Past Updates:

2004

2003

 

EPA Targeted Watershed Initiative: Susquehanna River Headwaters, NY and PA

Quarterly Progress Report Number 3 (1 March 2004 through 31 May 2004)

Submitted to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2

Office of Policy and Management

Grants and Contracts Management Office

290 Broadway, 27 th Floor

New York , New York 10007-1866

 

Submitted by:

James Curatolo, Watershed Coordinator

The Upper Susquehanna Coalition

c/o Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District

56 Main Street

Owego , NY 13827

607-546-2528

30 June 2004

  Synopsis: This quarter continued to be active with integrating all of USC's projects into helping New York State develop its Tributary Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay . As stated in Report #2, the USC will integrate TWI projects into the strategy because the Tributary Strategy will become the overall implementation plan for New York 's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The USC met and reviewed the TWI on 19 March 2004. The results of that meeting were to develop an amendment to the original plan of work to maximize the installation of riparian buffers and increase road ditch demonstration projects. Specifics of these changes are included elsewhere in the report. Jim Curatolo, USC Watershed Coordinator and Chris Yearick, USC GIS Specialist, both gave presentations at the 2004 15 Annual NEIWPCC NPS Pollution Conference in Lake George on 27 May “Planning for Water Quality”. The topic was building partnerships and promoting information exchange on the web; the presentation relied heavily on TWI related projects. We expect to make great progress on all projects during the 2004 field season.

Report 3: EPA Targeted Watershed Initiative: Susquehanna River Headwaters, NY and PA

Accomplishments for this TWI, covering 1 March 2004 through 31 May 2004, are highlighted in RED.

 

Watershed

Threats and Impairments

Susquehanna River Headwaters

A synopsis of impairments as described by the New York State Watershed Restoration and Protection Action Strategy (WRAPS) 1 March 2002: The major pollutants of concern are sediment and nutrients. Sources include flooding and streambank erosion, road ditch and roadbank erosion and agricultural runoff. The watershed issues of greatest importance are flooding and drought, streambank erosion, gravel deposition and sediment and nutrient loading from streambanks, roadways and agriculture.

Project

Infrastructural or (Institutional) Measures (Grant products categories in italics)

Implementation Measures (Grant products categories in italics)

Environmental Measures (All monitoring data must be entered into STORET) (Grant products categories in italics)

Project 1. Continued development of the AVStreams GIS Assessment Tool

  1. 2 new baseline data layers developed –GWLF model developed for AVStream GIS Tool - Continuing to convert AVStreams to ARC GIS Version 8
  2. GWLF model run for 2 selected watersheds
  3. PRedICT model developed for AVStreams
  4. PRedICT tool run for 2 selected watersheds
  5. 8 Counties trained in AVStreams/GWLF

NA – GIS Development Project

NA- GIS Development Project

Project 2. Watershed Based Wetland Program

  1. 3 new wetland projects aided by Watershed Initiative
  2. 2 new partnerships developed
  3. 2 new techniques tested or used
  4. 1 new data layer developed
25 acres of wetland constructed/restored/enhanced . We received 29 potential sites nominations. Additional 50 acre site included from Cortland County and being designed by USFWS. One site being designed by USDA NRCS in Steuben County . The site visits continue including SHPO requests.
  1. Rainfall, streamflow, metal and sediment concentrations will be documented in study watersheds.
  2. Nitrogen and Phosphorus concentrations in wetland plants
  3. Wetland water balance, including groundwater

(See attachment #2)

Project 3. Supporting Local Initiatives to tackle Stormwater Phase II Issues and beyond

  1. Development of 2 stormwater workgroups work is ongoing
  2. Development of a “Stormwater Best Management Practice” list containing at least 12 practices Work is ongoing
  3. 2 new partnerships developed

    4 Stormwater Demonstration Projects Installed – Work is ongoing

NA - planning project

Project 4. Promoting Farm Stewardship through a Riparian Buffer Initiative

  1. 2 new partnerships developed
  2. 3 new riparian buffer techniques acquired
  3. 2 presentations by CBF to USC on buffer techniques Presentation give 19 March 2004

