Module 4 and 5 Stream Ecology

Detecting Nutrient Impacts on Stream Water Quality Case Study- Cape Fear River, North Carolina

Module 4/5 Stream Nutrients – Cape Fear River

Background: These slides present: 1 . background information on the Cape Fear River, N.C. and Tischer Creek, Duluth, MN for the purpose of discussing stream nutrient chemistry analysis in lab (only Cape Fear as of 5-16-03) 2. Specific techniques for students to review in or out of class (packaged as separate slide file from Modules 8/9 and 10/11 that cover Lab techniques for lake and stream surveys) 3. Note: There will be accompanying information in the form of

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pdf, rtf and .doc files of a lab lesson handout(s) and supporting info

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pdf, rtf and .doc files of analytical methods for a suite of water quality parameters (see notes on slides for further information)

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Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003

Features

 Largest NC river system 9000 sq. mi.

 Importance –industry, transportation, recreation, drinking water, aesthetics  Estuary – nursery for fish crabs, shrimp  >1.5 million people •

Multi-agency monitoring program led by UNC-Wilmington

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Data animation concept initiated by Rich Huber (UNC- Wilmington)

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DVT developed by Norm Will et al. (NRRI WOW) Water Resource / Quality Issues

 human wastewater  swine and poultry wastewater      logging row crop agriculture industrial wastewater >280 permitted point sources urban stormwater U1-m4/5-s3

Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003

Lower Cape Fear R. in SE N. Carolina Major river system

• 1995-2002 monthly data available at www.uncwil.edu/cmsr/aquaticecology/lcfrp • full Annual WQ reports also on web with interpretation by UNC-Wilmington scientists

River Run DVT:

• animates date either as a time series for 1 site (out of 15) or upstream to downstream at one date • T, DO, pH, salinity, EC, turbidity, fecals, NO3, NH4, TN, ortho-P, TP, chlorophyll-a

Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003

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freshwater ocean estuary

Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003

• salinity 0 – 30 ppt • variable DO, fecals, NH4 N, TP, … • many dramatic events in Aug-Sep U1-m4/5-s5

Hurricane Bonnie

STORM EFFECTS

•Salinity •DO •Fecals •Turbidity • nutrients September 1998 – Some things went up and some went down

Developed by: R. Axler http://www.uncwil.edu/riverrun/index.html

Updated: May 2003

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So what happens nearly every Aug Sep in N. Carolina ?

Hurricanes ! Bonnie in Sept ’98 Other hurricanes or gales

Bertha Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003 Fran

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A closer look at early September 1998

Hurricane Bonnie hit on Aug 26, 1998 Here is Aug’98 : pre-Bonnie DO colored Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003 ----station gradient ---

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Another look at the DO record straddling Hurricanes Fran, Bonnie and Floyd Cape Fear River Fran Bonnie Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003 Floyd

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END

Developed by: R. Axler Updated: May 2003

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