A Five Year Water Quality Monitoring Report

on Caddo Lake

By Roy Darville

East Texas Baptist University & Caddo Lake Institute

Acknowledgements“Lots of Thanks are Due Lots of People”

Financial SupportDwight Shellman and the Caddo Lake InstituteEast Texas Baptist University

Field & Lab HelpBrian DarvilleRay DarvilleNumerous ETBU studentsAnd especially Debbie Darville

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

An international treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran Provides the framework for national action and international

cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Currently 131 Contracting Parties to the Convention 1148 Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance,

totaling 240 million acres 15 Ramsar sites in the U.S. Caddo Lake was the 13th, dedicated in October 1993

Three Key Ramsar ConceptsLocal Community Involvement

Recommendation 6.3 (Ramsar COP6, 1996)

called upon the Contracting Parties “to make specific efforts to encourage active and informed participation of local and indigenous people at Ramsar listed sites and other wetlands and their catchments, and their direct involvement, through appropriate mechanisms, in wetland management.”

This recommendation was co-authored by the Caddo Lake Institute.

Resolution VII.8 (Ramsar COP7, 1999)

“Guidelines for establishing and strengthening local communities’ and indigenous people’s participation in the management of wetlands”

See Ramsar Handbook 5 for details

Three Key Ramsar Concepts Wetland Management

Article 3.1 of the Convention requires Contracting Parties to

“formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the List, and as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in their territory.”

Resolution VII.8 (COP7, 1999) encouraged “technical experts, and local and indigenous people to work together in the planning and management of wetlands to ensure that the best available science and local knowledge are taken into consideration in making decisions.”

Therefore, the U.S. is required to have a management plan for Caddo Lake and local people like us are to help develop it.

Three Key Ramsar Concepts:Monitoring

Article 3.2 of the Convention states that

“each Contracting Party shall arrange to be informed at the earliest possible time if the ecological character of any wetland in the territory and included in the List has changed, is changing or is likely to change”.

These wetlands can be listed on the Montreux Record;

example: the Everglades

we must maintain ecological and hydrological functions of Caddo Lake which ultimately provide its products, functions, and attributes

(ecological character is an indication of wetland “health”)

therefore, we must monitor the Caddo Lake ecosystem

Ramsar Framework for a Wetland Monitoring Program

Problems/Issues

Objective

Hypothesis

Methods and Variables

Feasibility/cost effectiveness

Pilot Study

Sampling

Analysis

Reporting

The Big Cypress/Caddo Lake Watershed

Watershed Facts• TNRCC basin 4 (one of smallest in Texas)

• 2,812 square miles in northeast Texas

• water inputs into Caddo Lake precipitation: 47 inches/yr 4 major streams: Big Cypress, Little

Cypress, Black Cypress, James Bayou smaller streams: Kitchen’s Creek,

Harrison Bayou, Saunders’s Branch, nonpoint runoff

• Caddo watershed 2000 population: 633,000 (includes Shreveport area)

• industry: forestry, cattle, chickens, agriculture, oil & gas production

The Watersheds of Texas

Caddo Lake is part of Segments 0401 and 0402

U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA)

passed in 1972 primary objective is to restore and maintain the integrity of the

nation's waters. This objective translates into two fundamental national goals: – eliminate the discharge of pollutants into the nation's waters, and – achieve water quality levels that are fishable and swimmable

In general1) all waters must be assessed for water quality based upon federal and state standards in light of the established designated uses for the water body

Designated Uses in Texas: aquatic life, general use, contact recreation, noncontact recreation, public water supply

If the use is not being supported, it is termed “use impairment”

2) corrective action for water bodies that are in violation(s) must be undertaken

U.S. Clean Water ActSection 305(b)

requires Texas (TNRCC) to produce a periodic inventory comparing water quality conditions to established standards

in Texas, the assessment is done on a two year cycle with the next assessment due out in 2002

