Little Pine Creek Survey
Little Pine Creek at County Road 350 North, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Survey Results
Temperature
Temperature can determine the form, solubility, and toxicity of a broad range of aqueous compounds. Likewise, water temperature regulates the species composition and activity of life associated with the aquatic environment. Since essentially all aquatic organisms are cold-blooded, the temperature of the water regulates their metabolism and ability to survive and reproduce effectively (USEPA, 1976). The Indiana Administrative Code (327 IAC 2-16) sets maximum temperature limits to protect aquatic life for Indiana streams. For example, temperatures during the months of June and July should not exceed 90oF by more than 3oF. The code also states that the “maximum temperature rise at any time or place… shall not exceed 5oF in streams…”
Seasonal changes in temperature creating major differences in temperature throughout the sampling period. In Little Wea Creek, temperatures ranged from 0.08 oC to 23.3 oC. Differences in stream temperature can be observed between each of the three sites. Temperatures measured in Little Pine Creek are lower from December 2009 to April 2010 and higher during the summer 2010 than in other streams. Diurnal temperature changes are observable at each site as well but are not shown in the long-term temperature graphic.
Dissolved Oxygen
DO is the dissolved gaseous form of oxygen. It is essential for respiration of fish and other aquatic organisms. Fish need water to possess a DO concentration of at least 3-5 mg/L of DO. Coldwater fish such as trout generally require higher concentrations of DO than warmwater fish such as bass or bluegill. The IAC sets minimum DO concentrations at 5 mg/L for warmwater fish. DO enters water by diffusion from the atmosphere and as a byproduct of photosynthesis by algae and plants. Excessive algae growth can over-saturate (greater than 100% saturation) the water with DO. Waterbodies with large populations of algae and plants (macrophytes) often exhibit supersaturation due to the high levels of photosynthesis. Dissolved oxygen is consumed by respiration of aquatic organisms, such as fish, and during bacterial decomposition of plant and animal matter.
Dissolved oxygen concentrations also display seasonal changes like those observed for temperature. Dissolved oxygen concentrations are opposite those measured for temperature. This is as expected as colder water holds more dissolved oxygen than warmer water; therefore, when water temperatures are low, dissolved oxygen concentrations are high and vice-versa. As such, the dissolved oxygen graph shows a general pattern where dissolved oxygen concentrations in Little Pine Creek are higher in winter and lower in summer. Little Pine Creek dissolved oxygen concentrations generally follow seasonal patterns; however, high productivity and large volumes of decomposition from flocculent sediments suggest that dissolved oxygen concentrations are completely utilized during spring and summer 2010 sample collection. All three streams display daily variation in dissolved oxygen concentration due to individual conditions present within each system.
pH
The pH of stream water describes the concentration of acidic ions (specifically H+) present in the water. The pH also determines the form, solubility, and toxicity of a wide range of other aqueous compounds. The IAC establishes a range of 6-9 pH units for the protection of aquatic life.
Throughout the sampling period, pH remained in an acceptable range in all three streams. No discernable pattern can be found in pH levels in any of the three monitored streams. Although fluctuations appear to be wide, pH levels varied within 1 unit of pH.
Turbidity
Turbidity (measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units or NTUs) is a measure of water coloration and particles suspended in the water itself. It is generally related to suspended and colloidal matter such as clay, silt, finely divided organic and inorganic matter, plankton, and other microscopic organisms. According to the Hoosier Riverwatch, the average turbidity of an Indiana stream is 11 NTU with a typical range of 4.5-17.5 NTU. Turbidity measurements >20 NTU have been found to cause undesirable changes in aquatic life (Walker, 1978). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed recommended water quality criteria as part work to establish numeric criteria for nutrients on an ecoregion basis. Recommended turbidity concentrations for this ecoregion are 9.89 NTUs (USEPA, 2000).
Turbidity concentrations exceeded the target 23% of the time in Little Pine Creek. It is unclear why Little Pine Creek turbidity peaks are so high. It could be due to cows or other wildlife accessing the stream, wildlife making a home in the guard surrounding the probes, or a malfunction. Herons have been observed near the probes in all three of the streams. When removing the sondes, fish, crawdads, and other macroinvertebrates have been pulled up with the instrument. All of these may cause spikes in turbidity.
Conductivity
Conductivity is a measure of the ability of an aqueous solution to carry an electric current. This ability depends on the presence of ions: on their total concentration, mobility, and valence (APHA, 1998). During low flows, conductivity is higher than it is following a storm water runoff because the water moves more slowly across or through ion containing soils and substrates during base flow conditions. Carbonates and other charged particles (ions) dissolve into the slow-moving water, thereby increasing conductivity levels.
Conductivity measurements varied greatly over the sampling period. Generally, conductivity concentrations were below the state standard.
Nitrate-nitrogen
Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient found in fertilizers, human and animal wastes, yard waste, and the air. About 80% of the air we breathe is nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas diffuses into water where it can be “fixed”, or converted, by blue-green algae to ammonia for their use. Nitrogen can also enter lakes and streams as inorganic nitrogen and ammonia. Because of this, there is an abundant supply of available nitrogen to aquatic systems. The three common forms of nitrogen are:
Nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) Nitrate is an oxidized form of dissolved nitrogen that is converted to ammonia by algae. It is found is streams and runoff when dissolved oxygen is present, usually in the surface waters. Ammonia applied to farmland is rapidly oxidized or converted to nitrate and usually enters surface and groundwater as nitrate. The Ohio EPA (1999) found that the median nitrate-nitrogen concentration in wadeable streams classified as warmwater habitat (WWH) was 1.0 mg/l. Warmwater habitat refers to those streams which possess minor modifications and little human influence. These streams typically support communities with healthy, diverse warmwater fauna. The Ohio EPA (1999) found that the median nitrate-nitrogen concentration in wadeable streams classified as modified warmwater habitat (MWH) was 1.6 mg/1. Modified warmwater habitat was defined as: the aquatic life use assigned to streams that have irretrievable, extensive, man-induced modification that precludes attainment of the warmwater habitat use designation; such streams are characterized by species that are tolerant of poor chemical quality (fluctuating dissolved oxygen) and habitat conditions (siltation, habitat amplification) that often occur in modified streams (Ohio EPA, 1999). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed recommended nitrate-nitrogen criterion as part of work to establish numeric criteria for nutrients on an ecoregion basis. The recommended nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the ecoregion is 0.63 mg/l (USEPA, 2000). Nitrate-nitrogen concentrations exceeding 10 mg/1 in drinking water are considered hazardous to human health (Indiana Administrative Code IAC 2-1-6).
