Cory White ENPH University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Eau Claire River Recreational Activity Risk

Background

Results

Recommendations

References

• Chippewa River used for many different

recreational activities

• Kayaking

• Fishing

• Swimming

• Tubing: common activity in summer months

• Consumption of beverages takes place on

river

• Eau Claire River is the largest water tributary of the

Chippewa River in the Eau Claire area

• Lake Altoona, East of Eau Claire, has been known

for pollution and high phosphorus and other trace

metal levels due to septic systems

• Lake Altoona is a dammed upstream part of the

Eau Claire River

• Residential houses with ageing septic systems

around the lake

• Determine runoff from farms

• Determine runoff from golf course

• Determine if houses around the river are

polluting

• Effects of high phosphorus levels on public

• Effects of trace metal levels on the public

• Determine the risk an individual has when using

the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers for

recreation

• Amount of water swallowed

• Chemicals

• Pathogens

• Carcinogens

• Topographic maps show that the Eau Claire

River receives the runoff from many farms and

a golf course in the Eau Claire area

• Consumption of river water is likely

• Swimmers consume 10ml of water on

average [3]

• Kayakers consume 3.8ml of water on

average [3]

• Fishers consume 3.6ml of water on average

[3]

• Eutrophication or high levels of cyanobacteria

have been reported in Lake Altoona

• Blue-Green algae blooms have been

reported

• Increased trace metal levels were found in

Altoona lake and the ground water springs

around it

• Such as lead, chlorine, iron, zinc and

manganese

• Increased metal levels indicates that septic

systems around the lake are leaking into

groundwater springs [4]

Impact on Public

• Septic Inspections around the Eau Claire River,

Chippewa River and Lake Altoona

• Nose plugs for swimming and recreational use on

the river

• Prevent the consumption of alcohol on the river

• Alcohol leads to poor decisions and unnecessary

river water consumption

• Require a cover for beverages

• Proper inspection of pesticide and fertilizer use on

golf courses and farms

• Prevention plan for runoff into the Eau Claire River

• Monitor children lead blood levels in the areas

around the river

• Conduct surveys to discover most at risk

population

• Lead Levels from Altoona Lake

• Lead has negative effects on children even in

very low doses [7]

• No acceptable dose of lead for public

• Lead Exposure Effects: developmental,

mental, and behavior effects

• High levels of phosphorus

• Loss of species such as fish

• Ecosystem instability can lead to loss of

species in local waters

• High intake levels can lead to kidney damage

• The use of pesticides introduces carcinogens into

our waterway

• Carcinogens are cancer causing agents

• More costly to remove pesticides from drinking

water

1. Perez, J., Basaguren, A., Descals, E., Larranaga, A., & Pozo, J.

(2013). Leaf-litter processing in headwater streams of northern

Iberian Peninsula: moderate levels of eutrophication do not explain

breakdown rates. Hydrobiologia, 718(1), 41-57. doi: 10.1007/s10750-

013-1610-x

2. Sirhan, A., & Hamidi, M. (2013). Detection of soil and groundwater

domestic pollution by the electrical resistivity method in the West

Bank, Palestine. Near Surface Geophysics, 11(4), 371-380. doi:

10.3997/1873-0604.2013012

3. Dorevitch, S., Panthi, S., Huang, Y., Li, H., Michalek, A. M., Pratap, P.,

Wroblewski, M., & Liu, L. (2010). Water ingestion during water

recreation. ScienceDirect, 45(2011), 2020-2028.

4. Fairbairn, D., Pedersen, B., & Teige, E. (2009, January). Using trace

metal analysis to determine pollution sources impacting Lake Altoona,

West-Central, Wisconsin. Poster represents research conducted by

the Department of Geology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

5. Google Maps. (2013). [Eau Claire and Chippewa River Junction, Eau

Claire, Wisconsin.] Retrieved from

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

6. Swanson, A.F., (2013, July). What is farm runoff doing to the water?

Scientist wade in. Harvest Public Media.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/07/09/199095108/Whats-In-

The-Water-Searching-Midwest-Streams-For-Crop-Runoff.

7. Information for risk assessors. (2013, July 13). Retrieved from

http://epa.gov/superfund/lead/pbrisk.htm

Objectives