Currently, the 2002 assessment is in draft form and is available at:

http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/water/quality/02_305b/alphalist.html

Section 305(b) Assessment for Caddo LakePrimary Concerns: for Use Impairments

Location Designated Use Parameter of Concern

Clinton Lake Aquatic life Low dissolved oxygen

Goose Prairie arm Aquatic life Low dissolved oxygen

Harrison Bayou arm Aquatic life Low dissolved oxygen

Carter’s Lake Aquatic life Low dissolved oxygen

Lower 5000 acres (midlake)

General High and low pH

Clinton Lake General Low pH

Goose Prairie arm General Low pH

Carter’s Lake General Low pH

Section 305(b) Assessment for Caddo LakeSecondary Concerns: Not Tied to Support of a Designated Use

Location Water Quality Concern Parameter of ConcernClinton Lake Fish tissue contaminants Mercury

Clinton Lake Nutrient enrichment Ammonia

Carter’s Lake Sediment contaminant Barium

Carter’s Lake Sediment contaminant Manganese

Carter’s Lake Sediment contaminant Mercury

Carter’s Lake Sediment contaminant Selenium

Carter’s Lake Sediment contaminant Zinc

Lower 5000 acres Nutrient enrichment Ammonia

Lower 5000 acres Sediment contaminant Lead

Lower 5000 acres Sediment contaminant Manganese

Lower 5000 acres Sediment contaminant Mercury

Lower 5000 acres Sediment contaminant Zinc

Clean Water Act303(d) List

Section 303(d) of the CWA requires TNRCC to develop a list of water bodies in Texas that do not meet established standards

The 303(d) list is based upon the 305(b) assessment and is done on a two year cycleTexas: 2000 list is available at

http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/water/quality/00_303d.htmlThe 2002 draft list will be available April, 2002Thus, the list is now in process is opened for comment

The water bodies are referred to as "impaired waters"

The state must take appropriate action to improve impaired water bodies, such as the development of a total maximum daily load

Clean Water ActTotal Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

“The objective of the TMDL Program is to restore and maintain the beneficial uses (drinking water, recreation, aquatic life, etc.) of impaired or threatened water bodies in Texas.”

Administered by TNRCC with oversight by USEPA (Dallas)

Only TMDL currently underway in Big Cypress basin is in Big Cypress below Lake Bob Sandlin and Lake O’ the Pines (segments 403 and 402)

TNRCC information on TMDLs in Texas is available at:http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/water/quality/tmdl/index.html

Objectives of Water Quality Monitoring at Caddo Lake Long-term trends

Determine long-term trends in water quality in the lake overall and in the three different habitat types (riverine, wetland, lake)

Seasonal trendsDetermine seasonal trends in water quality

Spill vrs. No SpillDetermine differences in water quality during times when water is flowing over the Caddo Lake dam compared to when there is no flow over the dam

Water quality standardsMonitoring water quality to compare with State of Texas Surface Water Quality Standards

Monitoring

monthly monitoring for 5 years

total of 7 sites, but not all sampled each year Caddo Lake State Park boat ramp, Carter’s Lake, Clinton Lake, Turtle

Shell, Harrison Bayou (near mouth), mid-lake, James Bayou (near Onion Island)

3 habitat types based upon depth, flow, vegetation Riverine Wetland Lake

field methods follow those used by TNRCC in Surface Water Quality Monitoring Procedures Manual and used by the Clean Rivers Program QAPP

all lab work done at ETBU

Methods Used in Determination of Water Quality Parameters1

  

 

Alkalinity Standard Methods 2320, titration to pH 4.5BOD 5 Standard Methods 5210B

