Melanie D. Harrison, Ph.D Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) March 6, 2013 NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Region Protected Resources Division Santa Rosa, California

Melanie D. Harrison, Ph.DTechnical Advisory Committee (TAC)

March 6, 2013

NOAA Fisheries, Southwest RegionProtected Resources Division

Santa Rosa, California

Science, Service, Stewardship

Water Quality and Biogeochemical Processes

OUTLINE

Introduction

Brief overview of the water and soil chemistry in the Hanson Gravel Ponds

Important biogeochemical processes and dynamics within the Hanson Gravel Ponds:

Cycling of metals: Mercury (Hg) Nutrient cycling: Phosphorus (P) Thermal and dissolve oxygen stratification

Scale:

Local Drivers

Large-scale Drivers: Russian River Watershed Context


Current Water Quality Status in the Russian River

Historical and current land use practices greatly influence water and sediment quality and quantity in the Russian River Watershed.

Gravel mining operations (legacy Hg-laden sediment) Agricultural activities (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur) Urbanization Water management: river impoundments (control the rate and supply)

Geology and topography

Water resource agencies are keenly interested in how to manage point and non-point sources of pollution to reduce human and environmental impacts. Toxins

Biomagnify in aquatic food webs Eutrophication

Harmful algal blooms


Russian River : Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

Numerous water bodies are listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act 303(d) due to several pollutants.

Establishment of numeric and/or narrative criteria to meet water quality standards to protect designated beneficial uses.

Numerous TMDLs in development by the Regional WQ Control Board

Reservoir Mercury TMDLs Lake Sonoma, Lake Mendocino, Lake Pillsbury

Laguna de Santa Rosa Nutrients, Disslove Oxygen, Temperature TMDLs Lower Russian River Indicator Bacteria TMDL

Russian River Watershed Sediment and Silt TMDL



Figure 1. Map of the Russian River Watershed TMDL listings.

Map courtesy of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWCQB)

Figure 2. Map of water and sediment sampling locations collected in August 2012. Water and Sediment

Suite of constituents of concern (EPA protocols)

CAM metals Organochlorine Pesticides Organophosphorus Pesticides Total extractable Petroleum

Hydrocarbons (THP) Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons

(PAH) Volatile Organic Carbons

(VOCs) Nutrients (TN and TP) Chlorophyll-A Methyl-mercury (MeHg)

Hanson Gravel Ponds: Preliminary Data Water and Soil Quality

Methyl-mercury (MeHg) concentrations were detected in water samples, however Piombo (0.0079 µg/L) and Mariana (0.0153 µg/L) concentrations were above residential environmental screening levels (ESL) of 0.003 µg/L.

In Vimark, Arsenic was reported at the residential ESL of value of 36 µg/L and above the surface water ESL for freshwater habitats of 0.14 µg/L.

In Piombo, Nickel (12 µg/L) was above the residential ESL value of 8.2 µg/L, but below the surface water ESL value for freshwater habitats.

Elevated concentrations of phosphorus (P) 12-230 µg/L in the water column.

Consistent suite of metals in each pond and the Russian River, indicative of ‘backgroud’ mineral concentration of the sediments.

Screening Results: Water Quality and Sediment


Hanson Ponds: Stratification

Temperature Thermal stratification

during summer months

~15ft.

Varies across spatial and

temporal scales.

Turnover typically occurs in

mid-October.

Dissolve Oxygen (DO) Rapid decline in DO

Anaerobic conditions the

sediment-water interface.


Hanson Gravel Ponds: Preliminary Data Water and Soil Quality

Higher Hg and MeHg concentrations observed in the Hanson ponds than in the Russian River sediments, soil banks, water column.

Total (Hg) concentrations were consistent with previous Hg results collected in the watershed.

Consistent suite of metals in each pond and the

Russian River, indicative of ‘backgroud’ mineral concentration of the sediments.

Screening Results: Russian River


Sediment, bank soil, and water samples collected:

Alexander Valley Bridge Adjacent to Syar Ponds Adjacent to Richardson Ponds Wolher Bride

Constituents

Organchlorines Pesticides CAM Metals Methyl-mercury (water column)

Results

Important biogeochemical (internal) processes that influence water quality in the Hanson Ponds?

Essential, such as Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) Decomposition (C) by

anaerobic microbial bacteria and microorganisms

Phosphorus mineralization Release of P occluded to

sediments under Al and Fe reduction.

Trace, such as Iron (Fe), Sulfur (S) Reduction of Fe and S by

anaerobic bacteria Toxic, such as Mercury (Hg),

Methylation of inorganic Hg(II) to methyl-mercury (MeHg)


What are the key controllers/drivers of the biogeochemical processes in the Hanson Pond

Methyl-mercury production Availability of Hg(II) Microbial community Sulfate concentrations Carbon availability Optimal redox condition (anaerobic

conditions)

Physical Hydrodynamics (i.e., connectivity) semi-

isolated Pond stratification Pond structure Sediment properties

Clay and fine grain sediments

Phosphorus mineralization Availability of P Vegetation Al and Fe Optimal redox condition (anaerobic

conditions) Periphyton community

Physical Hydrodynamics Pond stratification Pond structure Sediment properties

Clay and fine grain sediments


Scale: What are the key temporal and spatial drivers in the Russian River Watershed

Watershed Hydrology

Hydrology is a key controller of biogeochemical processing in a watershed.

Dominate transport and distribution mechanisms for constituents of concern

River discharge (controls the supply and form of pollutants during low-flow and high flow conditions)

Resuspend, remobilize, and settle pollutants in the Russian River and ponds

In stream flow augmentation: reservoirs and levees Detention of fines (Hg) and subsequent releaseReduced connectivity between the floodplain and

the river system


Watershed Morphology Watershed geology and topography

Spatial and temporal erosional and depositional rates

(legacy Hg and P).Turbidity and DO

Land use/Land cover Temporal variation in discharge

interacted with spatial heterogeneity in land cover to influence water quality.

Climate variability Precipitation (wet depositionTemperature

Scale: What are the key temporal and spatial drivers in the Russian River Watershed?


Summary

Understanding water quality responses and linkage between local internal process and external drivers at the watershed scale remains important to the success of the Hanson Pond Restoration Project.

A first step is to collect high quality data that captures the range of variability in anthropogenic and natural drivers over various spatial and temporal scales.

Determine how these scales vary along physical, chemical and environmental gradients.


North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Stephen Bargsten Steve Butkus Mark Neely

Permit Resource and Management Department: Amy Lyle

Endangered Habitat Conservancy: Michael Beck and Nancy Schaefer

NMFS: John McKeon, Brian Cluer, and Michael Donahue

Thank You/Questions


Documents

Melanie D. Harrison, Ph.D Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) March 6, 2013 NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Region Protected Resources Division Santa Rosa, California