin 4 states—NY, PA, NJ, DE4 states—NY, PA, NJ, DE Several Physiographic Several Physiographic

Provinces and EcohabitatsProvinces and Ecohabitats Major inflows—Lehigh, Major inflows—Lehigh,

Schuylkill, Maurice, C&D Schuylkill, Maurice, C&D CanalCanal

Bounded by northern and Bounded by northern and southern Coastal endurance southern Coastal endurance lineslines

DRB Pilot Study Area BoundaryDRB Pilot Study Area Boundary

Page 12: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Data Management Work Data Management Work GroupGroup

Chairs: Eric Vowinkel and Ed Chairs: Eric Vowinkel and Ed SantoroSantoro

Existing DRBC Monitoring Existing DRBC Monitoring MatrixMatrix

Will create an ftp site on Will create an ftp site on DRBC computer to store DRBC computer to store exchange of informationexchange of information

Water-Quality Data Water-Quality Data Exchange (WQDE) Exchange (WQDE) Networks in progress at Networks in progress at NJDEP, DNREC, PA?, NY?NJDEP, DNREC, PA?, NY?

Exploring options for web-Exploring options for web-based portal for Delaware based portal for Delaware BasinBasin

http://www.delawareestuary.org/Info_gateway/Main_map.asphttp://www.delawareestuary.org/Info_gateway/Main_map.asp

Page 13: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Estuary Work GroupEstuary Work Group

Chair: Jonathan Sharp, UDelChair: Jonathan Sharp, UDel Boat Run—historical Boat Run—historical

monitoring along spine of monitoring along spine of Delaware EstuaryDelaware Estuary

Probabilistic networkProbabilistic network NCANCA New sites from USEPA New sites from USEPA

Corvallis from Tony OlsenCorvallis from Tony Olsen Discussions of mixing Discussions of mixing

probabilistic and fixed probabilistic and fixed stationsstations

Page 14: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Near-Shore Work GroupNear-Shore Work Group

Chair: Bob Connell, NJDEPChair: Bob Connell, NJDEP

IssuesIssues How far south?How far south? 12-miles out into Atlantic Ocean 12-miles out into Atlantic Ocean Physical habitat needsPhysical habitat needs Sediments includedSediments included Biological assessment and Biological assessment and

productivityproductivity Lidar methods—remote sensingLidar methods—remote sensing Should not be looking at Should not be looking at

nutrients but rather eutrophic nutrients but rather eutrophic conditionsconditions

Chlorophyll a, DO, macro algae, Chlorophyll a, DO, macro algae, HABS, nutrient loads, HABS, nutrient loads, wastewater discharges, wastewater discharges, atmospheric depositionatmospheric deposition

AssestsAssests GlidersGliders Air craft and satellite remote Air craft and satellite remote

sensingsensing Boat along coast with NJDEP & Boat along coast with NJDEP &

USEPAUSEPA Fixed station LEO site from RUFixed station LEO site from RU DEOs fixed stationDEOs fixed station Optical sensor for DO in future in Optical sensor for DO in future in

gliderglider Nuisance algal blooms-by boatNuisance algal blooms-by boat Loads from WWTPLoads from WWTP Maybe some nutrient data from Maybe some nutrient data from

atmosphericatmospheric Map will be comingMap will be coming

Page 15: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Off-Shore Work GroupOff-Shore Work Group

Chair: Scott Chair: Scott Glenn, RU IMCS Glenn, RU IMCS

Endurance line Endurance line off of off of Tuckerton, NJTuckerton, NJ

Future site off Future site off of Delawareof Delaware

http://marine.rutgers.edu/cool/auvs/http://marine.rutgers.edu/cool/auvs/

Page 16: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Tidal Wetlands: Signature Trait of System Extensive, Near Contiguous Band Diverse Types: Salt, Brackish and

Freshwater Tidal Marshes

Ecological Values: Structural biodiversity habitat for fish & wildlife nurseries, imperiled taxa Functional food web water quality flood protection

Rutgers University

Wetlands Work GroupWetlands Work Group Chair: Danielle Kreeger, PDEChair: Danielle Kreeger, PDE

Page 17: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Spills

Tidal Tidal WetlandsWetlands

Concerns:

• Degradation • Conversion and Loss• Sea Level Rise• Sediment supply• Sudden Marsh Die-Back

• Storms

<5% of freshwater

tidal marshes remain

Philadelphia

With sea level and

salinity rise, where will they go?

Page 18: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Atmosphere Work GroupAtmosphere Work Group

Chair: Lisa Totten, Chair: Lisa Totten, RutgersRutgers

Only one NADP site Only one NADP site in the Basinin the Basin

Supplemental sites Supplemental sites added by NJDEP, added by NJDEP, DRBCDRBC

Some sites Some sites deactivateddeactivated

Page 19: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Ground Water Work GroupGround Water Work Group

Chair: Eric Vowinkel, USGSChair: Eric Vowinkel, USGS Significant vulnerability Significant vulnerability

of ground water in the of ground water in the Delaware Basin to Delaware Basin to contamination by nitrate contamination by nitrate in PA, NJ, and DEin PA, NJ, and DE

Concentrations of Concentrations of nitrate in ground water nitrate in ground water are largest in are largest in agricultural areas and agricultural areas and moderate in urban areamoderate in urban area

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5118/SIR2004-5118.pdfhttp://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5118/SIR2004-5118.pdf

Page 20: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Proposed NMN Riverine Proposed NMN Riverine Above the Head of Tide SitesAbove the Head of Tide Sites

Page 21: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Rivers

Flow and loads from inland HUC-6 watersheds

Individual watershed

1-3 per watershed 258 sitesfor conterminousU.S.