Carbon dioxide Standard Methods 4500-CO2 C

Chloride Standard Methods 4500-Cl-, BColor, apparent & true Hach method 8025Specific Conductance TNRCC Guidance DocumentDepth, Secchi TNRCC Guidance DocumentDissolved oxygen TNRCC Guidance Document Fecal coliform bacteria Standard Methods 9222D, membrane filtrationHardness Standard Methods 2340Nitrogen, ammonia Hach method 8038Nitrogen, nitrate Hach method 8171pH TNRCC Guidance DocumentPhosphate, reactive Hach method 8048Phosphorus, total Hach method 8190Solids, total Standard Methods 2540B, gravimetricSolids, suspended Standard Methods 2540D, gravimetricSolids, dissolved calculationSulfate Standard Methods 4500-SO4

2- E

Temperature TNRCC Guidance DocumentTurbidity Hach model 2100P, nephelometric 1. Standard Methods refers to Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th ed. field methods followed the TNRCC Surface Water Quality Monitoring Guidance, using a YSI multiparameter water quality meter, model 600 and 610D

Five-Year Trend for Dissolved Oxygen(annual means by site-type)

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

D.O

. (m

g/l

) River

Wetland

Lake

Mean

TNRCC Standard: Minimum 24 hour mean

?

5 Year Trend in Dissolved Oxygen by Season

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Winter Spring Summer Fall

Season

D.O

. (m

g/l)

Riverine

Wetland

Lake

MeanTNRCC Standard: Minimum

24 hour mean

Five-Year Trend in pH at Caddo Lake(annual means by site-type)

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

pH

River

Wetland

Lake

Mean

TNRCC minimum pH standard

pH by Season by Site-type

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

Winter Spring Summer Fall

Season

pH

Riverine

Wetland

Lake

Mean

Alkalinity

Def: the ability of a body of water to resist changes in pH Acts as a buffer against acids and thus lower pHs

“Tums”

Chemically measured as carbon dioxide, bicarbonates, and carbonate Low alkalinity = limited ability to neutralize acids

Caddo Lake (East Texas in general) has a naturally low alkalinity rule of thumb = minimum alkalinity should be greater than 20 mg/l

Application – acid deposition and input at Caddo Lake will continue to lower the pH of the water

5 Year Trend in Alkalinity (annual means by site-type)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Year

Alk

alin

ity

(mg/

l)

River

Wetland

Lake

Mean

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Nutrients and Eutrophication Plant nutrients include nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) All organisms need these to survive, grow, and reproduce Excess amounts of these nutrients in lakes and streams contribute

to a problem known as eutrophication Nutrients enter aquatic ecosystems from point sources (wastewater

treatment plants), nonpoint surface runoff, and the atmosphere Excess nutrients cause excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants The large amount of plants eventually die and are decomposed by bacteria

and fungi The decomposers remove dissolved oxygen from the water creating lower

DO values or even anoxic conditions

the data suggest that Caddo Lake is becoming more eutrophic

Nutrients and Eutrophication

5 Year Trend for Nitrate at Caddo Lake (annual means by site-type)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Year

Nit

rate

(m

g/l) Riverine

Wetland

Lake

Mean

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Water Quality Trends Associated with Spill or No Spill Conditions at Caddo Lake

Lake Elevation (feet) on Sampling Days

167

167.5

168

168.5

169

169.5

170

No Flow Flow

Spillage

-1.76 ft

Dissolved Oxygen during No Spill and Spill Samping Days

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

DO

(mg/

l)

No Spill

Spill

-24%

pH During No Spill and Spill Sampling Days

6.1

6.15

6.2

6.25

6.3

6.35

6.4

6.45

6.5

No spill Spill

pH

+ 0.22

Nitrate Concentrations During No Spill and Spill Sampling Days

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

No spill Spill

Nit

rate

(m

g/l)

-20%

Sulfate Concentrations During No Spill and Spill Sampling Days

02

46

810

1214

16

No Spill Flow

Su

lfat

e (m

g/l

)

- 29%

Water Quality Index During No Spill and Spill Sampling Days

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

No Spill Spill

WQ

I

- 3.3

The Air-Water Connection:The National Air Deposition Program

Question: What is the source of the water quality concerns at Caddo Lake?

point sources non-point surface run-off from the watershed non-point air deposition (dry and wet)