18 miles of new Riparian Buffer installed Amendment made to project to increase size of riparian buffer initiative (see attachment #1)

Nutrient and sediment loads from watersheds under study

(see attachment #2)

Project 5. Stream Restoration using Natural Stream Design

  1. Development of 5 local delivery teams Meeting planned for 19 March 2004
  2. Development of Level One data base for 10 subwatersheds Meeting planned for 19 March 2004

Restoration of 1400 feet of stream banks using natural stream design

Soil and sediment analysis for Radionuclides, N, P, Ph and metals

Project 6. Watershed Based Unpaved Road and Road Ditch Improvement Program

  1. Assessment of 30 additional subwatersheds in USC - Assessments reinitiated
  2. 30 highway staff trained in new road ditch maintenance techniques
  3. 1 new partnership developed

Stabilization of 1- 20 miles of road ditches and banks

Soil and sediment analysis for Radionuclides, N, P, Ph and metals

Project 7. Increasing Local Capacity through a College Internship/Research Program

  1. 2 new partnerships developed
  2. Hydrological models run on 3 study watersheds

NA-monitoring/research project

NA - Monitoring described under appropriate project row

Outreach Plan

 

 

 

Project 1. Continued development of the AVStreams GIS Assessment Tool

  1. 3 AVStreams/GWLF workshops or training events held - Presentation at NEIWPCC
  2. Synopsis report describing GIS tools written and made available on USC Web Site – completed

NA- outreach

NA- outreach

Project 2. Watershed Based Wetland Program

  1. 2 Wetland Workshops held - Ephemeral wetland survey field workshop
  2. Wetland Program described and made available on USC Web Site - The USC Wetland Program webpage has been updated and expanded at the following website: http://www.u-s-c.org/html/Wetland.htm
  3. 3 Presentations to communities on wetlands function and benefits . One presentation to a local Sierra Club given on 1 May . This presentation will focus on wetland functions and benefits as well as current wetland issues and wetland monitoring methods. A second presentation given to Meads Creek Watershed residents on 6 June.

NA- outreach

NA- outreach

Project 3. Supporting Local Initiatives to tackle Stormwater Phase II Issues and beyond

  1. 4 workshops/meetings held
  2. Information available on USC Web Site

NA- outreach

NA- outreach

Project 4. Promoting Farm Stewardship through a Riparian Buffer Initiative

  1. Distribution of Riparian Buffer materials to 25 interested farmers
  2. Information available on USC Web Site
  3. Presentation of Riparian Buffer concepts to 2 farmer groups Luncheon meeting held with farmers on 23 March.

NA- outreach

NA- outreach

Project 5. Stream Restoration using Natural Stream Design

  1. 3 stream restoration workshops held - Meeting planned for September
  2. Stream guide written and made available on USC Web - ongoing

NA- outreach

NA- outreach

Project 6. Watershed Based Unpaved Road and Road Ditch Improvement Program

  1. Conduct 5 training sessions in conjunction with demonstration projects
  2. Conduct 1 workshop using PA Dirt and Gravel Road Program's new training curriculum – planned for September
  3. Provide workshop information on USC Web Site

NA- outreach

NA- outreach

Project 7. Increasing Local Capacity through a College Internship/Research Program

  1. Summary descriptions of 5 BU projects made available on USC Web Site
  2. 3 presentations by BU describing research projects developed as part of the Watershed Initiative (see attachment #2)
  3. The QA PP for the Binghamton University project components of the watershed initiative was completed and submitted for review and is now being revised.

NA- outreach

NA- outreach

 

 

Work Summary (Summer - Fall 2003) projects associated with the EPA Watershed Initiative performed by personnel from Binghamton University :

 

1)  Hydrological and Numerical Assessment of Rainfall-Runoff Response for the Headwaters of Catatonk Creek, Tioga County , NY

  Master's Thesis Proposal Summary- Glendon B. Hunsinger - Geological Sciences

Flooding and associated streambank erosion is of concern in numerous watersheds within the Upper Susquehanna River Basin . In order to address these basin-scale issues an understanding of fundamental hydrologic processes on an individual watershed-scale is essential. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate rainfall-runoff response in the headwater catchments of Catatonk Creek. Hydrometeorologic measurements will occur in all 8 headwater catchments, however more intensive data collection and analysis emphasizes Miller and Sulphur Springs watersheds; two adjacent catchments with known differences in discharge and sediment transport capacities.

