ML14286A012

TN638 - Mcgonigal 2010 - Nutrients and Suspended Sediment in the Susquehana River, 2009

ML14286A012
Person / Time
Site:	Bell Bend
Issue date:	12/31/2010
From:	Mcgonigal K Susquehanna River Basin Commission
To:	Office of New Reactors
T. Terry, DNRL/EPB
References
TN638
Download: ML14286A012 (40)

Text

NUTRIENTS AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT TRANSPORTED IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN, 2009, AND TRENDS, JANUARY 1985 THROUGH DECEMBER 2009 Publication No. 272 December 31, 2010 Kevin H. McGonigal Water Quality Program Specialist Printed on recycled paper.

This report is prepared in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Protection, Division of Conservation Districts and Nutrient Management, under Grant CB-97315904.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Paul O. Swartz, Executive Director James M. Tierney, N.Y. Commissioner Kenneth P. Lynch, N.Y. Alternate Peter Freehafer, N.Y. Alternate John Hanger, Pa. Commissioner John T. Hines, Pa. Alternate Glenn H. Rider II, Pa. Alternate Andrew Zemba, Pa. Alternate Michelle Moses, Pa. Advisor Dr. Robert M. Summers, Md. Commissioner Herbert M. Sachs, Md. Alternate/Advisor Brigadier General Peter A. DeLuca, U.S. Commissioner Colonel David E. Anderson, U.S. Alternate David J. Leach, U.S. Alternate Amy M. Guise, U.S. Advisor The Susquehanna River Basin Commission was created as an independent agency by a federal-interstate compact* among the states of Maryland and New York, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the federal government. In creating the Commission, the Congress and state legislatures formally recognized the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin as a regional asset vested with local, state, and national interests for which all the parties share responsibility. As the single federal-interstate water resources agency with basinwide authority, the Commission's goal is to coordinate the planning, conservation, management, utilization, development, and control of basin water resources among the public and private sectors.

• Statutory Citations: Federal - Pub. L.91-575, 84 Stat. 1509 (December 1970); Maryland - Natural Resources Sec. 8-301 (Michie 1974); New York - ECL Sec. 21-1301 (McKinney 1973); and Pennsylvania - 32 P.S. 820.1 (Supp. 1976).

This report is available on our web site (www.srbc.net) by selecting Public Information/Technical Reports. For a CD or hard copy, contact the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1721 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 17102-2391, Phone: (717) 238-0423, Fax: (717) 238-2436, E-mail: srbc@srbc.net.

i TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2 PURPOSE OF REPORT..................................................................................................................2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN...................................................2 NUTRIENT MONITORING SITES.............................................................................................4 SAMPLE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS..............................................................................5 PRECIPITATION............................................................................................................................7 WATER DISCHARGE..................................................................................................................8 2009 NUTRIENT AND SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT LOADS AND YIELDS.......................10 2009

SUMMARY

STATISTICS FOR ALL SITES.....................................................................10 COMPARISON OF THE 2009 LOADS AND YIELDS OF TOTAL NITROGEN, TOTAL PHOSPHORUS, AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT WITH THE BASELINES.......24 DISCHARGE, NUTRIENT, AND SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT TRENDS..................................26 DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................30 REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................36 FIGURES Figure 1.

The Susquehanna River Basin, Subbasins, and Population Centers...........................3 Figure 2.

Locations of Sampling Sites Within the Susquehanna River Basin...........................6 Figure 3.

Discharge Ratios for Long-term Sites, Susquehanna Mainstem Sites (A) and Tributaries (B).............................................................................................................9 TABLES Table 1.

2000 Land Use Percentages for the Susquehanna River Basin and Selected Tributaries...................................................................................................................4 Table 2.

Data Collection Sites and Their Drainage Areas........................................................5 Table 3.

Water Quality Parameters, Laboratory Methods, and Detection Limits....................7 Table 4.

Summary of Annual Precipitation for Selected Areas in the Susquehanna River Basin, Calendar Year 2009.........................................................................................8 Table 5.

Annual Water Discharge, Calendar Year 2009...........................................................9 Table 6.

List of Analyzed Parameters, Abbreviations, and STORET Codes.........................11 Table 7.

Annual Water Discharges, Annual Loads, Yields, and Average Concentration of Total Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009.........................................................................11 Table 8.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Phosphorus, Calendar Year 2009..................................................................................................11 Table 9.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Suspended Sediment, Calendar Year 2009.................................................................................12 Table 10.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Ammonia, Calendar Year 2009..................................................................................................12 Table 11.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Nitrate plus Nitrite, Calendar Year 2009......................................................................................12 Table 12.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Organic Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009..................................................................................12 Table 13.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Phosphorus, Calendar Year 2009..............................................................................13

ii Table 14.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Orthophosphate, Calendar Year 2009.......................................................................13 Table 15.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Ammonia, Calendar Year 2009................................................................................13 Table 16.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009..................................................................................................13 Table 17.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Nitrate plus Nitrite Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009...............................................................14 Table 18.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009..................................................................................14 Table 19.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Organic Carbon, Calendar Year 2009.....................................................................................14 Table 20.

Seasonal Mean Water Discharges and Loads of Nutrients and Suspended Sediment, Calendar Year 2009.................................................................................15 Table 21.

Seasonal Mean Water Discharges and Yields of Nutrients and Suspended Sediment, Calendar Year 2009.................................................................................16 Table 22.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS in Thousands of Pounds at Susquehanna River Sites: Towanda, Danville, and Marietta...................................17 Table 23.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS in Thousands of Pounds at Susquehanna River Tributary Sites: Lewisburg, Newport, and Conestoga.............17 Table 24.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS Yields in lbs/acre at Susquehanna River Sites: Towanda, Danville, and Marietta...................................18 Table 25.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS Yields in lbs/acre at Susquehanna River Tributary Sites: Lewisburg, Newport, and Conestoga.............18 Table 26.

Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, and pH Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009...............................................................................19 Table 27.

Total Nitrogen Species Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L......................................................................................................................20 Table 28.

Dissolved Nitrogen Species Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L............................................................................................................21 Table 29.

Phosphorus Species and Total Suspended Solids Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L...............................................................................22 Table 30.

Flow, Total Organic Carbon, Total Kjeldahl, and Dissolved Kjeldahl Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L.............................................23 Table 31.

Comparison of 2009 TN, TP, and SS Yields with Baseline Yields..........................25 Table 32.

Comparison of 2009 Seasonal TN, TP, and SS Yields with Initial Baseline Yields........................................................................................................................25 Table 33.

Trend Statistics for the Susquehanna River at Towanda, Pa., October 1988 Through September 2009..........................................................................................27 Table 34.

Trend Statistics for the Susquehanna River at Danville, Pa., October 1984 Through September 2009..........................................................................................27 Table 35.

Trend Statistics for the West Branch Susquehanna River at Lewisburg, Pa.,

October 1984 Through September 2009...................................................................28 Table 36.

Trend Statistics for the Juniata River at Newport, Pa., October 1984 Through September 2009........................................................................................................28 Table 37.

Trend Statistics for the Susquehanna River at Marietta, Pa., October 1986 Through September 2009..........................................................................................29 Table 38.

Trend Statistics for the Conestoga River at Conestoga, Pa., October 1984 Through September 2009..........................................................................................29 Table 39.

