ric lawson watershed planner huron river watershed council micorps staff
TRANSCRIPT
Ric LawsonWatershed Planner
Huron River Watershed CouncilMiCorps Staff
OutlineStormwater monitoring: what is it and why
should I care?
Basic training: stormwater bootcamp
What’s in it for me? Benefits
But does it work? A case-study
Huh? Conclusions and questions
Why stormwater mattersOne of the top pollutant sources nationally.
It affects everyoneStormwater regulations expanding
Non-point becoming point sourceRegulations now require monitoring and
TMDL planningPhosphorus and E. coliMunicipalities often ill-equipedWatershed monitoring acceptable
Stormwater monitoring 101Focus on impairments firstMap regulated stormwater
drainage area and network as best as possibleMajor tributariesDeveloped areas, land useOutfalls
Select sites to bracket potential sources
Long-term and “investigative” sites
Stormwater monitoring 101What and when to monitor
What: impairments/threats, surrogates, flow?When:
Wet vs. dry Sample size and variability
Laboratory coordinationCapacity and timingDetection limitsLogistical considerations
Volunteer ConsiderationsSample handling and processing training.
Flow?Scheduling volunteers
Not many neededRegular schedule vs. rain events
Safety concernsWeatherHigh flows
Data processing
Benefits (and challenges)GoodMandated monitoring (in some areas)Data collection opportunity: discover issuesFund, promote, expand monitoring effortsBring communities together: accountabilityBadComplicated program Regulatory responsibilityExpensive
Case-study: Huron RiverTwo county stormater groupsImpairments for phosphorus and E. coliExisting program in one county for baseline
monitoringExpanded to include wet-weather and
stormwater investigationsModel for state ambient stormwater
monitoring
Middle Huron Tributary MonitoringVolunteer-assisted program to monitor
tributary sites in the TMDL watershed (Middle Huron)
Focus on nutrients and stream flow to calculate loading
Monthly sampling May-SeptemberAdded storm sampling starting in 2007
Funded by Middle Huron PartnersMDNRE funding 2008-2010
Lab analysis by Ann Arbor WTP
Parameters EvaluatedpHConductivityDOE. coliTotal PhosphorusTotal Suspended SolidsNitrate-Nitrite
N
EW
S
Middle Huron Initiative Project Area
Ingham Co. Livingston Co. Oakland Co.
Wayne Co.
Monroe Co.
Washtenaw Co.Jackson Co.
Huron River Watershed
TP Loading in the Middle Huron
Mean [TP] ComparisonsSite(s) [TP] (mg/l)
2003-06[TP] (mg/l) 2008-09
T-test Probability
% Reduction
Non-Ann Arbor
0.048 0.036 0.01 24
Ann Arbor 0.072 0.047 <0.01 35
Traver Creek
0.069 0.046 <0.01 33
Swift Run 0.095 0.040 <0.01 58
Honey Creek
0.063 0.035 <0.01 45
Allens Creek
0.073 0.054 0.07 26
Malletts Creek
0.076 0.059 0.09 23
Superior Drain
0.070 0.043 0.03 38
Note: Baseline samples only. Only sites with p<0.10 are shown.
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5/13/10 12:00 AM 5/13/10 4:48 AM 5/13/10 9:36 AM 5/13/10 2:24 PM 5/13/10 7:12 PM 5/14/10 12:00 AM
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Rain (inches)
Glazier Flow (cfs)
Plymouth Flow (cfs)
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4/4/03 6:00 AM 4/4/03 1:12 PM 4/4/03 8:24 PM 4/5/03 3:36 AM 4/5/03 10:48 AM 4/5/03 6:00 PM
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Rain (inches)
Glazier Flow
Plymouth Flow
2010
Total Rain: 0.62 inches in 2 hours prior to highest flow
0.97 inches total of rain received on May 11-May 13.
2003Total Rain: 0.6 inches in 2 hours prior to highest flow
1 inches total of rain received on April 4
Prior moisture conditions: In 2003, off and on rains occurred throughout the day of the storm. In 2010, off and on rain occurred throughout 2 days prior to the storm. Both years had substantial rains 6 days prior to dates shown on graph.
Note: plymouth transducer was offline
Storm Comparison #1: Hydrographs
ConclusionsTotal Phosphorus concentrations have
decreasedDecreases significant in urban tributariesTributaries respond differentlyStorm samples are different from baselineFlow differences can be detectedToo early for investigative results or
conclusions
