ric lawson watershed planner huron river watershed council micorps staff

Ric LawsonWatershed Planner

Huron River Watershed CouncilMiCorps Staff

OutlineStormwater monitoring: what is it and why

should I care?

Basic training: stormwater bootcamp

What’s in it for me? Benefits

But does it work? A case-study

Huh? Conclusions and questions

Why stormwater mattersOne of the top pollutant sources nationally.

It affects everyoneStormwater regulations expanding

Non-point becoming point sourceRegulations now require monitoring and

TMDL planningPhosphorus and E. coliMunicipalities often ill-equipedWatershed monitoring acceptable

Stormwater monitoring 101Focus on impairments firstMap regulated stormwater

drainage area and network as best as possibleMajor tributariesDeveloped areas, land useOutfalls

Select sites to bracket potential sources

Long-term and “investigative” sites

Stormwater monitoring 101What and when to monitor

What: impairments/threats, surrogates, flow?When:

Wet vs. dry Sample size and variability

Laboratory coordinationCapacity and timingDetection limitsLogistical considerations

Volunteer ConsiderationsSample handling and processing training.

Flow?Scheduling volunteers

Not many neededRegular schedule vs. rain events

Safety concernsWeatherHigh flows

Data processing

Benefits (and challenges)GoodMandated monitoring (in some areas)Data collection opportunity: discover issuesFund, promote, expand monitoring effortsBring communities together: accountabilityBadComplicated program Regulatory responsibilityExpensive

Case-study: Huron RiverTwo county stormater groupsImpairments for phosphorus and E. coliExisting program in one county for baseline

monitoringExpanded to include wet-weather and

stormwater investigationsModel for state ambient stormwater

monitoring

Middle Huron Tributary MonitoringVolunteer-assisted program to monitor

tributary sites in the TMDL watershed (Middle Huron)

Focus on nutrients and stream flow to calculate loading

Monthly sampling May-SeptemberAdded storm sampling starting in 2007

Funded by Middle Huron PartnersMDNRE funding 2008-2010

Lab analysis by Ann Arbor WTP

Parameters EvaluatedpHConductivityDOE. coliTotal PhosphorusTotal Suspended SolidsNitrate-Nitrite

N

EW

S

Middle Huron Initiative Project Area

Ingham Co. Livingston Co. Oakland Co.

Wayne Co.

Monroe Co.

Washtenaw Co.Jackson Co.

Huron River Watershed

TP Loading in the Middle Huron

Mean [TP] ComparisonsSite(s) [TP] (mg/l)

2003-06[TP] (mg/l) 2008-09

T-test Probability

% Reduction

Non-Ann Arbor

0.048 0.036 0.01 24

Ann Arbor 0.072 0.047 <0.01 35

Traver Creek

0.069 0.046 <0.01 33

Swift Run 0.095 0.040 <0.01 58

Honey Creek

0.063 0.035 <0.01 45

Allens Creek

0.073 0.054 0.07 26

Malletts Creek

0.076 0.059 0.09 23

Superior Drain

0.070 0.043 0.03 38

Note: Baseline samples only. Only sites with p<0.10 are shown.

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5/13/10 12:00 AM 5/13/10 4:48 AM 5/13/10 9:36 AM 5/13/10 2:24 PM 5/13/10 7:12 PM 5/14/10 12:00 AM

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Rain (inches)

Glazier Flow (cfs)

Plymouth Flow (cfs)

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4/4/03 6:00 AM 4/4/03 1:12 PM 4/4/03 8:24 PM 4/5/03 3:36 AM 4/5/03 10:48 AM 4/5/03 6:00 PM

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Rain (inches)

Glazier Flow

Plymouth Flow

2010

Total Rain: 0.62 inches in 2 hours prior to highest flow

0.97 inches total of rain received on May 11-May 13.

2003Total Rain: 0.6 inches in 2 hours prior to highest flow

1 inches total of rain received on April 4

Prior moisture conditions: In 2003, off and on rains occurred throughout the day of the storm. In 2010, off and on rain occurred throughout 2 days prior to the storm. Both years had substantial rains 6 days prior to dates shown on graph.

Note: plymouth transducer was offline

Storm Comparison #1: Hydrographs

ConclusionsTotal Phosphorus concentrations have

decreasedDecreases significant in urban tributariesTributaries respond differentlyStorm samples are different from baselineFlow differences can be detectedToo early for investigative results or

conclusions

Ric LawsonWatershed Planner

734-769-5123 ext. 609rlawson@hrwc.org