This effort includes the analysis of hydrologic response under present conditions and modeling to predict response after construction of flood attenuation wetlands. The research will test the following hypotheses: 1) detailed analysis of hydrologic response in Miller and Sulphur Springs subwatersheds provides watershed-scale insight for application to the entire Catatonk Creek basin; 2) the event-based rainfall-runoff response is a coupled function of land-use, topography, and storage area within each watershed; and 3) proper placement of constructed wetlands will enhance storage capacity, and thus, reduce peak flood discharge.

The investigation will involve coupled hydrologic, geochemical, and numerical techniques. These techniques will include: 1) measurement of rainfall using tipping bucket rain gauges for analysis of temporal and spatial variability in rainfall; 2) manual and automated stream stage and discharge measurements supporting physical hydrograph separation; 3) grab and automated ISCO water samples supporting geochemical hydrograph separation; and 4) generation of GIS coverages for slopes, land-use, soils, basin area, stream length and profile. These datasets will be employed in conjunction with HEC-1 watershed modeling in order to calibrate present day hydrologic conditions and to predict response following wetland construction.

   

2)  Water and Nutrient Flux in Natural and Constructed Wetlands near the Inflow of the Otselic River to the Whitney Point Reservoir, Broome County, NY

Master's Thesis Proposal Summary: David K. Heuer - Geological Sciences

 

Natural and constructed wetlands exist near the inflow of the Otselic River to the Whitney Point Reservoir. The natural wetlands are characterized as floodplain wetlands that spatially vary in soil saturation/inundation and the constructed wetlands are characterized as open water (palustrine) wetlands. Reconnaissance of the wetlands leads to an initial hypothesis that the natural and constructed wetlands have distinct hydrologic systems that significantly differ from one another. These differences include the direction and rate of groundwater – surface water interactions and evapotranspiration rates.

The Whitney Point Reservoir is maintained at 294.4 mASL from November 30 to April 30 and at 296.6 mASL from early May to late November. The second research hypothesis is that the reservoir's 2.2 meter fluctuations between winter and summer reservoir elevations alter the rate, and possibly the direction of groundwater-surface water interactions in both the natural and constructed wetlands.

Elevated nutrient concentrations in groundwater and surface water caused by agricultural landuse in the headwater catchment poses a threat to water quality in the reservoir. As a result, anthropogenic eutrophication is a concern for the Whitney Point Reservoir. Wetlands can modify the quality of water received from upland sources in a watershed. The third research hypothesis is that the natural and constructed wetlands modify the input of nutrients (N, P) to the reservoir and this modification shows temporal variations correlated to wet and dry periods and plant growth and dormancy periods.

Fieldwork in the natural and constructed wetlands is being conducted to collect data for precipitation rates, surface water inflow and outflow rates, groundwater elevations in piezometer nests, and storage fluctuations at staff gauges. Evapotranspiration in being estimated using the Penman-Monteith method.

Investigation of the first hypothesis is being done using a water budget approach in which all the inputs, exports, and changes in storage to the natural and constructed wetlands are monitored and quantified. Comparison of water budgets for the two wetland types, specifically each input's and export's contribution to the change in storage, will address the first research hypothesis. Correlation of hydraulic gradients in the wetlands (determined from groundwater elevation measurements) to reservoir stage (continuously monitored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) will address the second research hypothesis.

Groundwater, surface water, and precipitation samples are being collected on a twice per month basis and analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the Department of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University . Coupling nutrient concentrations to each component of the wetland's water budget will determine the flux of nutrients between the wetlands and reservoir to address the third research hypothesis.

Whitney Point Wetland Project Accomplishments - (Summer - Fall 2003):

· Installed 18 piezometer nests in the wetlands :

· 9 pairs each in the constructed and natural wetlands,

· Each pair consists of 1 shallow (~ 0.5 m) and 1 deep (~1.0 m) piezometer.

