Phosphorus Fate and Transport in an Impounded River System Implications for TMDL Stakeholders and Extension Educators Dean Baas MSU Geological Sciences.

Phosphorus Fate and Transport in an Impounded River System

Implications for TMDL Stakeholders and Extension Educators

Dean Baas

MSU Geological Sciences Department

MSU Extension Land & Water Program

W. K. Kellogg Biological Station

Presentation Outline

Lake Allegan/Kalamazoo River phosphorus TMDL

Overview Research

Lake Allegan phosphorus Sources

Point Nonpoint

Kalamazoo River watershed phosphorus sources, fate and transport Agriculture Urban Impoundments

Implications for TMDL stakeholders and extension educators

Preliminary Conclusions

Questions and Discussion

Lake Allegan/Kalamazoo River phosphorus TMDL watershed

1600 mi2 watershed in Southwest Michigan Agricultural watershed Nationally recognized stakeholder driven

phosphorus TMDL

Battle CreekKalamazooPortage

Grand Rapids

Lake Allegan

EPA 303d list as phosphorus impaired waterbody

2.5 mi2 impoundment hydroelectric dam impoundment

Periodic nuisance algal blooms Carp/Catfish

Lake Allegan Water Quality

1998 Goal

Total phosphorus 84 ug/L 60 ug/L

Chlorophyll a (April-September average)

45 ug/L 30 ug/L

Dissolved oxygen(daily minimum)

4.2 mg/L 5 mg/L

Secchi (April-September average)

30 inches

42 inches

Carp/Catfish(average % of fish assemblage)

80% 30%

Reductions allocated as follows: Point source dischargers – 23% All other sources of phosphorus (NPS) - 50%

Total Maximum Daily Load

“The primary purpose of the TMDL program is to protect public health and the health of impaired aquatic ecosystems by ensuring attainment of water quality standards, including beneficial uses.”

US EPA, 1998

TMDL Research Education and Extension

Michigan State University Extension Land & Water Program at KBS received:

In 2001, a $249,000 319 grant to develop a nonpoint source tracking system, and help develop, coordinate & track implementation activities.

TMDL Research Education and Extension

Michigan State University Extension Land & Water Program at KBS received:

In 2001, a $249,000 319 grant to develop a nonpoint source tracking system, and help develop, coordinate & track implementation activities.

In 2003, a $485,000 USDA-CSREES Integrated Water Program grant to:

Characterize the sources, fate and transport of phosphorus in the TMDL watershed.

Integrate research, education, and extension to enhance phosphorus reduction strategies through the stakeholder driven TMDL organization.

Research

L ak e

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Research - Sampling

Auto-samplers (1 parameter) Daily composite TP

Weekly grab samples (17 parameters) TP, TDP, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, NO3

-, SO42-,

alkalinity, temperature, pH, specific conductance, DO, %DO, chlorophyll A

Four synoptic samplings (40 parameters) Weekly + Sc, Ti, V, Zn, Cr, Co, Cu, As, Se,

Rb, Mo, Sn, Pb, Mn, Fe Sr, Ba, U, Al, B, Ni, Cd, Ag

Discharge USGS gaging stations Isco autosampler stage

Phosphorus Sources – Lake Allegan

Inlet to Lake Allegan - Phosphorus Load

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osp

ho

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2005 2006

1998 MDEQ Load Estimate: 145,200 lbs/g.s. 2005 Load Estimate: 98,400 lbs/g.s (32 % reduction) 2006 Load Estimate: 120,800 lbs/g.s. (17% reduction)

Phosphorus Sources

Inlet to Lake Allegan - Monthly Phosphorus Loading

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2005 2006

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osp

ho

rus

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Point Sources Non-point Sourcs

Point Non-point Point Non-pointSources Sources Sources Sources

1998 50,700.00 94,400.00 34.9 65.12005 32,800.00 65,500.00 33.4 66.62006 28,600.00 92,200.00 23.7 76.3

