OLTAC Meeting - Oct. 31, 2012 1

UPSTATEUPSTATEFRESHWATERFRESHWATERINSTITUTEINSTITUTE

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Summer average TP = 20 µg/L

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minor bloom> 15 µg/L

Summer average Chl-a = 6.5 µg/L

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summer average = 2.0 meters

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Nitrate – hypolimnetic compositeSoluble reactive phosphorus – 15 meter sample

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Percent of monthly geometric means <200 cfu/100ml

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Metro 81% (N=21)

Willow Bay 100% (N=20)

Harbor Brk 84% (N=19)

Ley Crk 86% (N=21)

Ninemile Crk 95% (N=20)

Maple Bay 100% (N=20)

Bloody Brk 95% (N=20)

Onondaga Lake Park 100% (N=20)

Wastebeds 100% (N=20)

Onondaga Crk 50% (N=20)

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Metro 001 Outfall was in full compliance with ammonia and phosphorus limits

Tributaries were largely in compliance with AWQS, with the following noteworthy exceptions: Excursions of the standard for fecal coliform bacteria were

widespread Water quality standards for pH, ammonia, and nitrite were

exceeded at Allied East Flume Water quality conditions at South Deep met most standards,

with the following exceptions: Dissolved oxygen in the lower waters Total dissolved solids Nitrite (at 12 meters on 2 dates)

The standard for fecal coliform bacteria was exceeded at a single nearshore sampling site near the mouth of Onondaga Creek

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Meteorological ConditionsMeteorological Conditions

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0

1

2

3

4

5

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Mon

thly

Tot

alPr

ecip

itatio

n (in

ches

)

NOAA 30-yr Average (1981-2010) Monthly 2012 NOAA

Total Phosphorus and Total Phosphorus and Chlorophyll-Chlorophyll-aa Concentrations in Concentrations in

the Upper Watersthe Upper Waters

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Summer average = 21 µg/L(to date)

Summer average = 5.2 µg/L(to date)

Compliance with SPDES Compliance with SPDES Permit LimitsPermit Limits

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0.120.1

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9

Conc

entr

ation

(mg/

L)

Month

Metro effluent levels prior torolling average limitimplementationMetro effluent - Rolling averagelimit (0.12) in effect

Metro effluent - Rolling averagelimit (0.10) in effect

Start calculation for rollingaverage

Start compliance for rollingaverage

Target limit

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Secchi Disk TransparencySecchi Disk Transparency

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Summer average = 2.0 m(to date)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Dep

th (m

)

2012

Aesthetic Guidance Value (red line):1.5 m June 1 to September 30

Dissolved Oxygen PatternsDissolved Oxygen Patterns

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2012

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Diss

olve

d O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

0

5

10

15

20

0 m3 m6 m9 m12 m15 m18 m

Regulation of Sediment P Regulation of Sediment P Release by NitrateRelease by Nitrate

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NO

3- (mg/

L)

0

1

2

3

4

Year

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

SRP

(mg/

L)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

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Assessing Compliance with the Assessing Compliance with the AWQSAWQS

for Fecal Coliform Bacteriafor Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Percent of monthly geometric means <200 cfu/100ml(April-August 2012)

Assessing Compliance with Assessing Compliance with thethe

Swimming Safety Guidance Swimming Safety Guidance ValueValue

(Secchi disk >4 ft. or 1.2 m)(Secchi disk >4 ft. or 1.2 m)

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Time Series of Specific Time Series of Specific ConductanceConductance

- 2012 Values Versus 10-- 2012 Values Versus 10-Year AverageYear Average

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2012

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Onondaga Lake: South Deep Daily Averaged Specific Conductance

Spec

ific

Cond

ucta

nce

(µS/

cm)

1500

2000

2500

3000

EpilimnionHypolimnion10 Year Epi Average10 Year Hypo Average

Chloride and Total Dissolved Chloride and Total Dissolved Solids Concentrations in the Solids Concentrations in the

Metro EffluentMetro Effluent

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2012

Chlo

ride

(mg/

L)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

TDS

(mg/

L)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

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Color Contours of Specific Color Contours of Specific Conductance and Nitrate - Near Conductance and Nitrate - Near

the Metro Outfallthe Metro OutfallSite 47: Specific Conductance

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dept

h (m

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1800 2100 2400 2700 3000 3300 3600

Specific Conductance (µS/cm)

Site 47: Nitrate

2012

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dept

h (m

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Nitrate(mg/L)

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Color Contours of Specific Color Contours of Specific Conductance and Nitrate - at Conductance and Nitrate - at

South DeepSouth DeepSite 11: Specific Conductance

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dept

h (m

)

02468

1012141618

1800 2100 2400 2700 3000

Specific Conductance (µs/cm)

Site 11: Nitrate

2012

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dept

h (m

)

02468

1012141618

0 1 2 3 4

Nitrate(mg/L)

Recent Vertical Profiles at Recent Vertical Profiles at South DeepSouth Deep

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Time Series of Fecal Coliform Time Series of Fecal Coliform Counts in Onondaga Creek, 1998-Counts in Onondaga Creek, 1998-

20112011

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Year

98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

Fec

al c

olifo

rms

(cou

nt/1

00m

L)

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000

Annual Average Fecal Coliform Annual Average Fecal Coliform CountsCounts

- Onondaga Creek- Onondaga Creek

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10

100

1000

10000

100000(a) all data

Fe

cal c

olif

orm

s (c

ou

nt/1

00

mL

)

10

100

1000

10000

(b) dry weather

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

10

100

1000

10000

(c) wet weather

R2 = 0.19p = 0.12slope = -4%

R2 = 0.17p = 0.14slope = -3%

R2 = 0.13p = 0.21slope = -4%

Dry weather defined as less than 0.08 inches of rainfall over the preceding 60 hours

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Trend analysis is complicated by extreme temporal variability (>5 orders of magnitude), uneven intensity of sampling, and potential effects from multiple management actions (gray and green infrastructure projects)

A more rigorous analysis will be included in the 2012 AMP Report 1998-2012 data: Onondaga Creek, Harbor Brook, Ley Creek,

Ninemile Creek Conduct power analyses to establish realistic expectations Consider trends other than monotonic trends (e.g., step

changes) Assess seasonal variations Look at alternate thresholds for dry and wet weather conditions Explore potential covariates (e.g., flow, temperature,

phosphorus)

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Appropriate application of the AWQS for fecal coliform bacteria Sampling frequency Wet weather samples

NYSDEC Water Quality Standard for Fecal Coliforms:

“The monthly geometric mean, from a minimum of five examinations, shall not exceed 200 per 100 mL”