Average of Monthly Changes from Historical Similar Flow Month........................35

1 NUTRIENTS AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT TRANSPORTED IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN, 2009, AND TRENDS, JANUARY 1985 THROUGH DECEMBER 2009 Kevin H. McGonigal Water Quality Program Specialist ABSTRACT Nutrient and suspended-sediment (SS) samples were collected under base flow and stormflow conditions during calendar year 2009 for Group A sites listed in Table 2. Fixed date samples also were collected at these sites as well as at Group B sites listed in Table 2. All samples were analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus species, total organic carbon (TOC),

and SS.

Precipitation for 2009 was above average at all Group A sites except at Lewisburg, which was 1.84 inches below the long-term mean (LTM). Rainfall amounts above the LTM ranged from 1.39 inches above LTM at Marietta to 2.73 inches above LTM at Conestoga. Winter rainfall amounts were below LTM at all sites including 4.66 inches lower at Conestoga.

Spring amounts were above LTM for all sites ranging from 0.57 at Lewisburg to 3.73 at Newport. Although precipitation rates were mostly above LTM values, 2009 flow values were below the LTM at all sites. Highest departures from the LTM were at Newport and Towanda with 85 percent of the LTM.

Individual monthly flows were above the LTM for June, August, and October at most sites.

This report utilizes several methods to compare nutrient and SS loads and yields including: (1) comparison with the LTM; (2) comparison with baseline data; and (3) flow-adjusted concentration trend analysis.

Annual loads for all parameters were below the LTM at all sites except for dissolved phosphorus (DP), dissolved orthophosphate (DOP), and TOC. DP and DOP were above the LTM at Towanda, Danville, and Lewisburg.

DOP and TOC were above the LTM at Newport.

Conestoga 2009 values were below LTM for all parameters including substantially lower than LTM values for total phosphorus (TP), SS, total organic nitrogen (TON), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON).

2009 seasonal flows were highest for winter at all sites except Newport and Conestoga. This resulted in the highest load of all parameters being transported during winter at Towanda,

Danville, and Lewisburg, with TOC at Lewisburg being the only exception. Flow was lowest during summer at all stations except Conestoga, resulting in lowest loads delivered during the season. Conestoga flows were distinctly different from past years with winter being the lowest flow season.

Lower than predicted yields in total nitrogen (TN), TP, and SS were found in 2009 for all baseline comparisons at all sites, except for TP at Towanda and TP at Danville for the second half baseline comparison. This comparison remained unchanged from 2008. Seasonal yields of TP at Towanda were higher than baseline predictions for all seasons. 2009 annual yields were dramatically lower than baseline predictions at Conestoga for TN, TP, and SS.

All trends for 2009 remained unchanged from 2008 except DON at Conestoga, which changed from a downward trend to no significant trend. TN, TP, and SS trends were improving at all sites except for TP at Towanda, which had no significant trend. Upward trends were found at Towanda and Newport for DOP.

The most southern site, Marietta, showed downward trends for all parameters except DOP,

2 which had no significant trend due to more than 20 percent of the values being below the method detection limit (BMDL). This also occurred for dissolved ammonia nitrogen (DNH3) at Towanda, Danville, Lewisburg, and Newport.

No significant trends were found for flow for the time period.

INTRODUCTION Nutrients and SS entering the Chesapeake Bay (Bay) from the Susquehanna River Basin contribute to nutrient enrichment problems in the Bay (USEPA, 1982). The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Bureau of Laboratories, the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) conducted a 5-year intensive study at 12 sites from 1985-89 to quantify nutrient and SS transported to the Bay via the Susquehanna River Basin. In 1990, the number of sampling sites was reduced to five long-term monitoring stations. An additional site was included in 1994.

In October 2004, 13 additional sites (two in New York and 11 in Pennsylvania) were added as part of the Chesapeake Bay Programs Non-tidal Water Quality Monitoring Network. In October 2005, four more sites (three in New York and one in Maryland) were added to the existing network. This project involves monitoring efforts conducted by all six Bay state jurisdictions, USEPA, USGS, and SRBC to create a uniform non-tidal monitoring network for the entire Bay watershed.

PURPOSE OF REPORT The purpose of this report is to present basic information on annual and seasonal loads and yields of nutrients and SS measured during calendar year 2009. Comparisons are made to LTM and to various baselines, including baselines created from the initial five years of data, the first half of the dataset, the second half of the dataset, and those created from the entire dataset for each site. Additionally, seasonal baselines were created using the initial five years of data from each site. Seasonal and annual variations in loads are discussed, as well as the results of flow-adjusted trend analyses for the period January 1985 through December 2009 for various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, SS, TOC, and discharge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN The Susquehanna River (Figure 1) drains an area of 27,510 square miles (Susquehanna River Basin Study Coordination Committee, 1970),

and is the largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. The Susquehanna River originates in the Appalachian Plateau of southcentral New York, flows into the Valley and Ridge and Piedmont Provinces of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and joins the Bay at Havre de Grace, Md. The climate in the Susquehanna River Basin varies considerably from the low lands adjacent to the Bay in Maryland to the high elevations, above 2,000 feet, of the northern headwaters in central New York State. The annual mean temperature ranges from 53o F (degrees Fahrenheit) near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border to 45o F in the northern part of the basin. Annual precipitation in the basin averages 39.15 inches and is fairly well distributed throughout the year.

Land use in the Susquehanna River Basin, shown in Table 1, is predominantly rural with woodland accounting for 69 percent; agriculture, 21 percent; and urban, 7 percent. Woodland occupies the higher elevations of the northern and western parts of the basin and much of the mountain and ridge land in the Juniata and Lower Susquehanna Subbasins. Woods and grasslands occupy areas in the lower part of the basin that are unsuitable for cultivation because the slopes are too steep, the soils are too stony, or the soils are poorly drained. The Lower Susquehanna Subbasin contains the highest density of agriculture operations within the watershed. However, extensive areas are cultivated along the river valleys in southern New York and along the West Branch Susquehanna River from Northumberland, Pa.,

to Lock Haven, Pa., including the Bald Eagle Creek Valley.

3 Figure 1.

The Susquehanna River Basin, Subbasins, and Population Centers

4 Table 1.

2000 Land Use Percentages for the Susquehanna River Basin and Selected Tributaries Agricultural Site Location Waterbody Water/

Wetland Urban Row Crops Pasture/Hay Total Forest Other Original Sites (Group A)

Towanda Susquehanna 2

5 17 5

22 71 0

Danville Susquehanna 2

6 16 5

21 70 1

Lewisburg West Branch Susquehanna 1

5 8

2 10 84 0

Newport Juniata 1

6 14 4

18 74 1

Marietta Susquehanna 2

7 14 5

19 72 0

Conestoga Conestoga 1

24 12 36 48 26 1

Enhanced Sites (Group B)

Campbell Cohocton 3

4 13 6

19 74 0

Rockdale Unadilla 3

2 22 6

28 66 1

Conklin Susquehanna 3

3 18 4

22 71 1

Smithboro Susquehanna 3

5 17 5

22 70 0

Chemung Chemung 2

5 15 5

20 73 0

Wilkes-Barre Susquehanna 2

6 16 5

21 71 0

Karthaus West Branch Susquehanna 1

6 11 1

12 80 1

Castanea Bald Eagle 1

8 11 3

14 76 1

Jersey Shore West Branch Susquehanna 1

4 6

1 7

87 1

Penns Creek Penns 1

3 16 4

20 75 1

Saxton Raystown Branch Juniata

< 0.5 6

18 5

23 71 0

Dromgold Shermans 1

4 15 6

21 74 0

Hogestown Conodoguinet 1

11 38 6

44 43 1

Hershey Swatara 2

14 18 10 28 56 0

Manchester West Conewago 2

13 12 36 48 36 1

Martic Forge Pequea 1

12 12 48 60 25 2

Richardsmere Octoraro 1

10 16 47 63 24 2

Entire Basin Susquehanna River Basin 2

7 14 7

21 69 1

Major urban areas in the Upper and Chemung Subbasins are located along river valleys, and they include Binghamton, Elmira, and Corning, N.Y. Urban areas in the Middle Susquehanna include Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The major urban areas in the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin are Williamsport, Renovo, and Clearfield, Pa. Lewistown and Altoona, Pa., are the major urban areas within the Juniata Subbasin. Major urban areas in the Lower Susquehanna Subbasin include York, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Sunbury, Pa.

