Assessing the Impacts of Hurricane Isabel on Maryland Water … · Isabel Water LevelsIsabel Water Levels Data courtesy: Water Level and FlowWater Level and Flow USGS. 2002 - 2003

Assessing the Impacts of Hurricane Isabel on

Maryland Water Quality and Shoreline Erosion

Assessing the Impacts of Hurricane Isabel on

Maryland Water Quality and Shoreline Erosion

Mark TriceMark Trice

Acting Chief Acting Chief Tidal Water Quality AssessmentTidal Water Quality Assessment

DNR DNR -- Tidewater Ecosystem AssessmentTidewater Ecosystem Assessment

Jeff Jeff HalkaHalka

ChiefChiefCoastal and Estuarine GeologyCoastal and Estuarine Geology

DNR DNR -- Maryland Geological SurveyMaryland Geological Survey

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Bruce Michael, Dave Bruce Michael, Dave GoshornGoshorn, Bill Romano, Chris , Bill Romano, Chris HeyerHeyerDNR DNR -- Tidewater Ecosystem AssessmentTidewater Ecosystem Assessment

Water Quality Mapping, Continuous Monitoring and LongWater Quality Mapping, Continuous Monitoring and Long--Term Fixed Monthly Monitoring CrewsTerm Fixed Monthly Monitoring Crews

MANTA Field OfficeMANTA Field Office

Data Management GroupData Management GroupTidewater Ecosystem AssessmentTidewater Ecosystem Assessment

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences,

Chesapeake Bay Program, Chesapeake Bay Program, National Estuarine Research Reserves, National Estuarine Research Reserves,

Chester River AssociationChester River AssociationHarford County GovernmentHarford County Government

United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey

EastonEaston

Photos - Baltimore Sun & Star DemocratIsabel in PicturesIsabel in Pictures

Great FallsGreat Falls


Kent NarrowsKent Narrows


AnnapolisAnnapolis


Horn Point LabCambridge

Horn Point LabCambridge


Baltimore Co.Baltimore Co.


Photos - Baltimore Sun & Star Democrat

Naval AcademyNaval Academy

Isabel in PicturesIsabel in Pictures

How Does Isabel Compare?How Does Isabel Compare?

Data courtesy:USGSHurricane ComparisonsHurricane Comparisons

AgnesAgnes

FloydFloyd IsabelIsabel

HurricaneTracks

HurricaneTracks

Data courtesy:NOAA

How Does Isabel Compare?


Hurricane ComparisonsHurricane Comparisons

IsabelIsabel

HurricaneTracks

HurricaneTracks

Data courtesy:NOAA




Agnes Isabel

Rain >12” over 1/3 of thewatershed

3-4” Followed by Several More Inches

Wind Light Damaging

Tidal Surge No water rise at trib. mouths, up to 6ft at

headwaters

Up to 12 feet

U.S. Economic Impact (FEMA)

$6.5 Billion $2 Billion$100 Million - MD

aid

Impact to MDfisheries, recreation,

shipping$173 Million ????

Susq. Peak Average Daily Flow

1.2 Million cfs 120,000 cfs

Potomac Peak Average Daily Flow

334,000 cfs 150,000 cfs


Data courtesy:WSI Corp., NDBC,Davis and Laird, 1976, FEMA, USGS


Agnes Isabel



Wind Light Damaging


headwaters

Up to 12 feet



aid






334,000 cfs 150,000 cfs




Agnes Isabel



Wind Light Damaging


headwaters

Up to 12 feet



aid






334,000 cfs 150,000 cfs







Agnes Isabel



Wind Light Damaging


headwaters

Up to 12 feet



aid






334,000 cfs 150,000 cfs




http://www.fema.gov/kids/index.htmhttp://www.fema.gov/kids/index.htm

Floyd’s Water Levels’

Rise <1m

Floyd’s Water Levels’

