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Francisco Flores-Lopez Zachary M. Easton Tammo S. Steenhuis Cornell University

Spatial Variability of Groundwater Soluble Phosphorous on an Alluvial Valley-Fill Aquifer and Connection to Stream Quality in the Catskill Mountains. Francisco Flores-Lopez Zachary M. Easton Tammo S. Steenhuis Cornell University Biological and Environmental Engineering.

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Francisco Flores-Lopez Zachary M. Easton Tammo S. Steenhuis Cornell University

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  1. Spatial Variability of Groundwater Soluble Phosphorous on an Alluvial Valley-Fill Aquifer and Connection to Stream Quality in the Catskill Mountains Francisco Flores-Lopez Zachary M. Easton Tammo S. Steenhuis Cornell University Biological and Environmental Engineering

  2. Groundwater monitoring of SRP levels in agricultural fields and connection to stream quality is the major consideration in this study Objective To develop a farm-scale groundwater flow model and incorporate data regarding spatial variability of SRP to describe and predict SRP transport • To identify critical management groundwater areas that may affect the stream SRP concentrations • To assess the influence of these high risk groundwater areas on stream flow SRP concentrations

  3. Soluble Reactive Phosphorous Modeling of the Groundwater Flow (Visual ModFlow) and SRP Tracking Pathlines (MODPATH) Steady State Conditions Geostatistical Analysis of Groundwater SRP – Kriging Interpolation by Seasons Relationship between Groundwater SRP Spatial Variability and Stream Quality Site Layout, Water Samples and Data Analysis • Valley bottom dairy farm in the Cannonsville Reservoir Watershed • 22 Piezometers • Depths from 0.3 to 1.5 m • 542 groundwater samples (06/2004 – 04/2006) • 22 Capacitance probes (Data Loggers) • 1 hr intervals • 4 Stream Sampling Sites • 146 stream water samples • Sampling once every two weeks • - base flow conditions -

  4. Results –SRP Concentrations (mg L-1)

  5. Results – Modeling of Groundwater Flow (ModFlow) Correlation coefficient for the calibrated steady state and observed average water table height: r2 = 0.76 Average groundwater table depth = 0.6 m Maximum depth: Summer (0.72 m) Minimum depth: Spring (0.50 m) SRP tracking: - P21 shortest travel distance: 30 m - P8 longest travel distance : 420 m - Seven of the 22 piezometers influenced Creek B (P10, P12, P15, P17, P21, P22, and P27)

  6. Results – Predicted Groundwater SRP Maps at 10-m Cell Size Resolution

  7. Results – Predicted Groundwater SRP and Distance to Streams

  8. Results – Stream Quality Creek B fed by groundwater [GW & SW not statistically different (p=0.876)] Stream sampling at “base flow” = 75% water samples < 0.03 mg L-1 => Background groundwater SRP

  9. Conclusions • We identified critical management groundwater zones where high SRP concentrations may be reaching streams • Best management practices should be implemented in riparian areas (targeting hydrological pathways) to improve water quality • Results demonstrate the importance of identifying processes that describe groundwater and stream flow interactions

  10. Thank you !!!

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