NUTRIENT MONITORING SITES Data were collected from six sites on the Susquehanna River, three sites on the West Branch Susquehanna River, and 14 sites on smaller tributaries in the basin. These 23 sites, selected for long-term monitoring of nutrient and SS transport in the basin, are listed in Table 2, and their general locations are shown in Figure 2.

5 Table 2.

Data Collection Sites and Their Drainage Areas SAMPLE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Samples were collected to measure nutrient and SS concentrations during various flows in 2009. For Group A sites, two samples were collected per month: one near the twelfth of the month (fixed date sample) and one during monthly base flow conditions. Additionally, at least four high flow events were sampled, targeting one per season. When possible, a second high flow event was sampled after spring planting in the basin. During high flow sampling events, samples were collected daily during the rise and fall of the hydrograph. The goal was to gather a minimum of three samples on the rise and three samples on the fall, with one sample as close to peak flow as possible.

For Group B sites, fixed date monthly samples were collected during the middle of each month during 2009. Additionally, two storm samples were collected per quarter at each site. All samples were collected by hand with USGS depth integrating samplers. At each site between three and 10 depth integrated verticals were collected across the water column and then composited to obtain a representative sample of the entire waterbody.

Whole water samples were collected and analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus species, TOC, total suspended solids (TSS), and SS. For Group B sites, SS samples were only collected during storm events. Additionally, filtered samples were collected to analyze for dissolved nitrogen (DN) and DP species.

All Pennsylvania samples were delivered to the PADEP Laboratory in Harrisburg. New York samples were sent to Columbia Analytical Services in Rochester, N.Y. SS samples for Group A sites were completed at SRBC, while samples for Group B sites were analyzed at the USGS sediment laboratory in Louisville, Kentucky. Additionally, one of each of the two storm samples per storm was submitted to the USGS sediment laboratory for analysis of sand/fine content.

The parameters and laboratory methods used are listed in Table 3.

USGS ID Number Original Sites (Group A)

Subbasin Short Name Drainage Area (Sq Mi) 01531500 Susquehanna River at Towanda, Pa.

Middle Susquehanna Towanda 7,797 01540500 Susquehanna River at Danville, Pa.

Middle Susquehanna Danville 11,220 01553500 West Branch Susquehanna River at Lewisburg, Pa.

W Branch Susquehanna Lewisburg 6,847 01567000 Juniata River at Newport, Pa.

Juniata Newport 3,354 01576000 Susquehanna River at Marietta, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Marietta 25,990 01576754 Conestoga River at Conestoga, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Conestoga 470 Enhanced Sites (Group B) 01502500 Unadilla River at Rockdale, N.Y.

Upper Susquehanna Rockdale 520 01503000 Susquehanna River at Conklin, N.Y.

Upper Susquehanna Conklin 2,232 01515000 Susquehanna River at Smithboro, N.Y.

Upper Susquehanna Smithboro 4,631 01529500 Cohocton River at Campbell, N.Y.

Chemung Campbell 470 01531000 Chemung River at Chemung, N.Y.

Chemung Chemung 2,506 01536500 Susquehanna River near Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Middle Susquehanna Wilkes-Barre 9,960 01542500 West Branch Susquehanna River near Karthaus, Pa.

W Branch Susquehanna Karthaus 1,462 01548085 Bald Eagle Creek near Castanea, Pa.

W Branch Susquehanna Castanea 420 01549760 West Branch Susquehanna River near Jersey Shore, Pa.

W Branch Susquehanna Jersey Shore 5,225 01555000 Penns Creek at Penns Creek, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Penns Creek 301 01562000 Raystown Branch Juniata River at Saxton, Pa.

Juniata Saxton 756 01568000 Shermans Creek near Dromgold, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Dromgold 200 01570000 Conodoguinet Creek near Hogestown, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Hogestown 470 01573560 Swatara Creek near Hershey, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Hershey 483 01574000 West Conewago Creek near Manchester, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Manchester 510 01576787 Pequea Creek near Martic Forge, Pa.

Lower Susquehanna Pequea 155 01578475 Octoraro Creek at Richardsmere, Md.

Lower Susquehanna Richardsmere 177

6 Figure 2.

Locations of Sampling Sites Within the Susquehanna River Basin

7 Table 3.

Water Quality Parameters, Laboratory Methods, and Detection Limits Parameter Laboratory Methodology Detection Limit (mg/l)

References PADEP Colorimetry 0.020 USEPA 350.1 Total Ammonia (TNH3)

CAS*

Colorimetry 0.010 USEPA 350.1R PADEP Block Digest, Colorimetry 0.020 USEPA 350.1 Dissolved Ammonia (DNH3)

Block Digest, Colorimetry 0.010 USEPA 350.1R Total Nitrogen (TN)

PADEP Persulfate Digestion for TN 0.040 Standard Methods

1. 4500-Norg-D Dissolved Nitrogen (DN)

PADEP Persulfate Digestion 0.040 Standard Methods

1. 4500-Norg-D Total Organic Nitrogen (TON)

N/A TN minus TNH3 and TNOx N/A N/A Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON)

N/A DN minus DNH3 and DNOx N/A N/A Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)

CAS*

Block Digest, Flow Injection 0.050 USEPA 351.2 Dissolved Kjeldahl Nitrogen (DKN)

CAS*

Block Digest, Flow Injection 0.050 USEPA 351.2 PADEP Cd-reduction, Colorimetry 0.010 USEPA 353.2 Total Nitrite plus Nitrate (TNOx)

CAS*

Colorimetric by LACHAT 0.002 USEPA 353.2 PADEP Cd-reduction, Colorimetry 0.010 USEPA 353.2 Dissolved Nitrite plus Nitrate (DNOx)

CAS*

Colorimetric by LACHAT 0.002 USEPA 353.2 PADEP Colorimetry 0.010 USEPA 365.1 Dissolved Orthophosphate (DOP)

CAS*

Colorimetric Determination 0.002 USEPA 365.1 PADEP Block Digest, Colorimetry 0.010 USEPA 365.1 Dissolved Phosphorus (DP)

CAS*

Colorimetric Determination 0.002 USEPA 365.1 PADEP Persulfate Digest, Colorimetry 0.010 USEPA 365.1 Total Phosphorus (TP)

CAS*

Colorimetric Determination 0.002 USEPA 365.1 PADEP Combustion/Oxidation 0.50 SM 5310D Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

CAS*

Chemical Oxidation 0.05 GEN 415.1/9060 PADEP Gravimetric 5.0 USGS I-3765 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

CAS*

Residue, non-filterable 1.1 SM2540D Suspended Sediment Fines & Sand USGS SRBC Suspended Sediment (SS)

USGS

• Columbia Analytical Services, Rochester, N.Y. (New York sites only)

• • TWRI Book 3, Chapter C2 and Book 5, Chapter C1, Laboratory Theory and Methods for Sediment Analysis (Guy and others, 1969)

PRECIPITATION Precipitation data were obtained from long-term monitoring stations operated by the U.S.

