b. coco j. doiron m. gamache
TRANSCRIPT
B. Coco
J. Doiron
M. Gamache
Our study was guided by the following two questions:
1.) How do land use patterns affect the physical condition of and water quality in streams?
2.) How does water quality change in response to precipitation events?
1.) Increase in plant growth
2.) Algae bloom
3.) Decline in dissolved oxygen
4.) Increased stress/death of fish
and macro-invertebrates
1.) Fertilizer runoff from
lawns and cropland
2.) Animal manure
runoff
3.) Disturbed land use
4.) Leaking septic systems
http://www.vacd.org/rcd/documents/OtterCreekWatershedMainstemwTribsMap.pdf
Watershed Area
Average Depths
Average Widths
Flow rate Range
Canopy Cover
Stream Bottom
Macro-invertebrate Indicators
1102 sq. miles218.45 sq. miles
35%
Extensive cobble Exposed bedrock ledge
19.5 meters20.5 meters
.27 meters .36 meters
2.56 -7.67 cubic m/sec.1.41-4.99 cubic m/sec.
Abundant diversity of pollution sensitive species
Abundant diversity of pollution sensitive species
Phosphorus: Cold River & Otter Creek
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
7/1
0
7/2
4
8/7
8/2
1
9/4
9/1
8
10
/2
10
/16
Date
Co
nc
en
tra
tio
n (
ug
/L)
Cold River
Otter Creek (Wa)
Cold River
Otter CreekTSS
Phosphorus vs. TSS
Cold River
0
20
40
60
80
7/10
7/17
7/24
7/31
8/7
8/14
8/21
8/28
9/4
9/11
9/18
9/25
10/2
10/9
10/16
Date
Ph
osp
ho
rus
(ug/
L)
0
10
20
30
40
50
TSS Phosphorus
TSS
Phosphorus vs. TSS
Otter Creek: Wallingford
0
10
20
30
40
50
7/10
7/17
7/24
7/31
8/7
8/14
8/21
8/28
9/4
9/11
9/18
9/25
10/2
10/9
10/16
10/23
10/30
11/6
11/13
Date
Ph
osp
ho
rus
(ug/
L)
05101520253035
TSS Phosphorus
TSS
Phosphorus
TSS
Coliform: Cold River vs. Otter Creek
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
7/1
0
7/2
4
8/7
8/2
1
9/4
9/1
8
10/2
10/1
6
10/3
0
11/1
3
Date
Co
lifo
rm CR
OC-Wa
E Coli: Cold River vs. Otter Creek
0
500
1000
1500
2000
7/1
0
7/2
4
8/7
8/2
1
9/4
9/1
8
10/2
10/1
6
10/3
0
11/1
3
Date
E C
oli Cold River
Otter Creek
1.) Phosphorus levels seem
closely correlated with TSS
levels
2.) Increased elevation
gradients seem to correlate
with change rates in
phosphorus levels.
3.) Further testing is warranted
1.) Increase frequency of monitoring
2.) Expand number of sampling sites to include more tributaries of the Otter Creek, preferably near their confluences
3.) Increase efforts to reduce runoff through expansion of riparian buffers
Upper Otter Creek Watershed Council Reports 2006 & 2007
Vermont.gov “Stream Geomorphic Assessment”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality
United States Geological Survey “Otter Creek Flow Rate Data”
Acknowledgments
All The Folks at VT EPSCoR and Vermont Streams
Project
– Kathi-Jo Jankowski
– Declan McCabe
– All the Undergraduate Students!!!
Mill River Union High School
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation