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Effects of Wilson's Creek and Pearson's Creek on Water Quality of James River
The study location includes the Wilson Creek and Pearson Creek watersheds. These two streams drain almost all of the Springfield metropolitan area which flows south into the James River and Table Rock Lake. The project area lies within Greene County in southwest Missouri.
Urban stormwater runoff quality to these streams is of concern due to evidence of biological impairment in these streams which includes alterations to the fish and aquatic invertebrate communities, excessive benthic algal growth and multi-species toxicity testing of stream water. In addition, nutrients from urban nonpoint sources are contributing to eutrophication of Table Rock Lake, a major water-based recreation area in Southwest Missouri.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project will monitor water quality at six sites on these Wilson and Pearson Creeks or their tributaries during two base flow and four stormwater flow events. Analytes will include: temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and alkalininty fecal coliform, fecal streptococci and E. coli bacteria, seven species of nitrogen and phosphorus, COD, twelve metals (as either dissolved or total), common major ions such as calcium,magnesium, potassium, sulfate and 86 pesticides or pesticide metabolites.
During the project period, USGS will maintain three existing flow gages in the project area and install and maintain two new gages in the project area. Acute Microtox toxicity testing methods will be used to assess potential aquatic toxicity of the water based on testing of eluate of a semi-permeable membrate devices (SPMD) which will be placed at each sampling stations in groups of five and withdrawn at given time intervals for toxicity testing.
OBJECTIVES
1. Characterize base flow and stormwater water quality from these urban streams.
2. Assess potential for instream toxicity, assess relative toxicity risk from various sub-basins within the City of Springfield and to provide information on potentially toxic chemicals.
3. Provide data on base flow and stormwater flow loads of nutrients, metals and pesticides from the Springfield urban area to James River and Table Rock Lake. This information will supplement the existing data base presently being used to develop a watersed water quality model of the James River basin. This modelling effort will be used to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for phosphorus for the James River and Table Rock Lake.
4. Provide water quality information to assist in developing Phase 2 stormwater permit for the City of Springfield.
PRODUCTS
A final report will be written by the US Geological Survey describing the study, study methods and presenting all data collected.
PROJECT SPONSOR
US Geological Survey
COOPERATING AGENCIES
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
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CONTACT
Joe Richards
US Geological Survey, Water Resources Division
1400 Independence Road
Mail Stop 200
Rolla, Mo. 65401
Joe Richards
telephone: 573-308-3568
email: richards@usgs.gov
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