b. coco j. doiron m. gamache

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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

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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

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