Phosphorus Fate and Transport in an Impounded River System
Implications for TMDL Stakeholders and Extension Educators
Dean Baas
MSU Geological Sciences Department
MSU Extension Land & Water Program
W. K. Kellogg Biological Station
Presentation Outline
Lake Allegan/Kalamazoo River phosphorus TMDL
Overview Research
Lake Allegan phosphorus Sources
Point Nonpoint
Kalamazoo River watershed phosphorus sources, fate and transport Agriculture Urban Impoundments
Implications for TMDL stakeholders and extension educators
Preliminary Conclusions
Questions and Discussion
Lake Allegan/Kalamazoo River phosphorus TMDL watershed
1600 mi2 watershed in Southwest Michigan Agricultural watershed Nationally recognized stakeholder driven
phosphorus TMDL
Battle CreekKalamazooPortage
Grand Rapids
Lake Allegan
EPA 303d list as phosphorus impaired waterbody
2.5 mi2 impoundment hydroelectric dam impoundment
Periodic nuisance algal blooms Carp/Catfish
Lake Allegan Water Quality
1998 Goal
Total phosphorus 84 ug/L 60 ug/L
Chlorophyll a (April-September average)
45 ug/L 30 ug/L
Dissolved oxygen(daily minimum)
4.2 mg/L 5 mg/L
Secchi (April-September average)
30 inches
42 inches
Carp/Catfish(average % of fish assemblage)
80% 30%
Reductions allocated as follows: Point source dischargers – 23% All other sources of phosphorus (NPS) - 50%
Total Maximum Daily Load
“The primary purpose of the TMDL program is to protect public health and the health of impaired aquatic ecosystems by ensuring attainment of water quality standards, including beneficial uses.”
US EPA, 1998
TMDL Research Education and Extension
Michigan State University Extension Land & Water Program at KBS received:
In 2001, a $249,000 319 grant to develop a nonpoint source tracking system, and help develop, coordinate & track implementation activities.
TMDL Research Education and Extension
Michigan State University Extension Land & Water Program at KBS received:
In 2001, a $249,000 319 grant to develop a nonpoint source tracking system, and help develop, coordinate & track implementation activities.
In 2003, a $485,000 USDA-CSREES Integrated Water Program grant to:
Characterize the sources, fate and transport of phosphorus in the TMDL watershed.
Integrate research, education, and extension to enhance phosphorus reduction strategies through the stakeholder driven TMDL organization.
Research
L ak e
Al l eg an
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Research - Sampling
Auto-samplers (1 parameter) Daily composite TP
Weekly grab samples (17 parameters) TP, TDP, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, NO3
-, SO42-,
alkalinity, temperature, pH, specific conductance, DO, %DO, chlorophyll A
Four synoptic samplings (40 parameters) Weekly + Sc, Ti, V, Zn, Cr, Co, Cu, As, Se,
Rb, Mo, Sn, Pb, Mn, Fe Sr, Ba, U, Al, B, Ni, Cd, Ag
Discharge USGS gaging stations Isco autosampler stage
Phosphorus Sources – Lake Allegan
Inlet to Lake Allegan - Phosphorus Load
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Date
To
tal
Ph
osp
ho
rus
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ay)
2005 2006
1998 MDEQ Load Estimate: 145,200 lbs/g.s. 2005 Load Estimate: 98,400 lbs/g.s (32 % reduction) 2006 Load Estimate: 120,800 lbs/g.s. (17% reduction)
Phosphorus Sources
Inlet to Lake Allegan - Monthly Phosphorus Loading
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2005 2006
To
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Ph
osp
ho
rus
(lb
s/m
on
th)
Point Sources Non-point Sourcs
Point Non-point Point Non-pointSources Sources Sources Sources
1998 50,700.00 94,400.00 34.9 65.12005 32,800.00 65,500.00 33.4 66.62006 28,600.00 92,200.00 23.7 76.3
Loading (lbs/g.s.) Loading (%)Year
Phosphorus Sources Growing Season NPS TP Exports
17 – 37 lbs/mi2
28 – 51 lbs/mi2
43 – 69 lbs/mi2
46 – 88 lbs/mi2
In General NPS Export Coefficients Increase
Excludes urban areas Mixed landuse watersheds
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
DP:TP = 40 %PP:TP = 60 %
DP:TP = 70 %PP:TP = 30 %
DP:TP = 25 %PP:TP = 75 %
Phosphorus SourcesNPS Agricultural Phosphorus Fractions
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
DP:TP = 40 %PP:TP = 60 %
DP:TP = 70 %PP:TP = 30 %
DP:TP = 25 %PP:TP = 75 %
Phosphorus Sources Agricultural TMDL Implications
Agricultural watersheds Conventional approach is to reduce P by promoting
soil conservation BMPs High dissolved P watersheds
Less effective Need to reduce P inputs
High particulate P watersheds More effective
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
170 - 370 lbs/mi2230 – 430 lbs/mi2
Phosphorus SourcesGrowing Season Urban NPS TP Exports
Urban areas Kalamazoo/Portage Battle Creek
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
Phosphorus SourcesUrban NPS TP Exports
Kalamazoo urban event
Kalamazoo River 5/02/2006
54 53 55
65 65
7782
95
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100
#1 R
iver
St.