· Installed stage recorders in surface water bodies in the wetlands (ponds and channelized inflow and outflow points), in the Otselic River , and in one shallow piezometer:

· Began generating hydrographs of stage vs. time at each location.

· Recorded water levels weekly in the piezometers:

· Began identifying direction of shallow groundwater flow,

· Will use the data collected to estimate speed of groundwater flow.

· Surveyed elevation of all field site locations.

· Sampled water at all locations once each in September, October, and November.

· Analyzed for nitrate and ammonium levels.

· Will examine temporal fluctuations.

· Hydrological field measurements will continue through December 2003and will resume during spring thaw 2004.

· An inventory of vegetation in a small plot at each piezometer was completed by Sharon Madden, a Master's student from Biological Sciences.

· Data analysis will begin in January 2004.

   

3) Nutrient Accumulation and Retention By Wetland Plants, Tioga County , NY Nutrient Accumulation and Retention By Wetland Plants: Project Accomplishments (Summer – Fall 2003)   Master's Thesis Project: Nathan Munley - Biological Sciences

 

The primary purpose of this project is to evaluate the importance of plant species diversity and composition for nutrient accumulation. If wetlands can accumulate nutrients effectively, that will improve water quality downstream.

-Transplanted different combinations of four emergent wetland plant species into a newly constructed (i.e., August 2002) wetland in the Catatonk Creek watershed at Spencer , NY .

-Surveyed emergent vegetation in five randomly selected belt transects on the north end of the wetland one year after construction. Purpose: to document the development of vegetation as it occurs “naturally” on the bulldozed site at the pond margin.

-Collected biomass samples for selected experimental field plots and for the Eleocharis (spike rush) species that has proliferated on its own. Purpose: to compare growth in the field to growth in the greenhouse, and to compare transplanted plots to naturally occurring patches of Eleocharis sp.

-Initiated two greenhouse experiments, also with different combinations of four emergent wetland plant species, but under more controlled conditions.

-Completed harvest of the greenhouse experiments in December.

-Dried, weighed, ground, and digested (in sulfuric acid-hydrogen peroxide solution at high temperature) plants from the first greenhouse experiment.

-Plants from the second greenhouse experiment are currently being dried, weighed, and ground with a Wiley mill in preparation for chemical digestion. This will continue well into winter.

-Analysis of digested plant samples for nitrogen and phosphorus content with an autoanalyzer will commence in January 2004.

 

4) Initiation of Baseline Limnological Survey of Whitney Point Reservoir, Broome County , NY

Peter Homyak - Environmental Studies

 

-The primary purpose of this project is to describe spatial and temporal variation in selected parameters in a eutrophic reservoir prior to a change in hydrologic management. Selected field sites above, within, and downstream of the Whitney Point Reservoir.

-Developed protocols for water sampling in the field and the processing of water samples in the lab. Initially, samples were taken for pH, conductivity, chlorophyll, and total phosphorus (P). By the end of the semester, samples were also taken and processed for soluble reactive P, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, selected metals, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and particulate organic carbon (POC).

-Samples were collected in October, November, and December.

-Filtered samples have either been frozen (chlorophyll) or dried (POC) for analysis this winter. Total P, metal, and DOC samples have been preserved for analysis in 2004

-Peter will continue collecting field samples in 2004.

 

5) Artificial Flooding and Sediment Movement within Miller Creek, Catatonk Watershed.

  Ken Hubbard - Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies

Completed two planned reservoir releases in Miller Creek from the Camp Badger Reservoir in order to document sediment movement from instream processes above and below a natural wetlands.

· Measured total suspended solids (TSS), discharge and stage during rise and fall of hydrograph associated with the artificial runoff events

· Data Analysis On-going – Preliminary results:

- TSS concentrations are dependent on discharge and stage

- velocity of flow appears to have the greatest impact on TSS concentrations

- existing natural wetlands attenuate the peak of the flooding event and alter sediment movement, resulting in decreased concentrations of TSS in downstream sample location