Rise <1m

Water LevelsWater Levels

Agnes’Water Levelat Baltimore

1.1 m

Agnes’Water Levelat Baltimore

1.1 m

Data courtesy:NOAA/ CO-OPSHurricane ComparisonsHurricane Comparisons

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Baltimore at Ft. McHenryNOAA 8574680

Friday at 7:06 AM (17:42 after the Chesapeake Bay

Bridge Tunnel peak)

7.35 feet

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

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AnnapolisNOAA 8575512


Bridge Tunnel peak)

6.48 feet


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CambridgeNOAA 8571892


Bridge Tunnel peak)

5.16 feet


Isabel Water LevelsIsabel Water Levels

Data courtesy: USGSWater Level and FlowWater Level and Flow

2002 - 2003 Bay Flow2002 - 2003 Bay Flow

Data courtesy: USGSWater Level and FlowWater Level and Flow

• Pre- and Post- Storm Assessment of:

Salinity, Water Clarity, Dissolved Oxygen and Nutrient Levels

• Chesapeake BayMain-Stem– Pre: 9/15/03 – 9/17/03– Post: 9/23/03 – 9/24/03

• Tidal Potomac River– Pre: 9/15/03– Post: 9/22/03

Maryland DNR - Monitoring ProgramsMaryland DNR - Monitoring Programs

Fixed Station Monthly MonitoringFixed Station Monthly Monitoring


• Near Real-time Assessment of Storm Related Changes in:

Salinity, Water Clarity, Chlorophyll, Temperature Dissolved Oxygen, pH

• Continuously Collected Water Quality Data Every 15 Minutes Throughout Storm Duration

Continuous MonitoringContinuous Monitoring

• Pre- and Post- Storm Spatially Intensive Assessment of:

Same Parameters as Continuous Monitoring and Geographic Coordinates

• Magothy River– Pre: 9/4/03– Post: 9/23/03

• Middle River– Pre: 9/8/03– Post: 9/24/03


Water Quality MappingWater Quality Mapping


Eyes on the BayEyes on the Baywww.eyesonthebay.netwww.eyesonthebay.net

SalinitySalinity

ChesapeakeFixed StationsChesapeake

Fixed Stations

")

!(

3.5 - 4

3 - 3.5

2.5 - 3

2 - 2.51.5 - 2

1- 1.5

0.5 - 1

0 - 0.5

Salinity (ppt)

")

!(

5:15 a.m.5:15 a.m.

SalinitySalinity

Water Quality Mapping / ContinuousWater Quality Mapping / Continuous

9/8/04 9/24/04

Middle RiverStrawberry Point


ContinuousMonitoringContinuousMonitoring

SalinitySalinity

ContinuousMonitoring-

HurricaneFloyd

ContinuousMonitoring-

HurricaneFloyd

SalinitySalinity

Water ClarityWater Clarity

PotomacFixed Stations

PotomacFixed Stations


ChesapeakeFixed Stations2002 vs. 2003


Incr

easi

ng

Wate

r C

lari

ty


Continuous Monitoring

Continuous Monitoring

Water Quality Mapping / ContinuousWater Quality Mapping / Continuous

")

!(

37.5 - 85

30 - 37.5

22.5 - 30

15 - 22.5

7.5 - 15

0 - 7.5

Turbidity (NTU)

")

!(

5:15 a.m.5:15 a.m.


9/8/04 9/24/04



ChesapeakeFixed StationsChesapeake

Fixed Stations

Dissolved OxygenDissolved OxygenMaps courtesy:

Dave Jasinski, CBP



Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

Continuous MonitorsContinuous Monitors

Dissolved Oxygen / ChlorophyllDissolved Oxygen / Chlorophyll

Fishing Bay at Elliot IslandFishing Bay at Elliot Island

Remote SensingRemote Sensing

ChlorophyllChlorophyll

9/11/03 9/24/03 10/2/03

http://www.cbrsp.orghttp://www.cbrsp.org

Maps courtesy: Larry Harding, UMCES

ChlorophyllChlorophyll

Chesapeake Fixed StationsChesapeake Fixed Stations

Total NitrogenTotal Nitrogen

NutrientsNutrients

Isabel shows almost a 2-fold increase in NO23 from pre-hurricane to October.