Department of Commerce. The data are published as Climatological Data-Pennsylvania, and as Climatological Data-New York by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Quarterly and annual data from these sources were compiled across the subbasins of the Susquehanna River Basin and are reported in Table 4 for Group A sites.

Precipitation for 2009 was above average at all Group A sites except Lewisburg. Highest departure from the LTM for precipitation was recorded at Conestoga, Pa., with 2.73 inches above the LTM. Highest precipitation months occurred during April to June at all sites, with an average of 2.33 inches above the LTM. January to March had the lowest precipitation amounts with an average of 2.66 inches below the LTM.

Lower rainfall during the frozen ground months coupled with higher flows during spring and summer when plant uptake and infiltration are higher likely resulted in below LTM flows for 2009.

8 Table 4.

Summary of Annual Precipitation for Selected Areas in the Susquehanna River Basin, Calendar Year 2009 River Location Season Calendar Year 2009 Precipitation Inches Average Long-term Precipitation inches Departure From Long-term inches January-March 7.15 7.56

-0.41 April-June 12.41 10.54 1.87 July-September 12.56 11.17 1.39 October-December 8.87 9.14

-0.27 Susquehanna River above Towanda, Pa.

Yearly Total 40.99 38.41 2.58 January-March 6.87 7.74

-0.87 April-June 12.60 10.69 1.91 July-September 12.77 11.38 1.39 October-December 8.89 9.26

-0.37 Susquehanna River above Danville, Pa.

Yearly Total 41.13 39.07 2.06 January-March 4.83 8.40

-3.57 April-June 11.60 11.03 0.57 July-September 12.66 12.43 0.23 October-December 10.59 9.66 0.93 West Branch Susquehanna River above Lewisburg, Pa.

Yearly Total 39.68 41.52

-1.84 January-March 4.29 7.74

-3.45 April-June 13.46 9.73 3.73 July-September 9.26 10.05

-0.79 October-December 11.15 8.97 2.18 Juniata River above Newport, Pa.

Yearly Total 38.16 36.49 1.67 January-March 5.24 8.21

-2.97 April-June 13.13 10.73 2.4 July-September 12.34 11.52 0.82 October-December 10.58 9.44 1.14 Susquehanna River above Marietta, Pa.

Yearly Total 41.29 39.90 1.39 January-March 4.26 8.92

-4.66 April-June 14.23 10.74 3.49 July-September 15.15 12.59 2.56 October-December 11.92 10.58 1.34 Conestoga River above Conestoga, Pa.

Yearly Total 45.56 42.83 2.73 WATER DISCHARGE Water discharge data were obtained from the USGS and are listed in Table 5. Monthly water discharge ratios are plotted in Figure 3 for all sites. The water discharge ratio is the actual flow for the time period divided by the LTM for the same time period. Thus, a value of one equals the 2009 flow being the same as the LTM, while a value of three equals the 2009 flow being three times the volume of the LTM.

Discharge values were below the LTM all sites for 2009. Highest departures from the LTM were at Newport and Towanda at 85 percent of LTM. Mainstem sites had above LTM flows during June, August, and October. Flows levels at tributary sites were at or above LTM during August, October, and December.

9 Table 5.

Annual Water Discharge, Calendar Year 2009 2009 Site Years of Record Long-term Annual Mean cfs1 Mean cfs Percent of LTM2 Towanda 21 11,755 10,031 85 Danville 25 16,492 14,903 90 Lewisburg 25 10,785 9,247 86 Newport 25 4,372 3,705 85 Marietta 23 38,933 34,659 89 Conestoga 25 676 642 95 1 Cubic feet per second 2 Long-term mean 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Towanda Danville Marietta LTM A

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Lewisburg Newport Conestoga LTM B

Figure 3.

Discharge Ratios for Long-term Sites, Susquehanna Mainstem Sites (A) and Tributaries (B)

10 2009 NUTRIENT AND SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT LOADS AND YIELDS Loads and yields represent two methods for describing nutrient and SS amounts within a basin. Loads refer to the actual amount of the constituent being transported in the water column past a given point over a specific duration of time and are expressed in pounds.

Yields compare the transported load with the acreage of the watershed and are expressed in lbs/acre. This allows for easy comparisons between watersheds. This project reports loads and yields for the constituents listed in Table 6 as computed by the Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimator (ESTIMATOR) described by Cohn and others (1989). This estimator relates the constituent concentration to water discharge, seasonal effects, and long-term trends, and computes the best-fit regression equation. Daily loads of the constituents then were calculated from the daily mean water discharge records. The loads were reported along with the estimates of accuracy.

Identifying sites where the percentage of LTM for a constituent was different than the percentage of LTM for discharge may show potential areas where improvements or degradations have occurred for that particular constituent. One item to note is that nutrients and SS increase with increased flow (Ott and others, 1991; Takita, 1996, 1998). This increase, however, is not as linear at higher flows as at lower ones. Individual high flow events tend to produce higher loads, especially for TP and SS, than would be predicted by a simple comparison with the LTM.

Tables 7-19 show the loads and yields for the Group A monitoring stations, as well as an associated error value. They also show the average annual concentration for each constituent. Comparisons have been made to the LTMs for all constituents. Seasonal loads and yields for all parameters and all sites are listed in Table 20 for loads and Table 21 for yields. For the purposes of this project, January through March is winter, April through June is spring, July through September is summer, and October through December is fall. Monthly loads and yields for TN, TP, and SS at all long-term sites are listed in Tables 22 through 25.

2009

SUMMARY

STATISTICS FOR ALL SITES Load and trend analyses were unable to be completed at Group B sites because samples have not been collected at the stations for a sufficient number of years. Therefore, summary statistics have been calculated for these sites, as well as the long-term sites for comparison.

Summary statistics are listed in Tables 26 through 30 and include minimum, maximum, median, mean, and standard deviation values taken from the raw 2009 dataset.

11 Table 6.

List of Analyzed Parameters, Abbreviations, and STORET Codes Parameter Abbreviation STORET Code Discharge Q

00060 Total Nitrogen as N TN 00600 Dissolved Nitrogen as N DN 00602 Total Organic Nitrogen as N*

TON 00605 Dissolved Organic Nitrogen as N*

DON 00607 Total Ammonia as N TNH3 00610 Dissolved Ammonia as N DNH3 00608 Total Nitrate + Nitrite as N TNOx 00630 Dissolved Nitrate + Nitrite as N DNOx 00631 Total Phosphorus as P TP 00665 Dissolved Phosphorus as P DP 00666 Dissolved Orthophosphate as P DOP 00671 Total Organic Carbon TOC 00680 Suspended sediment (fine)

SSF 70331 Suspended sediment (sand)

SSS 70335 Suspended Sediment (total)

SS 80154

• These are calculated values and not directly analyzed.

Table 7.