Changes in nitrate-nitrogen concentration in Little Pine Creek appear to generally follow flow conditions with lower concentrations occurring during lower flow conditions; however, spikes in nitrate-nitrogen concentration do not always coincide with spikes in stream flow. In Little Pine Creek, nitrate-nitrogen concentrations exceed target concentrations 86% of samples during the sampling period. In Little Pine Creek, seasonal variations in nitrate-nitrogen vary widely with concentrations annually from April to September exceeding both the target and the state standard for drinking water (10 mg/L) with concentrations peaking at 14.2 mg/L. Nitrate-nitrogen concentrations measured during the sampling period mimic concentrations observed during historic water quality assessments within Little Pine Creek. This suggests that nitrate-nitrogen concentrations may be due to background conditions or that land use has changed little over time and that high volume application of manure within Little Pine Creek may inflate nitrate-nitrogen concentrations within this watershed.
Total Phosphorus
Phosphorus is an essential plant nutrient and the one that most often controls aquatic plant (algae and macrophyte) growth. It is found in fertilizers, human and animal wastes, and in yard waste. There are few natural sources of phosphorus to streams other than that which is attached to soil particles; there is no atmospheric (vapor) form of phosphorus. For this reason, phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient in aquatic systems. This means that the relative scarcity of phosphorus may limit the ultimate growth and production of algae and rooted aquatic plants. Management efforts often focus on reducing phosphorus inputs to receiving waterways because: (a) it can be managed and (b) reducing phosphorus can reduce algae production. Two common forms of phosphorus are:
Total phosphorus (TP) includes dissolved and particulate phosphorus. TP concentrations greater than 0.03 mg/1 (or 30μg/L) can cause algal blooms in lake systems. In stream systems, Dodd et al., 1998 suggests that streams with a total phosphorus concentration greater than 0.075 mg/L are typically characterized as productive or eutrophic. TP is often a problem in agricultural watersheds because TP concentrations required for eutrophication control are as much as an order of magnitude lower than those typically measured in soils used to grow crops (0.2-0.3 mg/L). The Ohio EPA (1999) found that the median TP concentration in wadeable streams that support WWM for fish was 0.10 mg/L, while wadeable streams that support MWH for fish was 0.28 mg/L. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended TP criterion for this ecoregion is 0.076 mg/L (USEPA, 2000).
In Little Pine Creek, total phosphorus concentrations do not mimic flow patterns. During peak discharges occurring through 2010, total phosphorus concentrations were low. Conversely, when flows declined in August 2010 through December 2010, total phosphorus concentrations began to rise peaking more than an order of magnitude above the target concentration measuring a high near 0.9 mg/L. In Little Pine Creek, total phosphorus concentrations exceed target concentrations 55% of samples during the sampling period.
Total Suspended Solids
A TSS measurement quantifies all particles suspended in stream water. Closely related to turbidity, this parameter quantifies sediment particles and other solid compounds typically found in stream water. In general, the concentration of suspended solids is greater during high flow events due to increased overland flow. The increased overland flow erodes and carries more soil and other particulates to the stream. The State of Indiana does not have a TSS standard. In general, TSS concentrations greater than 80 mg/L have been found to be deleterious to aquatic life; concentrations of 15 mg/L are often targeted as levels necessary for quality fishery production (Waters, 1995).
In Little Pine Creek, total suspended solids concentrations exceed target concentrations 46% of samples during the sampling period. Only three peak total suspended solids concentrations were observed in Little Pine Creek; however, the highest peak measured nearly 20 times the target TSS concentration (261 mg/L compared to 15 mg/L target). TSS concentrations generally measured higher in Little Pine Creek than those observed in Elliot Ditch and Little Wea Creek. This suggests that Little Pine Creek carries a higher bed load than the other tributary streams and those efforts to reduce total suspended solids concentrations will need to target both low and high flow stream conditions.
E. coli
E. coli is one member of a group of bacteria that comprise the fecal coliform bacteria and is used as an indicator organism to identify the potential presence of pathogenic organisms in a water sample. Pathogenic organisms can present a threat to human health by causing a variety of serious diseases, including infectious hepatitis, typhoid, gastroenteritis, and other gastrointestinal illnesses. E. coli can come from the feces of any warm-blooded animal. Wildlife, livestock, and/or domestic animal defecation, manure fertilizers, previously contaminated sediments, and failing or improperly sited septic systems are common sources of the bacteria. The IAC sets the maximum standard at 235 colonies/100 ml in any one sample within a 30-day period.
In Little Pine Creek, E. coli concentrations exceed target concentrations 92% of samples during the sampling period. E. coli concentrations mimic flow conditions within Little Wea Creek. When flows increase, E. coli concentrations typically increase. Peak E. coli concentrations within all three tributaries measure approximately 10,000 colonies/100 mL, suggesting that high E. coli concentrations are typical within these systems.