Sites located to represent 90% of freshwater outflow from HUC-6 watershed

Monthly plus high flows (about 15 times per year)Once per year for biological characterization and sediment quality

On going

Flow and loads to estuaries

Individual estuaryand aggregated for Networkestuaries

Variable 72 Sites located to monitor 97% of freshwater inflow to Network estuaries and inflow to 70% of Network estuary surface area

Monthly plus high flows (about 15 times per year)Once per year for biological characterization and sediment quality

On going

Flow and loads to Great Lakes

Individual watershed

1 per watershed 56 Sites located to represent outflow of basins draining 250 square miles or more

Monthly plus high flows (about 15 times per year)Once per year for biological characterization and sediment quality

On going

NMN requirements for NMN requirements for riversrivers

Page 22: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Nutrient dry runNutrient dry run

What was doneWhat was done Compared Nutrient IWG Compared Nutrient IWG

recommendationsrecommendations Tier 1—requiredTier 1—required Tier 2—add significant valueTier 2—add significant value Response variablesResponse variables AncilliaryAncilliary

For Delaware River at For Delaware River at Trenton as test case (see Trenton as test case (see table)table)

For Delaware Estuary Boat For Delaware Estuary Boat Run DataRun Data

ResultsResults Delaware at Trenton site monitored 4-6 Delaware at Trenton site monitored 4-6

times per year for DRBC and PADEPtimes per year for DRBC and PADEP Will be monitored 16 times per year for Will be monitored 16 times per year for

NAWQA Status and Trends in 2008 for NAWQA Status and Trends in 2008 for nutrients and pesticides but only once nutrients and pesticides but only once every four yearsevery four years

Site location data well documentedSite location data well documented Metadata and QA/QC well documentedMetadata and QA/QC well documented Only Tier 1 nutrients satisfied except Only Tier 1 nutrients satisfied except

for silicafor silica Did not meet detection limit for most Did not meet detection limit for most

constituents by more than an order of constituents by more than an order of magnitudemagnitude

For Estuary Boat Run more For Estuary Boat Run more constituents were analyzed for in the constituents were analyzed for in the different Tiers but generally did not different Tiers but generally did not meet the detection limit requirements meet the detection limit requirements for nutrientsfor nutrients

Page 23: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Example of River Nutrient Example of River Nutrient DataData

Page 24: National Water Quality Network: Delaware River Basin Pilot

Water Quality Monitoring Data Web Water Quality Monitoring Data Web sitessites

Agency (Abbreviation) Web address Contact

Letter of Support

Federal Monitoring Programs

U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Centers

USGS-NJWSCUSGS-PAWSCUSGS-NYWSC

http://nj.usgs.gov/http://pa.water.usgs.gov/http://ny.water.usgs.gov/

Richard KroppPatricia LietmanWillie Rodriguez

YYY

USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA)

http://nj.usgs.gov/nawqa/delr/ Jeff Fischer Y

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ecology Division (AED)

http://www.epa.gov/aed/ John Garber Y

USEPA National Estuary Program (NEP) Center for Inland Bays

http://www.inlandbays.org/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 ( USEPA-R2)

http://www.epa.gov/region2/ John Kushwara Y

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 (USEPA-R3)

http://www.epa.gov/region03/ Larry Merrill Y

USEPA Atlantic Ecology Division/ORD (USEPA-AED)

http://www.epa.gov/aed/index.html Henry Walker Y

DE and Nat. Oceanographic and Atmospheric Admin (NOAA/NEERS)

http://nerrs.noaa.gov/ R. Scarborough Y

NOAA PORTS Delaware River/Bay http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/dbports/

National Park Service (NPS) http://www.nps.gov/upde/ Joseph DiBello Y

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-NJ) http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/ Tom Drewes Y

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/ Clifford Day

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/

National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/

Non Federal Monitoring Programs

Delaware River Basin Commission(DRBC)

http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/ Robert Tudor Y

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/Leslie McGeorgeRobert Connell

Y

New Jersey Water Monitoring Coordinating Council (NJWMCC)

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms//wmcchome.html Y

Delaware Depart of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DENREC)

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/ R. Scarborough

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) http://www.delawareestuary.org/ Danielle Kreeger Y

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/dep/ James Newbolt

Delaware Environmental Ocean Observing System (DEOS)

http://www.deos.udel.edu/

Rutgers University Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences (IMCS)

http://marine.rutgers.edu/cool Scott Glenn Y

Univ. of Delaware http://

www.ocean.udel.edu/cms/jsharp/CruiseDatabase.htm

Jonathan Sharp Y

Sea Grant and Marine Sciences Consortiumhttp://www.njmsc.org/Sea_Granthttp://www.njmsc.org/

Mike Weinstein

Drexel University Mike Piasecki Y