Annual Water Discharges, Annual Loads, Yields, and Average Concentration of Total Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85.3 16,749 61.0 3.2 3.357 5.502 0.848 71.5 Danville 14,903 90 28,134 65.3 3.5 3.918 6.003 0.959 72.2 Lewisburg 9,247 86 15,446 66.4 4.8 3.525 5.312 0.849 77.4 Newport 3,705 85 12,167 75.4 3.5 5.668 7.515 1.668 89.6 Marietta 34,659 89 93,634 72.7 4.2 5.629 7.741 1.372 81.7 Conestoga 642 95 7,692 74.8 3.5 25.571 34.203 6.086 78.7 Table 8.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Phosphorus, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 1,831 78.2 8.8 0.367 0.469 0.093 91.7 Danville 14,903 90 2,564 71.5 9.6 0.357 0.499 0.087 79.2 Lewisburg 9,247 86 876 69.7 13.0 0.200 0.287 0.048 81.3 Newport 3,705 85 512 65.8 10.2 0.238 0.362 0.070 78.2 Marietta 34,659 89 4,169 55.2 7.9 0.251 0.454 0.061 62.0 Conestoga 642 95 295 44.9 9.1 0.981 2.182 0.233 47.3

12 Table 9.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Suspended Sediment, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 687,675 23.6 14.6 137 584 34.8 27.7 Danville 14,903 90 993,839 30.8 12.5 138 449 33.9 34.1 Lewisburg 9,247 86 319,530 27.7 17.4 73 263 17.6 32.3 Newport 3,705 85 214,017 42.0 17.9 100 238 29.3 49.8 Marietta 34,659 89 2,422,253 37.0 14.8 146 394 35.5 41.5 Conestoga 642 95 87,968 25.2 19.6 292 1,162 69.6 26.5 Table 10.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Ammonia, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 617 45.6 12.6 0.124 0.271 0.031 53.4 Danville 14,903 90 1,067 49.8 12.4 0.149 0.299 0.036 55.1 Lewisburg 9,247 86 579 55.0 13.1 0.132 0.240 0.032 64.2 Newport 3,705 85 255 67.1 13.9 0.119 0.177 0.035 79.7 Marietta 34,659 89 2,826 61.5 13.6 0.170 0.277 0.041 69.0 Conestoga 642 95 147 57.6 15.4 0.490 0.852 0.117 60.6 Table 11.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Nitrate plus Nitrite, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 9,263 56.9 4.2 1.86 3.26 0.469 66.7 Danville 14,903 90 16,419 64.5 4.7 2.29 3.55 0.560 71.3 Lewisburg 9,247 86 11,023 73.2 4.6 2.52 3.44 0.606 85.3 Newport 3,705 85 9,072 75.8 3.5 4.23 5.57 1.244 84.2 Marietta 34,659 89 68,334 75.0 5.0 4.11 5.48 1.002 84.3 Conestoga 642 95 6,963 83.7 4.9 23.15 27.67 5.509 88.1 Table 12.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Organic Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 6,231 62.1 6.8 1.25 2.01 0.316 72.8 Danville 14,903 90 9,421 59.4 6.7 1.31 2.21 0.321 65.7 Lewisburg 9,247 86 4,308 58.4 12.7 0.98 1.68 0.237 68.1 Newport 3,705 85 2,870 72.6 12.4 1.34 1.84 0.393 86.2 Marietta 34,659 89 23,156 67.9 9.2 1.39 2.05 0.339 76.3 Conestoga 642 95 692 37.2 11.6 2.30 6.19 0.548 39.1

13 Table 13.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Phosphorus, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 1,043 126.4 10.5 0.209 0.165 0.053 148.2 Danville 14,903 90 1,267 118.8 12.9 0.177 0.149 0.043 131.4 Lewisburg 9,247 86 507 104.7 18.8 0.116 0.111 0.028 122.1 Newport 3,705 85 245 66.4 10.0 0.114 0.172 0.034 78.8 Marietta 34,659 89 1,424 62.5 9.3 0.086 0.137 0.021 70.2 Conestoga 642 95 182 71.9 7.4 0.605 0.842 0.144 75.7 Table 14.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Orthophosphate, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 849 183.9 12.3 0.170 0.093 0.043 215.5 Danville 14,903 90 980 165.3 16.9 0.136 0.083 0.033 183.0 Lewisburg 9,247 86 416 177.6 22.0 0.095 0.054 0.023 207.1 Newport 3,705 85 184 85.5 11.6 0.086 0.100 0.025 101.5 Marietta 34,659 89 1,032 82.9 10.3 0.062 0.075 0.015 93.2 Conestoga 642 95 152 72.6 7.7 0.506 0.696 0.120 76.5 Table 15.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Ammonia, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 549 51.7 11.4 0.110 0.213 0.028 60.6 Danville 14,903 90 975 52.1 12.8 0.136 0.261 0.033 57.6 Lewisburg 9,247 86 550 60.6 12.2 0.126 0.207 0.030 70.6 Newport 3,705 85 185 56.5 14.3 0.086 0.152 0.025 67.1 Marietta 34,659 89 2,464 61.9 13.2 0.148 0.239 0.036 69.6 Conestoga 642 95 142 60.8 15.6 0.471 0.775 0.112 64.0 Table 16.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 15,473 64.5 3.8 3.10 4.81 0.784 75.6 Danville 14,903 90 25,850 70.3 3.7 3.60 5.12 0.881 77.8 Lewisburg 9,247 86 14,786 71.7 4.5 3.37 4.71 0.812 83.6 Newport 3,705 85 11,204 76.8 3.3 5.22 6.80 1.536 91.2 Marietta 34,659 89 82,750 73.6 4.5 4.97 6.76 1.212 82.6 Conestoga 642 95 7,434 78.4 3.9 24.71 31.51 5.882 82.6

14 Table 17.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Nitrate plus Nitrite Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 9,311 57.8 4.4 1.866 3.231 0.472 67.7 Danville 14,903 90 16,435 65.1 4.7 2.289 3.515 0.560 72.1 Lewisburg 9,247 86 11,007 73.6 4.6 2.512 3.411 0.605 85.9 Newport 3,705 85 9,096 76.6 3.5 4.237 5.531 1.247 91.0 Marietta 34,659 89 68,547 75.7 5.1 4.121 5.442 1.005 85.1 Conestoga 642 95 6,839 83.7 4.9 22.735 27.149 5.411 88.2 Table 18.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 4,838 68.6 7.7 0.970 1.413 0.245 80.4 Danville 14,903 90 7,029 70.5 6.2 0.979 1.388 0.240 78.0 Lewisburg 9,247 86 3,651 73.1 10.8 0.833 1.140 0.201 85.2 Newport 3,705 85 1,823 72.5 9.8 0.849 1.171 0.250 86.2 Marietta 34,659 89 13,248 68.6 10.1 0.797 1.161 0.194 77.0 Conestoga 642 95 493 43.2 10.6 1.638 3.794 0.390 45.5 Table 19.

Annual Water Discharges and Annual Loads and Yields of Total Organic Carbon, Calendar Year 2009 Site 2009 Discharge cfs Discharge

% of LTM 2009 Load thousands of lbs Load

% of LTM Prediction Error %

2009 Yield lbs/ac/yr LTM Yield lb/ac/yr 2009 Ave. Conc.

mg/l Conc.

% of LTM Towanda 10,031 85 61,004 74.6 3.1 12.23 16.38 3.089 87.5 Danville 14,903 90 89,089 78.1 3.0 12.41 15.88 3.036 86.5 Lewisburg 9,247 86 37,288 82.5 4.5 8.51 10.32 2.048 96.2 Newport 3,705 85 23,575 84.4 4.9 10.98 13.02 3.232 100.2 Marietta 34,659 89 200,454 84.8 3.6 12.05 14.21 2.938 95.3 Conestoga 642 95 5,237 69.9 5.3 17.41 24.90 4.143 73.6

Table 20.