During Agnes there was roughlya 3-fold increase

Phosphorus/PO4Phosphorus/PO4

NutrientsNutrients

Benthic AssessmentBenthic Assessment

Two sites with the bestpre-hurricane benthic

assessment showed no change in post-hurricane

sampling

Living ResourcesLiving Resources

Stream AssessmentStream Assessment


DNR’s Monitoring andNon-tidal Assessment

Division (MANTA)saw no change in stream

conditions in select post-hurricane sampling

Submerged Aquatic VegetationSubmerged Aquatic Vegetation


•The overall wet year of 2003 may have had more of an impact than the

actual hurricane

•SAV seeds may have been swept todeeper waters or buried in some

cases

•Poor light conditions in 2003

•Expansion of freshwater zones

Harmful Algal BloomsHarmful Algal Blooms


•The hurricane spelled the endto Microcystis blue-green algae

blooms in the Potomac

•A late fall bloom of Prorocentrum(>100,000 cells/ml) was observed

Hurricane Isabel Impactson Water Quality via

Shoreline Erosion

Additional Credits:AA County Soil Conservation District - Jim Stein

Baltimore County DEPRM - Candice CroswellDavid Burke

Resource Assessment Service - Maryland Geological Survey

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

How Important is it:

from an Ecosystem Perspective?

What is Shoreline Erosion?

How Important is it:

from an Ecosystem Perspective?

What is Shoreline Erosion?

Picture of Isabel Shoreline erosion

Pix Isabel Erosion

From an Ecosystem PerspectiveNot all Shoreline Erosion is Detrimental

• Sand component– Remains near source– Forms Beaches

• Limited habitat type in the Bay• Recreational value• Buffers shoreline against continued erosion

From an Ecosystem PerspectiveNot all Shoreline Erosion is detrimental

• Silt/Clay (Mud) Component– Transported in suspension away from source

• Attenuates light, adversely effecting SAV• Interferes with filter feeding organisms• Contributes to burial of benthic organisms (oysters)• BUT serves as sediment supply to tidal marshes,

enhancing ability to keep pace with sea level rise

Significance of Shoreline Erosionin the Chesapeake

5000 feet

White = 1845

Blue = 1942

Yellow = 1989

MGS Involvement in Shoreline

Erosion:Example from

TilghmanIsland

DSAS

Preliminary SLOSH Model Results

Envelope of high waterEnvelope of high waterFor animation, see: For animation, see: www.ian.umces.edu/hurricane.htmwww.ian.umces.edu/hurricane.htm

Pix from Balt and AA

Baltimore County Example

• 18,300 feet of shoreline impacted• 1.5% of the total County shoreline• Assume 5 feet of erosion

– Loss of 2 acres of land– Compared to historical rate of loss of 21 acres/yr

Baltimore Co Example (continued)

• Assume 5 foot bank height– Eroded 17,000 cubic yards (13,000 cubic meters)– 15,000 MT of sediment

• (5,300 MT sand; 9,700 MT silt/clay)

Estimating Sediment Input

• Scale to entire western shore– 94,000 MT of silt/clay– 2.6% of annual fastland load to the entire Chesapeake

• Compare to previous major hurricanes– Agnes (1972)

• 31 Million MT of silt/clay from Susquehanna River alone• 30x annual average

– Eloise (1976)• 16 Million MT of silt/clay from Susquehanna River• 15x annual average

Documents

Assessing the Impacts of Hurricane Isabel on Maryland Water … · Isabel Water LevelsIsabel Water Levels Data courtesy: Water Level and FlowWater Level and Flow USGS. 2002 - 2003