Transcript 2015 KRWW sampling results presentation.pptx

Summary of 2015
Kentucky River Watershed Watch
Sampling Results
Percentage of the earth
covered in fresh water.
What is 3%?
About 2% of the fresh water is frozen in
glaciers, leaving 1% as usable fresh water.
What and when?
Herbicide
10 sites in May
Pathogens
101 sites in July
109 sites in August
Chemicals and Nutrients
103 sites in September
Metals
27 sites in September
Total # of KRWW Sites Sampled by Year
300
248
250
231
207
202
197
# of Sites
200
189
166
163
2014
2015
176
166
157
155
145
150
144
134
115
100
87
50
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
0
Where?
A range of 6-9 for this water
quality parameter is ideal for
aquatic life.
What is pH?
Did you know?
In the Kentucky River Basin, low pH conditions are
observed more frequently in southeastern
Kentucky. This is due to the reaction of the sulfuric
bedrock and coal deposits with rainwater—which
produces sulfuric acid.
This critical water quality indicator
decreases in concentration as the water
temperature increases.
Thus, aquatic organisms may be more
stressed in hot, summer temperatures.
What is dissolved oxygen?
Dissolved oxygen
14 mg/L
6 mg/L
13°
Water Temperature
2°
This water quality indicator refers to the
level of dissolved inorganic ions in the water
and is a measure of the sampled water’s
ability to carry an electrical current.
It is also a useful field measurement for
detecting a wide range of pollutants in natural
waterbodies.
What is conductivity?
1,000 mS/cm!
Hmmmm…What
could be causing
that???
Field Chemistry
Dissolved Oxygen
Aquatic Life Standard = 5 mg/L
28 of 154 sites < 5 mg/L
pH
Aquatic Life Standard = 6 to 9
0 readings < 6 and 1 reading > 9
Temperature
0 readings > than Aquatic Life Std. of 31.7C
Conductivity
Unofficial Aquatic Life Std. of 500 microsiemens/cm
86 of 162 sites (53%) > 500 S/cm
Lowest Dissolved Oxygen
0.4 mg/L
Site #3442
Unnamed Trib, Rockcastle Co.
Susana Lein
Highest Conductivity
1,420 mS/cm
Site #3369
Kentucky River, Carroll Co.
Chris Rose
Herbicide: Triazines
Widely-used agricultural pesticide to control
broadleaf weeds. Can be applied before and
after planting crops.
Commonly used on corn, sugarcane, sorghum
crops. Highly persistent in soil.
Associated with concerns about human
reproductive effects through drinking water.
Triazine Water Quality Standards
EPA Standards Only (No Kentucky stds):
Drinking Water Supply Std. = 3.0 micrograms/L
Chronic Aquatic Life Std. = 12 micrograms/L
Acute Aquatic Life Std. = 350 micrograms/L
Triazine detections at 2 of 10 sites.
No detections > Standards
Highest Triazine
0.34 mg/L
#3350 - Town Creek
Jessamine Co.
Mary Miller
A commonly used indicator
of the potential for human contact
with water to result in
illness or infection.
What is E. coli?
Pathogens: E. coli
Can indicate presence of pathogens that may
cause illness or infections in people.
Sources:
Failing septic systems
Straight pipes
Leaking sewage lines
Livestock
Wildlife, pets
E. coli Water Quality Standards
Swimming Standard = 240 cfu/100 ml
(instantaneous)
Standards apply during Recreation Season from
May 1 to October 31.
Highest E. coli
30,760 cfu/100 ml
Site #3224
Middle Fk Lower
Devil’s Cr, Wolfe Co.
Tricia Coakley
Highest E. coli
>24,196 cfu/100 ml
Site #990 - Tributary
Madison Co.
Alice Jones
High results are from
two different labs.
84% of sites
out of
compliance
with safe
swimming
standards
Highest E. coli
ALL > 24,196 cfu
#1151
Cram Creek, Letcher
Jim Dentinger
#1174
Royal Spring, Scott
Cindy King
#3438
Spring, Rockcastle
Tabea Wolf-Fourman
78% of sites
out of
compliance
with safe
swimming
standards
Best Management Practices for
Pathogens
Maintain septic systems.
Increase municipal sewer line coverage, and repair
sewer line leaks.
Fence livestock out of waterways.
Maintain riparian (streamside) vegetation buffers.
Fall Sampling Event
NUTRIENT ANALYSIS CRITERIA:
($95/sample –Conductivity, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, Chloride,
Sulfate, Nitrate, Alkalinity and Total Suspended Solids)
Offered for most sites
METALS ANALYIS CRITERIA:
($70/sample –30 metals)
Offered for:
• New sampling sites
• Eastern Kentucky sites
• A few other historically high-metals sites
Water Pollutants
$200
The two main nutrient
pollutants of concern to water
quality conditions.
