Whole-Stream Monitoring in Wisconsin Priority Watersheds
Project Number: BQY11
Project Chiefs: David J. Graczyk, Steven R. Corsi
Project Topics: xxxc
Cooperators: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Period of Project: October 1990-Continuing
The overall objective of this project is to determine the trends in water quality at sites prior to, during, and after implementation of improved land-management practices in priority watersheds and to use GIS to document changes in land use/land cover.
Problem
An evaluation strategy is needed to assess the effectiveness of nonpoint-source pollution-control measures in priority watersheds. Specifically, research is needed to determine the impact of management practices on stream-water quality and biology. Several techniques need to be developed and/or refined, such as detecting trends in stream-water chemistry, sampling of fish and fish habitat, relation between fish/fish habitat and changes resulting from watershed-management practices, and use of habitat models for determining the impact of watershed management on fish populations.
Objectives
The overall objective of this project is to determine the trends in water quality at sites prior to, during, and after implementation of improved land-management practices in priority watersheds and to use GIS to document changes in land use/land cover.
Approach
Post-practice implementation monitoring will be done for Eagle and Joos Valley Creeks, which are in the Waumandee Creek Priority Watershed Project, and Bower Creek, which is in the East River Priority Watershed Project. The pre-practice implementation is complete for all of these sites. Continuous-record streamflow and water-quality gaging stations were installed at each stream site. Water-quality samples will be collected during events and low flows and analyzed for selected constituents. Land-use inventories will be taken each year to help determine the cause of any changes in water quality.
Publications and Reports
Corsi, S. R., Walker, J. F., Wang Lizhu, Horwatich, J. A. and Bannerman, R. T., 2005, Effects of Best-Management Practices in Otter Creek in the Sheboygan River Priority Watershed, Wisconsin, 1990-2002: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5009, 26 p.
Graczyk, D.J., Walker, J.F., Horwatich, J.A. and Bannerman, R.T., 2003, Effects of Best-Management Practices in the Black Earth Creek Priority Watershed, Wisconsin, 1984–98: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4163, 24 p.
Walker, J.F., Graczyk, D.J., Corsi, S.R., Wierl, J.A., and Owens, D.W., 2001, Evaluation of nonpoint-source contamination, Wisconsin—water year 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01–105, 37 p.
Wierl, J.A., Giddings, E.M., and Bannerman, R.T., 1998, Evaluation of a method for comparing phosphorus loads from barnyards and croplands in Otter Creek watershed, Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 168–98, 4 p.
Corsi, S.R., Graczyk, D.J., Owens, D.W., and Bannerman, R.T., 1997, Unit-area loads of suspended sediment, suspended solids, and total phosphorus from small watersheds in Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 195–97, 4 p.
Rappold, K.F., Wierl, J.A., and Amerson, F.U., 1997, Watershed characteristics and land management in the nonpoint-source evaluation monitoring watersheds in Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97–119, 39 p.
Wierl, J.A., Rappold, K.F., and Amerson, F.U., 1996, Summary of the land-use inventory for the nonpoint-source evaluation monitoring watershed in Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96–123, 23 p.
Greb, S.R., and Graczyk, D.J., 1995, Frequency-duration analysis of dissolved-oxygen concentrations in two southwestern Wisconsin streams: Water Resources Bulletin, v. 31, no. 3, p. 431–438.
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