Seasonal Mean Water Discharges and Loads of Nutrients and Suspended Sediment, Calendar Year 2009 TN TNOx TON TNH3 DN DNOx DON DNH3 TP DP DOP TOC SS Station Season Mean Q cfs Thousands of pounds Fall 9,356 3,733 2,099 1,302 143 3,573 2,120 1,069 120 405 273 229 14,686 105,575 Winter 14,545 6,838 4,132 2,099 276 6,355 4,149 1,614 244 679 331 272 18,969 358,010 Spring 10,392 4,168 2,155 1,714 134 3,796 2,165 1,339 126 454 259 204 15,738 148,998 Towanda Summer 5,934 2,011 878 1,116 65 1,747 878 816 59 293 180 141 11,610 75,094 Fall 14,305 6,865 4,205 2,068 255 6,499 4,218 1,690 235 629 333 265 22,303 229,083 Winter 20,165 10,771 6,887 2,917 460 10,125 6,902 2,256 430 872 407 313 25,153 375,641 Spring 15,821 6,910 3,650 2,670 238 6,182 3,647 1,890 211 640 316 238 23,273 233,944 Danville Summer 9,609 3,589 1,677 1,766 115 3,045 1,668 1,194 99 423 212 164 18,360 155,171 Fall 10,533 4,425 3,247 1,193 160 4,264 3,251 1,032 148 261 146 115 11,821 98,603 Winter 12,140 5,577 4,052 1,455 229 5,343 4,054 1,193 227 294 155 129 10,753 130,929 Spring 9,284 3,581 2,459 1,063 129 3,423 2,446 917 123 204 130 111 8,485 57,176 Lewisburg Summer 5,196 1,864 1,264 598 61 1,756 1,256 508 53 117 77 61 6,230 32,823 Fall 4,717 4,392 3,235 1,014 77 4,022 3,256 643 55 209 101 79 8,542 97,293 Winter 3,127 2,560 2,074 434 44 2,446 2,076 316 33 55 32 23 3,820 14,036 Spring 5,708 4,378 3,178 1,167 107 3,954 3,183 679 78 201 85 61 8,833 95,627 Newport Summer 1,318 838 584 254 27 782 581 184 19 45 28 21 2,380 7,061 Fall 37,953 28,818 21,089 6,766 863 25,752 21,266 3,965 752 1,391 532 397 59,845 849,782 Winter 40,946 29,276 22,680 5,876 1,003 26,552 22,744 3,594 889 1,030 318 221 48,275 664,247 Spring 40,265 23,938 16,908 6,707 658 20,518 16,869 3,600 565 1,107 324 229 56,573 627,549 Marietta Summer 20,048 11,603 7,657 3,806 303 9,928 7,669 2,090 258 640 249 186 35,762 280,675 Fall 917 2,675 2,382 253 70 2,520 2,344 146 67 132 77 65 1,998 47,530 Winter 466 1,586 1,463 128 21 1,567 1,430 112 20 28 20 17 729 4,745 Spring 693 2,043 1,823 199 33 1,988 1,791 151 32 65 37 30 1,387 20,523 Conestoga Summer 496 1,387 1,295 112 23 1,359 1,274 84 22 68 48 41 1,122 15,169 15

Table 21.

Seasonal Mean Water Discharges and Yields of Nutrients and Suspended Sediment, Calendar Year 2009 TN TNOx TON TNH3 DN DNOx DON DNH3 TP DP DOP TOC SS Station Season Mean Q cfs Lbs/acre Fall 9,356 0.75 0.42 0.26 0.03 0.72 0.42 0.21 0.02 0.081 0.055 0.046 2.94 21.16 Winter 14,545 1.37 0.83 0.42 0.06 1.27 0.83 0.32 0.05 0.136 0.066 0.055 3.80 71.74 Spring 10,392 0.84 0.43 0.34 0.03 0.76 0.43 0.27 0.03 0.091 0.052 0.041 3.15 29.86 Towanda Summer 5,934 0.24 0.18 0.22 0.01 0.35 0.18 0.16 0.01 0.059 0.036 0.028 2.33 15.05 Fall 14,305 0.96 0.59 0.29 0.04 0.91 0.59 0.24 0.03 0.088 0.046 0.037 3.11 31.90 Winter 20,165 1.50 0.96 0.41 0.06 1.41 0.96 0.31 0.06 0.121 0.057 0.044 3.50 52.31 Spring 15,821 0.96 0.51 0.37 0.03 0.86 0.51 0.26 0.03 0.089 0.044 0.033 3.24 32.58 Danville Summer 9,609 0.50 0.23 0.25 0.02 0.42 0.23 0.17 0.01 0.059 0.030 0.023 2.56 21.61 Fall 10,533 1.01 0.74 0.27 0.04 0.97 0.74 0.24 0.03 0.060 0.033 0.026 2.70 22.50 Winter 12,140 1.27 0.92 0.33 0.05 1.22 0.93 0.27 0.05 0.067 0.035 0.029 2.45 29.88 Spring 9,284 0.82 0.56 0.24 0.03 0.78 0.56 0.21 0.03 0.047 0.030 0.025 1.94 13.05 Lewisburg Summer 5,196 0.43 0.29 0.14 0.01 0.40 0.29 0.12 0.01 0.027 0.018 0.014 1.42 7.49 Fall 4,717 2.05 1.51 0.47 0.04 1.87 1.52 0.30 0.03 0.097 0.047 0.037 3.98 45.33 Winter 3,127 1.19 0.97 0.20 0.02 1.14 0.97 0.15 0.02 0.026 0.015 0.011 1.78 6.54 Spring 5,708 2.04 1.48 0.54 0.05 1.84 1.48 0.32 0.04 0.094 0.040 0.028 4.11 44.55 Newport Summer 1,318 0.39 0.27 0.12 0.01 0.36 0.27 0.09 0.01 0.021 0.013 0.010 1.11 3.29 Fall 37,953 1.73 1.27 0.41 0.05 1.55 1.28 0.24 0.05 0.084 0.032 0.024 3.60 51.09 Winter 40,946 1.76 1.36 0.35 0.06 1.60 1.37 0.22 0.05 0.062 0.019 0.013 2.90 39.93 Spring 40,265 1.44 1.02 0.40 0.04 1.23 1.01 0.22 0.03 0.067 0.019 0.014 3.40 37.73 Marietta Summer 20,048 0.70 0.46 0.23 0.02 0.60 0.46 0.13 0.02 0.038 0.015 0.011 2.15 16.87 Fall 917 8.89 7.92 0.84 0.23 8.38 7.79 0.49 0.22 0.439 0.256 0.216 6.64 158.01 Winter 466 5.27 4.86 0.43 0.07 5.21 4.75 0.37 0.07 0.093 0.066 0.057 2.42 15.77 Spring 693 6.79 6.06 0.66 0.11 6.61 5.95 0.50 0.11 0.216 0.123 0.100 4.61 68.23 Conestoga Summer 496 4.61 4.31 0.37 0.08 4.52 4.24 0.28 0.07 0.226 0.160 0.136 3.73 50.43 16

