Summary of 2010 Kentucky River Watershed Watch Sampling Results - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Summary of 2010 Kentucky River Watershed Watch Sampling Results

What and when?

Herbicides (Atrazine and 2,4-D) 23 sites in May Pathogens 168 sites in mid-July 103 sites in late July Chemicals/Nutrients/Metals 26 sites in September

Total # of KRWW Sites Sampled by Year

87 115 155 166 207 157 202 248 231 197 176 189 50 100 150 200 250 300 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 # of Sites

Stabilizing at around 200?

Where? ?

Field Chemistry

Dissolved Oxygen

– Aquatic Life Standard = 5 mg/L – 22% of stations had readings < 5 mg/L

pH

– Aquatic Life Standard = 6 to 9 – NO readings < 6

Temperature

– None greater than Aquatic Life Std. of 31.7°C – Some in lakes and Ky River were close!

Herbicides

Triazines

 Highly persistent in soil, EPA Standards only Drinking Water Standard=3.0 micrograms/L Acute Aquatic Life Standard = 350 micrograms/L Chronic Aquatic Life Standard = 12 micrograms/L

2,4-D

Common herbicide to control broadleaf weeds EPA Drinking Water Standard (MCL) = 70 ppb

Atrazine detected at 4 sites in Fayette and Madison Counties:

Pathogens (E coli)

 Can indicate presence of other pathogens that may cause illness or infections in people.  Sources include failing septic systems, straightpipes, leaking sewage lines, livestock  Can reduce pathogens by maintaining septic systems, repairing sewer line leaks, increasing municipal sewerage, fencing livestock from waterways, and maintaining riparian buffers

• E. coli Water Quality Standards

 Swimming Standard = 240 cfu/100 ml

(instantaneous) Swimming Standard = 130 cfu/100ml (geometric mean of at least 5 samples in 30 days) Standards apply during Recreation Season from May 1 to October 31

Pathogen Sampling Results

SYNOPTIC EVENT (mid-July) 71% (119/168) of sites exceeded instantaneous swimming standard FOLLOW-UP EVENT (late July) 80% (82/103) of sites exceeded instantaneous swimming standard

Percentage of KRWW Sites Exceeding Safe Swimming Standard for Pathogens

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

% of Synoptic Sites % of Follow-Up Sites

Fall Sampling Event – Nutrients, Chemistry and Metals

NUTRIENTS

• Nitrogen (total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen)
• Phosphorus (total phosphorus)
• Sulfur (sulfate)

 Lead to algal blooms, which consume oxygen as they decompose  bad for aquatic life  Taste and odor problems in drinking water  High nitrates can cause “Blue baby” disease (or methemoglobinemia)

Adding insult to injury…

Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3-N)

Drinking Water Supply Std. = 10 mg/L Aquatic Life Benchmark = 3.9 mg/L No Nitrate-Nitrogen results > 10 mg/L or 3.9 mg/L Highest reading = 3.3 mg/L at K350/#1069 at Hickman Creek, Fayette County * Fewer sites sampled, mainly only new sites

Total Phosphorus

Phosphorus is part of photosynthesis cycle, allowing plants to convert CO2 to oxygen. Higher than average natural levels of phosphorus in bedrock & soils of Central Kentucky. Aquatic Life Benchmark = 0.3 mg/L 7 2010 Results > 0.3 mg/L Highest reading = 0.44 mg/L at #3004 at Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County 2nd Highest reading = at K350/#1069 at Hickman Creek, Fayette County

Sulfate (SO4)

Can be picked up as groundwater moves through sulfate-containing minerals in bedrock. Drinking water with high sulfate levels can cause diarrhea & dehydration in people and animals. Drinking Water Supply Std. = 250 mg/L No 2010 Sulfate results > 250 mg/L Highest reading of 208 mg/L at #2929 at Calloway Creek, Madison County

Chlorides

Chlorine + Metals = Chloride Salts

• Drinking Water Supply Std = 250 mg/L
• Chronic Aquatic Life Std = 600 mg/L
• Acute Aquatic Life Std = 1,200 mg/L

1 reading > 267 mg/L at #3019 at Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County

Conductivity

Measure of total dissolved solids

• r ability of water to carry an

electrical current.

• Levels directly affect aquatic life support

(negative impacts observed at 300-500)

• Can serve as indicator of sewage input
• Ohio River Std = 800 micromhos/cm
• EPA’s proposed Central Appalachia Std =

300 micromos/cm 5 2010 results > 800 micromhos/cm

High (Lab) Conductivity Sites

K054 / #793 – 902 micromhos/cm McConnell Springs, Fayette County K307 / #1028 – 899 micromhos/cm Wolf Run, Fayette County #2929 – 1098 micromhos/cm Calloway Creek, Madison County #2977 – 914 micromhos/cm Cove Spring, Boyle/Mercer County #3019 – 1,500 micromhos/cm Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County

Metals Summary

28 metals analyzed at lab 0 detections for 13 of these 28 metals 14 of the 28 metals  associated water quality criteria When no detection of metal, result entered as ½ of MDL (minimum detection level) ½ MDL of Cadmium, Lead, Thallium > Water Quality Standard – NO violation

Metals with Water Quality Criteria

Antimony – no detections Arsenic – no detections Barium – no water quality standard violations Beryllium – no detections Cadmium – no detections Chromium – no detections Copper – 2 sites > chronic AL (#1139 and #3019) Iron – 9 sites > DWS, 3 sites > chronic AL Lead – no detections Nickel – no water quality standard violations Selenium – no detections Silver – no detections Thallium – no detections Zinc – no water quality standard violations

2010 Sites of Concern

K005 (#744)—Cane Run, Scott County (field dissolved oxygen, pathogens) K072 (#811)—Steele’s Branch, Fayette County (field conductivity, phosphorus) K264 (#990) - Unnamed tributary, Madison County (field conductivity, pathogens) K307 (#1028) - Wolf Run, Fayette County (field conductivity, pathogens) K350 (1069) - Hickman Creek, Fayette County (field conductivity, phosphorus)

K606 (#1270) - Unnamed Tributary, Lincoln County (field dissolved oxygen, pathogens) K643 (#1307) - Jessamine Creek, Jessamine County (field dissolved oxygen, pathogens) 2976—Mocks Creek, Boyle County (field dissolved oxygen/conductivity, pathogens) 2993—West Hickman Creek, Fayette County (pathogens, phosphorus) 3004, 3019– Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County (field conductivity, pathogens, phosphorus)

2010 Sites of Concern

Sites of Concern for Pathogens

K184, K464, K466, K468, K471, K517 - Wolf Run, Fayette County (includes Springs Branch and Vaughn’s Branch) K309 (#1030) - McKecknie Creek, Garrard County

Questions & Discussion

Anyone present have a 2010 Site of Concern? Is there any local watershed activity addressing the concerns? Other questions about sampling results and their meanings?

Recent Developments

• TMDL Reports

– Submitted to KYDOW

• South Elkhorn Pathogen TMDL
• Cane Run Pathogen TMDL

– Schedule to be completed by 6/30/2011

• Town Branch/Wolf Run TP TMDL
• Cane Run TP TMDL
• Eagle Creek Pathogen TMDL
• UK EPA Center of Excellence for Watershed Mgmt.

– Approved by EPA (Fall 2010) – Official Launch (Spring 2011)

• KWRRI Annual Meeting (March 21, 2011)