#2 S
prin
kle
Rd.
#3 K
ings
Hw
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#4a
Mill
sS
t.
#5 M
ichi
gan
Ave
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#6 G
ull R
d.
#7P
atte
rson
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#8 M
osel
St.
Location
TP
(p
pb
)
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
170 - 370 lbs/mi2230 – 430 lbs/mi2
Phosphorus SourcesUrban TMDL Implications
Urban watersheds Event sampling required to capture source Continue storm water management efforts
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
Three Impoundments Emmett Street Dam Morrow Lake Lake Allegan
Influence sources, transport and fate of phosphorus
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
Emmett Street impoundment sinking phosphorus 2005: 1700 lbs 2006: 2600 lbs
Reducing the export of phosphorus
Emmett Street Impoundment
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Inlet Outlet
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
Emmett Street impoundment Fed by the Battle Creek River High ratio of dissolved to total phosphorus
Impoundment sinking DP Suggest DP precipitation Geochemical process
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
Morrow Lake Impoundment sourcing phosphorus 2005: 19,000 lbs 2006: 9,500 lbs
Increasing the export of phosphorus
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
Morrow Lake 1.7 mi2 impoundment Located approximately 2/3 down the watershed Mediates phosphorus transport
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
Outlet growing season mean TP concentration relatively constant
Varying inlet concentrations
Inlet Outlet Concentation Concentration
Year g/l g/l1994 68.51999 70.12000 74.82001 67.5
2005 48.3 71.62006 62.4 70.4
Morrow Lake Total Phosphorus
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
During the growing season, Morrow Lake inlet to outlet: Particulate phosphorus increases Dissolved phosphorus decreases Dissolved nitrate decreases
Morrow Lake Particulate Phosphorus
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Ph
osp
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rus
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/l)
Inlet PP Outlet PP
flow
Morrow Lake
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Part
icu
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Ph
osp
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ug
/l)
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Ch
loro
ph
yll A
(u
g/l)
Inlet PP Outlet PP Inlet Chl A Outlet Chl A
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
2006 Chlorophyll A sampled Chlorophyll A increases with particulate phosphorus Algal activity Biological process
flow
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
P reduced
P replaced
No net Preduction
P reduction towards goal
The Morrow Impoundment: Decouples the upstream portion of the watershed Replaces phosphorus reduced in that region Forces the downstream portion of the watershed to produce
reductions to meet Lake Allegan TMDL goals
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
Phosphorus Sources, Transport and FateImpoundments
Lake Allegan impoundment sinking phosphorus 2005: 15,000 lbs 2006: 28,000 lbs
Storing phosphorus which slows the recovery
Implications for TMDL Stakeholders and Extension Educators
Phosphorus processes are important Biological Geochemical Can help, hurt, or mediate Outputs may change with input changes
Battle CreekKalamazoo/
PortageMarshall Albion
Allegan
Charlotte
OtsegoPlainwell Olivet
Concord
Galesburg
Bellevue
Homer
Augusta
Richland
Spring Arbor
Springport
Parma
Sources of total phosphorus are not sufficient for reduction strategies Phosphorus fractions BMP selection Phosphorus source and fraction changes could have unexpected
impact
Impoundments Environment for processes Time for processes Impact timeframe for
improvement
Preliminary Conclusions
Detailed phosphorus and chemistry data is required to develop TMDL phosphorus reduction strategies
Phosphorus analysis should include phosphorus forms
BMP recommendations should be based on phosphorus forms
Impoundments should be evaluated to determine their impact on the transport and fate of phosphorus
Target reduction must consider the long term impact of phosphorus processes
Questions and Discussion