Emigration Canyon nutrient and bacteria loading

Project Number: 9716C3Q
Cooperating Agency: Salt Lake County
Project Chief: Briant Kimball, USGS Salt Lake City, Utah
Project Period: 2005-2006

Problem: High concentrations of nutrients and bacteria have been measured in stream water of Emigration Canyon. Septic systems are located throughout the canyon and could be contributing to the high concentrations, but identification of nutrients as human, rather than animal waste must be made. To approach a solution to the problem, however, the principal locations of nutrient and bacterial loading in Emigration Canyon must be understood and compared to the pattern of septic systems.

Objectives: Objectives of the study are twofold: (1) to determine the principal locations and quantity of nutrient and bacterial loading to Emigration Canyon along the study reach, and (2) to determine and interpret the isotopic signature of nitrogen in the stream with respect to other studies of stable nitrogen isotopes in human and animal waste.

Relevance and benefits: Results of this study will provide information for science-based decisions about improving the water quality of Emigration Creek. Detailed spatial data from the synoptic study will be relevant to understanding the risk to human health posed by the high concentrations of nutrients and bacteria and to understanding the degradation of water quality in Emigration Creek. The benefit of a mass-loading study would be to identify the principal locations of loading. Combined with the nitrogen isotope results, this can help to identify principal sources of loading for a TMDL plan and support science-based remediation decisions.

Approach: A mass-loading study combines tracer-injection and synoptic sampling methods to produce longitudinal profiles of loading. These profiles locate and quantify loadings of major ions, metals, nutrients, and bacteria at a scale that will be useful to facilitate planning and development of a TMDL. Tracer-injection makes it possible to estimate discharge for numerous stream locations with a precision that allows the detection of relatively small inflows. Synoptic sampling gives the required spatial detail to quantify loading from surface- and ground-water sources. Mass-loading profiles provide comparisons for evaluating sources in terms of their significance to the system. Stable isotopes of nitrogen will help to distinguish human from animal waste.

Products: Results of the study will be documented in a USGS Scientific Investigations report.

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