Loading (lbs/g.s.) Loading (%)Year

Phosphorus Sources Growing Season NPS TP Exports

17 – 37 lbs/mi2

28 – 51 lbs/mi2

43 – 69 lbs/mi2

46 – 88 lbs/mi2

In General NPS Export Coefficients Increase

Excludes urban areas Mixed landuse watersheds

Battle CreekKalamazoo/

PortageMarshall Albion

Allegan

Charlotte

OtsegoPlainwell Olivet

Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma

DP:TP = 40 %PP:TP = 60 %

DP:TP = 70 %PP:TP = 30 %

DP:TP = 25 %PP:TP = 75 %

Phosphorus SourcesNPS Agricultural Phosphorus Fractions



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma

DP:TP = 40 %PP:TP = 60 %

DP:TP = 70 %PP:TP = 30 %

DP:TP = 25 %PP:TP = 75 %

Phosphorus Sources Agricultural TMDL Implications

Agricultural watersheds Conventional approach is to reduce P by promoting

soil conservation BMPs High dissolved P watersheds

Less effective Need to reduce P inputs

High particulate P watersheds More effective



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma

170 - 370 lbs/mi2230 – 430 lbs/mi2

Phosphorus SourcesGrowing Season Urban NPS TP Exports

Urban areas Kalamazoo/Portage Battle Creek



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma

Phosphorus SourcesUrban NPS TP Exports

Kalamazoo urban event

Kalamazoo River 5/02/2006

54 53 55

65 65

7782

95

40

50

60

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80

90

100

#1 R

iver

St.

#2 S

prin

kle

Rd.

#3 K

ings

Hw

y

#4a

Mill

sS

t.

#5 M

ichi

gan

Ave

.

#6 G

ull R

d.

#7P

atte

rson

St.

#8 M

osel

St.

Location

TP

(p

pb

)



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma

170 - 370 lbs/mi2230 – 430 lbs/mi2

Phosphorus SourcesUrban TMDL Implications

Urban watersheds Event sampling required to capture source Continue storm water management efforts



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma

Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments

Three Impoundments Emmett Street Dam Morrow Lake Lake Allegan

Influence sources, transport and fate of phosphorus



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma


Emmett Street impoundment sinking phosphorus 2005: 1700 lbs 2006: 2600 lbs

Reducing the export of phosphorus

Emmett Street Impoundment

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Inlet Outlet


Emmett Street impoundment Fed by the Battle Creek River High ratio of dissolved to total phosphorus

Impoundment sinking DP Suggest DP precipitation Geochemical process



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma


Morrow Lake Impoundment sourcing phosphorus 2005: 19,000 lbs 2006: 9,500 lbs

Increasing the export of phosphorus


Morrow Lake 1.7 mi2 impoundment Located approximately 2/3 down the watershed Mediates phosphorus transport



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma


Outlet growing season mean TP concentration relatively constant

Varying inlet concentrations

Inlet Outlet Concentation Concentration

Year g/l g/l1994 68.51999 70.12000 74.82001 67.5

2005 48.3 71.62006 62.4 70.4

Morrow Lake Total Phosphorus


During the growing season, Morrow Lake inlet to outlet: Particulate phosphorus increases Dissolved phosphorus decreases Dissolved nitrate decreases

Morrow Lake Particulate Phosphorus

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flow

Morrow Lake

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yll A

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Inlet PP Outlet PP Inlet Chl A Outlet Chl A


2006 Chlorophyll A sampled Chlorophyll A increases with particulate phosphorus Algal activity Biological process

flow


P reduced

P replaced

No net Preduction

P reduction towards goal

The Morrow Impoundment: Decouples the upstream portion of the watershed Replaces phosphorus reduced in that region Forces the downstream portion of the watershed to produce

reductions to meet Lake Allegan TMDL goals



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma


Lake Allegan impoundment sinking phosphorus 2005: 15,000 lbs 2006: 28,000 lbs

Storing phosphorus which slows the recovery

Implications for TMDL Stakeholders and Extension Educators

Phosphorus processes are important Biological Geochemical Can help, hurt, or mediate Outputs may change with input changes



Allegan

Charlotte


Concord

Galesburg

Bellevue

Homer

Augusta

Richland

Spring Arbor

Springport

Parma

Sources of total phosphorus are not sufficient for reduction strategies Phosphorus fractions BMP selection Phosphorus source and fraction changes could have unexpected

impact

Impoundments Environment for processes Time for processes Impact timeframe for

improvement

Preliminary Conclusions

Detailed phosphorus and chemistry data is required to develop TMDL phosphorus reduction strategies

Phosphorus analysis should include phosphorus forms

BMP recommendations should be based on phosphorus forms

Impoundments should be evaluated to determine their impact on the transport and fate of phosphorus

Target reduction must consider the long term impact of phosphorus processes

Questions and Discussion

Phosphorus Fate and Transport in an Impounded River System Implications for TMDL Stakeholders and Extension Educators Dean Baas MSU Geological Sciences.

Documents

phosphorus transport

fate of phosphorus slide

transport of phosphorus

phosphorus fate

export of phosphorus

sources of phosphorus

total phosphorus impoundment

reduction slide