What are Nitrogen and Phosphorus?
Contributions to the Hypoxia Zone
Source: Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico, www.water.usgs.gov
Nutrients
Nitrogen (Total Nitrogen, Nitrate-Nitrogen)
Phosphorus (Total Phosphorus)
What’s the problem?? High nutrients lead to algal
blooms  Algae die off  Oxygen consumed as
algae decomposes  DECREASED DISSOLVED
OXYGEN LEVELS are bad for aquatic life.
Also, can cause taste and odor problems in drinking
water.
Total Nitrogen and Nitrate-Nitrogen
Nitrogen Aquatic Life Benchmark = 3 mg/L
26 of 99 readings > 3 mg/L
Nitrate Drinking Water Supply Std. = 10 mg/L
10 of 99 readings > 10 mg/L
Highest Total Nitrogen
6.11 mg/L
Site #1221
Cane Run, Scott Co.
Cindy King
26% of sites
above
recommended
limit for
aquatic life
Phosphorus
Used in plant
photosynthesis
Central Kentucky  higher than average natural
levels of phosphorus in limestone bedrock & soils
Aquatic Life Benchmark for Phosphorus
= 0.3 mg/L
42 of 99 Phosphorus Results > 0.3 mg/L
Highest Total Phosphorus
1.34 mg/L
Site #793
McConnell Spring, Fayette Co.
Steven Rogers
42% of sites
above
recommended
limit for
aquatic life
Conductivity
Not a pollutant itself, but serves as an indicator
of possible pollutants.
Levels directly affect aquatic life support, negative
impacts observed at 300-500 microSiemens
(S)/centimeter.
Can serve as an indicator of sewage input, mining
runoff or other pollutant sources.
KRWW Benchmark = 500 S/cm
Conductivity Results
53% of field readings > 500 micromhos/cm
VS.
51% of lab readings > 500 micromhos/cm
Water Pollutants
$300
What metal do we most
commonly detect in KRWW
sampling?
What is Iron?
Sources of iron can be the natural
geological background material,
groundwater, mines and wastewater.
Iron is more of a nuisance than a health
threat—possibly causing laundry to turn
orange or drinking water to have a bitter
or astringent taste.
Metals
30 different metals analyzed for 27 sites
Only 14 metals with Water Quality Standards
12 with Drinking Water Supply Standard
10 with Warm Water Aquatic Habitat Standard
Metal Readings > Standards
Metal
# of Drinking
Water Standard
Exceedances
# of Acute
(short-term)
Aquatic Life
Exceedances
# of Chronic
(long-term)
Aquatic Life
Exceedances
Site with
Highest
Reading
Location
Aluminum
0
1
N/A
#820
North Fork Kentucky
River, Perry Co.
Copper
0
1
1
#3349
Waterside Lake,
Fayette Co.
Iron
6
1
1
#820
North Fork Kentucky
River, Perry Co.
Lead
0
0
1
#820
North Fork Kentucky
River, Perry Co.
Habitat Assessment
Parameters
Habitat Parameters
Condition Category
Score
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Substrate/Available Cover
Embeddedness
Velocity/Depth Regime
Sediment Deposition
Channel Flow Status
Channel Alteration
Frequency of Riffles/Bends
Bank Stability
Vegetative Protection
Riparian Vegetative Zone
Final Score
Biological Assessment
Habitat and Biological Results
5 Sites Assessed for Habitat and Biology
Habitat:
Biology:
2 good
1 good
2 fair
4 fair
0 poor
0 poor
2015 Sites of Concern
• Cane Run (Scott County) – Sites #1174, 1221
high pathogens, nutrients
• Carr Fork (Perry County) – Site #875
high conductivity, pathogens, metals
• North Fork Kentucky River (Perry County) – Site #820
high pathogens, metals
• Wolf Run of South Elkhorn Creek (Fayette County) –
Sites # 793, 915, 1129, 1132, 1137, 1138, 1139
low dissolved oxygen, high conductivity, pathogens,
nutrients
2015 KRWW Sites & Watersheds of Concern
DAILY DOUBLE!
Water Quality Protection
$500
The people you need to
partner with
to better understand & protect
your local waters.
Who are the other samplers in
my watershed (or county)?
GREAT QUESTION!
They are the people who share a
common interest in protecting
and improving the local
waterways that you care about
most. Find out who they are and
work together to make a more
powerful team!