17 Table 22.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS in Thousands of Pounds at Susquehanna River Sites: Towanda, Danville, and Marietta Towanda Danville Marietta Month Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS January 8,315 1,318 85 16,003 14,602 2,683 179 49,964 32,594 8,607 258 131,831 February 11,166 1,652 131 44,730 16,884 2,849 204 71,706 39,018 8,747 293 185,161 March 23,827 3,868 463 297,277 28,694 5,239 489 253,971 51,039 11,922 479 347,255 April 12,764 1,847 165 47,626 18,108 2,886 224 69,604 45,647 9,455 364 203,461 May 8,238 1,102 110 26,335 13,660 1,981 176 57,266 39,516 7,846 365 205,307 June 10,244 1,219 179 75,037 15,766 2,043 240 107,074 35,657 6,637 378 218,781 July 5,808 674 90 19,452 9,634 1,208 133 43,129 19,623 3,609 184 72,057 August 8,437 951 152 48,394 13,282 1,672 220 94,679 27,348 5,517 342 173,733 September 3,479 386 51 7,248 5,787 709 70 17,363 12,943 2,477 114 34,885 October 8,510 1,066 159 60,771 12,447 1,844 223 110,736 31,465 7,686 492 346,831 November 8,667 1,104 112 21,438 13,711 2,094 190 62,420 32,297 7,890 356 191,123 December 10,867 1,563 134 23,366 16,739 2,927 216 55,927 49,916 13,242 543 311,828 Annual#

10,027 16,750 1,831 687,677 14,943 28,135 2,564 993,839 34,755 93,635 4,168 2,422,253

1. Annual flow is average for the year Table 23.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS in Thousands of Pounds at Susquehanna River Tributary Sites: Lewisburg, Newport, and Conestoga Lewisburg Newport Conestoga Month Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS January 7,533 1,282 50 11,936 3,157 953 21 5,477 597 702 14 2,889 February 13,293 1,922 104 49,454 3,769 979 21 6,057 460 492 8

1,155 March 15,705 2,373 140 69,539 2,517 628 13 2,502 340 392 6

701 April 11,457 1,555 83 24,410 6,349 1,655 57 23,517 628 649 15 4,184 May 9,192 1,184 68 17,988 6,662 1,734 91 52,142 756 752 25 8,697 June 7,207 842 53 14,778 4,081 989 53 19,968 694 642 25 7,642 July 4,628 565 32 6,883 1,573 336 17 3,073 425 405 16 2,773 August 8,198 936 68 23,459 1,311 281 16 2,430 551 513 27 6,332 September 2,680 363 17 2,481 1,062 221 12 1,558 512 469 25 6,064 October 9,182 1,203 85 41,105 3,820 1,181 74 36,167 753 715 43 14,425 November 7,876 1,091 56 15,138 2,957 850 32 7,760 659 653 24 4,718 December 14,457 2,131 120 42,360 7,316 2,361 103 53,366 1,332 1,307 65 28,387 Annual#

9,284 15,447 876 319,531 3,715 12,168 510 214,017 642 7,691 293 87,967

1. Annual flow is average for the year

18 Table 24.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS Yields in lbs/acre at Susquehanna River Sites: Towanda, Danville, and Marietta Towanda Danville Marietta Month Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS January 8,315 0.26 0.017 3.21 14,602 0.37 0.025 6.96 32,594 0.52 0.016 7.93 February 11,166 0.33 0.026 8.96 16,884 0.40 0.028 9.99 39,018 0.53 0.018 11.13 March 23,827 0.78 0.093 59.57 28,694 0.73 0.068 35.37 51,039 0.72 0.029 20.88 April 12,764 0.37 0.033 9.54 18,108 0.40 0.031 9.69 45,647 0.57 0.022 12.23 May 8,238 0.22 0.022 5.28 13,660 0.28 0.025 7.97 39,516 0.47 0.022 12.34 June 10,244 0.24 0.036 15.04 15,766 0.28 0.033 14.91 35,657 0.40 0.023 13.15 July 5,808 0.14 0.018 3.90 9,634 0.17 0.019 6.01 19,623 0.22 0.011 4.33 August 8,437 0.19 0.030 9.70 13,282 0.23 0.031 13.19 27,348 0.33 0.021 10.44 September 3,479 0.08 0.010 1.45 5,787 0.10 0.010 2.42 12,943 0.15 0.007 2.10 October 8,510 0.21 0.032 12.18 12,447 0.26 0.031 15.42 31,465 0.46 0.030 20.85 November 8,667 0.22 0.022 4.30 13,711 0.29 0.026 8.69 32,297 0.47 0.021 11.49 December 10,867 0.31 0.027 4.68 16,739 0.41 0.030 7.79 49,916 0.80 0.033 18.75 Annual#

10,027 3.36 0.367 137.81 14,943 3.92 0.357 138.40 34,755 5.63 0.251 145.62

1. Annual flow is average for the year Table 25.

2009 Monthly Flow in CFS and TN, TP, and SS Yields in lbs/acre at Susquehanna River Tributary Sites: Lewisburg, Newport, and Conestoga Lewisburg Newport Conestoga Month Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS Q

TN TP SS January 7,533 0.29 0.011 2.72 3,157 0.44 0.010 2.55 597 2.33 0.047 9.60 February 13,293 0.44 0.024 11.29 3,769 0.46 0.010 2.82 460 1.64 0.027 3.84 March 15,705 0.54 0.032 15.87 2,517 0.29 0.006 1.17 340 1.30 0.020 2.33 April 11,457 0.35 0.019 5.57 6,349 0.77 0.027 10.96 628 2.16 0.050 13.91 May 9,192 0.27 0.016 4.10 6,662 0.81 0.042 24.29 756 2.50 0.083 28.91 June 7,207 0.19 0.012 3.37 4,081 0.46 0.025 9.30 694 2.13 0.083 25.41 July 4,628 0.13 0.007 1.57 1,573 0.16 0.008 1.43 425 1.35 0.053 9.22 August 8,198 0.21 0.016 5.35 1,311 0.13 0.007 1.13 551 1.71 0.090 21.05 September 2,680 0.08 0.004 0.57 1,062 0.10 0.006 0.73 512 1.56 0.083 20.16 October 9,182 0.27 0.019 9.38 3,820 0.55 0.034 16.85 753 2.38 0.143 47.96 November 7,876 0.25 0.013 3.45 2,957 0.40 0.015 3.62 659 2.17 0.080 15.68 December 14,457 0.49 0.027 9.67 7,316 1.10 0.048 24.86 1,332 4.35 0.216 94.37 Annual#

9,284 3.53 0.200 72.92 3,715 5.67 0.238 99.70 642 25.57 0.974 292.44

1. Annual flow is average for the year

Table 26.

Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, and pH Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009 Temperature (C°)

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

Conductivity (umhos/cm) pH (S.U.)

