1 / 26

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.

media
Download Presentation

Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identify Pollution Causes and Sources

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

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

  2. Confirm impairments and identify pollutants • Compare available monitoring data to wqs: • Document magnitude of impairment • Document seasonal/temporal patterns • Document spatial distribution

  3. Spatial Analysis • Isolate critical subwatersheds • Combine with land use/land cover data

  4. Flow Relationships • Point vs. Nonpoint

  5. Flow Relationships • Point vs. Nonpoint

  6. Temporal Analysis • Seasonality • Stratify data by potential source activities • Tillage • Crop canopy development • Manure/fertilizer applications • Grazing season • Logging • Construction projects • Street cleaning

  7. Other tools: • Stakeholder knowledge • Direct observation (streamwalk) • Specialized tools, e.g., microbial source tracking, ground water aging

  8. Supplementing available data • Windshield surveys • Interviews with residents • Volunteer monitoring • Bioassessment • Targeted sampling • Chemical/biological sampling Helps lay the groundwork for implementation!

  9. Examples

  10. 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

  11. St. Albans Bay VT RCWP

  12. 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 in1961 as a flood control reservoir. • Sediment deposition the dominant water quality problem

  13. Lake Pittsfield IL

  14. 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

  15. VT 319 NMP

  16. VT 319 NMP

  17. VT 319 NMP

  18. VT 319 NMP

  19. VT 319 NMP

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

  21. Stressor Identification

  22. 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

More Related