NADP a nationwide network of over 200 precipitation monitoring

sites, including a site located at Gregg County Airport purpose – to collect data on the chemistry of precipitation for

monitoring of geographical and temporal long-term trends

Sediment Metals in Caddo Lake

In lakes, sediments often act as repositories for chemicals such as metals

Metals in sediments generally are in higher concentration than metal concentrations in water

Sediment metals have been sampled recently by the TNRCC Clean Rivers Program and by the USACE around Longhorn

Sampling has found high levels of some sediment metalsHighest concentrations are found at the surface (top 6 inches) which is

the area of most recent depositionHighest concentrations were found in the upper end of the

Goose Prairie arm

Sediment Metals in Caddo Lake

Element

Threshold Effect Level

(TNRCC)

Midlake

(CRP)

Goose Prairie North

(USACE)

Goose Prairie South

(USACE)

B.C. -- Marshall

Intake (CRP)

Clinton Lake

(USACE)

Arsenic 5.9 8.05 7.4 3.3 0.901 5.72

Barium --- 262 355 135 30.7 248

Cadmium 0.596 0.25 0.84 0.39 0.037 ND

Chromium 37.3 15.6 51.7 20 2.81 16.3

Lead 35 33.4 249 55 6.44 20.3

Manganese --- 958 379 149 87.5 244

Mercury 0.174 0.17 1.17 0.25 0.23 0.12

Nickel 18.0 18.8 23.5 11.6 1.475 16.2

Selenium --- 4.06 1.23 0.45 0.227 1.39

Silver --- 0.25 13.78 1.66 0.184 ND

Zinc 123.1 140 157 62 11.4 7.09

EPA Mercury Report to Congress:(Predicted High Hg NE TX Levels from same emitters)

Mercury: TNRCC 1996 Conclusions• Based on cumulative results, it is concluded that mercury is present in

the aquatic food web throughout the Cypress and upper Sabine basins, and throughout northeast Texas

• At every sample location, a majority of the fish collected had detectable mercury concentrations in muscle tissue

• Six of 22 individual largemouth bass muscle samples from the Cypress Basin exceeded the U.S. EPA screening level of 0.6 mg/kg

• Two of 22 individual samples were at the FDA action level of 1.0 mg/kg• Pruitt Lake had some of the highest mercury concentrations in fish tissue

• Conclusion: there are no known point sources, therefore the mercury input seems to be from the atmosphere

• Crowe, Arthur L. 1996. A Survey of Mercury Concentrations in the Cypress Creek and Upper Sabine River Basins of Northeast Texas. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. Austin, Texas.

Summary of 5 Year Water Quality Trends

Dissolved oxygen Downward trend – less oxygen – across the entire lake Lower dissolved oxygen during no-spill days

pH Downward trend – becoming more acidic

Nutrients such as nitrogen Dramatic increase in nitrogen concentrations – increased eutrophication

Water Quality Index Caddo Lake rates in the lower “good” category Lower WQI during no spill days

Metals Some metals in sediment are of concern especially near LHAAP and at midlake

Possible Official Requests – Subject to STRP Comment

EPA and TNRCC multicomponent TMDL to study mercury, low dissolved

oxygen, pH, sediment metals, nutrients

Texas Water Development Board: conduct bathymetric study of the entire lake

USGSDetermine sedimentation rates in Caddo LakeConduct additional sediment metal sampling in various areas

of the lakeDetermine flow at US Hwy 43 bridge; perhaps install

permanent flow gage

Possible Official Requests Subject to STRP Comment

EPAadd Goose Prairie to the superfund sitefund a Water Development Grant

Texas Parks and Wildlife Departmentcontinue study and elimination of invasive species; produce a restoration

plan

Northeast Texas Municipal Water District through the Clean Rivers Program and TNRCC to put more funding into

water quality monitoring at Caddo Lake

Develop a list of needed equipment

Need local person to coordinate the work