Station Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Chemung 0.1 24.4 10.7 11.2 8.0 6.25 13.33 10.59 10.33 2.34 169 483 302 310 76 7.1 8.4 7.6 7.7 0.45 Cohocton 0.4 26.5 10.7 11.5 8.3 7.60 13.15 9.72 10.52 1.75 273 756 460 459 124 7.0 8.0 7.4 7.4 0.32 Conklin 0.1 24.7 13.1 13.0 8.5 7.62 13.50 10.60 10.15 1.69 108 231 191 176 36 6.6 7.6 7.1 7.1 0.33 Smithboro 0.1 21.8 10.7 11.5 7.4 7.17 13.15 10.19 10.18 1.93 115 283 194 197 53 6.8 8.5 7.4 7.5 0.56 Unadilla 0.1 23.7 9.4 11.9 8.4 7.82 13.55 10.27 10.32 1.80 139 292 242 235 41 6.8 7.8 7.3 7.3 0.25 Castanea 0.2 21.5 11.4 11.8 7.3 8.26 17.33 10.91 11.33 2.67 195 371 276 276 55 6.8 8.8 7.5 7.4 0.52 Conestoga 3.2 24.5 11.9 13.5 6.6 8.41 17.26 10.16 10.78 2.39 378 840 575 573 110 7.5 8.3 7.8 7.9 0.21 Danville 0.1 26.7 13.7 15.9 9.3 6.95 12.70 9.85 9.95 1.76 133 287 210 207 37 6.6 7.8 7.1 7.1 0.33 Dromgold 0.9 22.5 11.7 9.0 6.9 7.68 14.78 11.06 11.58 2.04 102 240 161 160 40 6.9 8.5 7.7 7.6 0.51 Hershey 3.2 23.0 14.6 14.7 6.5 8.11 13.04 10.19 9.96 1.56 155 311 251 255 46 7.5 7.9 7.7 7.7 0.14 Hogestown 2.0 24.1 13.5 12.7 6.4 6.81 13.86 10.66 11.13 2.07 212 526 380 385 100 7.5 8.5 7.9 7.8 0.31 Jersey Shore 0.1 23.4 12.3 11.5 8.3 8.11 19.02 11.39 10.78 3.02 138 314 221 203 57 6.7 7.7 7.1 7.0 0.28 Karthaus 0.2 26.1 12.2 11.9 7.9 7.47 17.39 10.80 10.52 2.62 273 615 379 340 103 6.0 7.2 6.7 6.7 0.31 Lewisburg 0.1 24.3 12.4 12.0 8.7 7.82 19.12 10.93 10.46 2.92 115 268 201 202 40 6.5 7.8 6.9 6.8 0.32 Manchester 3.4 28.7 14.3 13.8 6.9 8.06 14.55 11.07 11.17 1.93 172 339 258 258 46 7.4 8.6 7.6 7.8 0.37 Marietta 3.8 27.0 12.0 14.6 7.5 8.05 15.54 10.97 11.01 2.08 147 299 222 218 33 7.5 8.5 7.9 7.9 0.29 Martic Forge 4.7 21.2 10.8 12.7 5.3 8.84 14.58 11.48 11.38 1.92 268 527 416 423 85 7.5 8.4 7.9 7.9 0.24 Newport 1.9 26.6 13.4 14.0 6.8 6.72 14.68 10.41 10.57 2.21 177 312 243 243 39 7.3 9.1 8.0 8.0 0.48 Penns Creek 0.1 22.5 10.0 10.8 6.9 6.67 18.52 11.35 11.08 2.88 145 242 199 194 31 6.8 8.1 7.3 7.3 0.45 Saxton 0.8 27.4 12.4 12.9 8.0 9.40 13.98 11.32 11.28 1.16 126 399 237 253 90 7.4 8.8 7.9 7.9 0.42 Towanda 0.1 24.3 11.6 12.7 8.9 7.07 13.68 10.10 10.27 1.94 130 333 233 232 53 6.7 8.2 7.2 7.3 0.37 Wilkes-Barre 0.1 25.1 12.8 13.6 9.0 7.37 13.33 9.97 9.99 1.72 133 334 226 226 49 6.8 7.9 7.3 7.3 0.33 Richardsmere 3.8 26.6 12.1 14.0 7.0 9.17 15.05 11.20 11.34 1.69 175 276 248 237 30 7.3 8.7 7.8 7.9 0.35 19

Table 27.

Total Nitrogen Species Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L Total Nitrogen Total Ammonium Total Nitrate plus Nitrite Total Organic Nitrogen Station Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Chemung 0.59 1.30 0.89 0.91 0.23 0.01 0.118 0.035 0.046 0.036 0.209 0.983 0.453 0.480 0.206 0.216 0.757 0.364 0.387 0.154 Cohocton 0.71 1.75 1.13 1.15 0.30 0.02 0.092 0.045 0.049 0.026 0.274 1.250 0.795 0.727 0.290 0.231 0.725 0.300 0.377 0.157 Conklin 0.40 0.92 0.63 0.64 0.15 0.01 0.104 0.030 0.039 0.024 0.148 0.728 0.260 0.341 0.173 0.078 0.549 0.241 0.262 0.131 Smithboro 0.54 1.05 0.75 0.76 0.14 0.01 0.075 0.031 0.032 0.022 0.184 0.815 0.382 0.398 0.196 0.117 0.619 0.322 0.329 0.150 Unadilla 0.55 1.17 0.81 0.83 0.20 0.01 0.086 0.030 0.035 0.022 0.106 0.986 0.437 0.512 0.245 0.088 0.869 0.240 0.283 0.195 Castanea 0.87 2.41 1.36 1.39 0.41 0.02 0.060 0.020 0.028 0.013 0.600 1.600 1.070 1.105 0.306 0.030 1.400 0.200 0.277 0.360 Conestoga 4.41 9.16 6.63 6.72 1.37 0.02 0.520 0.060 0.088 0.102 3.720 8.700 6.340 6.239 1.569 0.030 1.250 0.340 0.469 0.341 Danville 0.57 2.01 0.94 0.86 0.33 0.02 0.090 0.036 0.020 0.022 0.180 2.000 0.614 0.490 0.393 0.120 0.590 0.304 0.320 0.123 Dromgold 1.32 3.19 1.75 1.60 0.49 0.02 0.050 0.026 0.020 0.011 0.930 2.120 1.430 1.430 0.297 0.080 1.650 0.324 0.155 0.413 Hershey 2.82 4.09 3.49 3.53 0.35 0.02 0.150 0.047 0.030 0.040 1.890 3.940 3.108 3.265 0.529 0.080 0.960 0.333 0.200 0.297 Hogestown 2.54 4.95 3.89 3.96 0.71 0.02 0.070 0.030 0.030 0.014 1.760 4.670 3.465 3.580 0.789 0.060 1.900 0.396 0.250 0.458 Jersey Shore 0.40 1.47 0.67 0.65 0.27 0.02 0.060 0.030 0.020 0.016 0.290 0.790 0.454 0.415 0.133 0.040 1.140 0.185 0.085 0.283 Karthaus 0.25 1.75 0.57 0.49 0.38 0.02 0.110 0.041 0.030 0.027 0.170 0.680 0.334 0.310 0.133 0.020 1.400 0.198 0.110 0.351 Lewisburg 0.47 2.02 0.89 0.82 0.31 0.02 0.110 0.034 0.020 0.023 0.330 1.010 0.651 0.640 0.208 0.040 1.020 0.210 0.155 0.196 Manchester 1.00 3.88 2.57 2.53 0.69 0.02 0.110 0.030 0.045 0.032 0.670 3.390 2.000 1.863 0.649 0.210 1.940 0.350 0.622 0.503 Marietta 0.96 2.02 1.30 1.34 0.28 0.02 0.110 0.030 0.038 0.022 0.530 1.610 0.980 1.012 0.296 0.110 0.660 0.260 0.295 0.140 Martic Forge 5.21 9.44 6.51 7.04 1.33 0.02 0.240 0.060 0.097 0.078 3.180 9.510 6.155 6.336 1.966 0.010 1.900 0.900 0.964 0.567 Newport 0.98 3.33 1.49 1.61 0.47 0.02 0.110 0.030 0.034 0.020 0.810 1.750 1.180 1.200 0.248 0.060 2.210 0.230 0.380 0.439 Penns Creek 0.92 2.18 1.43 1.49 0.41 0.02 0.110 0.030 0.039 0.026 0.760 1.900 1.075 1.135 0.357 0.030 0.840 0.250 0.316 0.236 Saxton 1.18 2.69 1.64 1.73 0.36 0.02 0.060 0.020 0.027 0.014 0.890 1.830 1.410 1.389 0.274 0.080 1.480 0.160 0.337 0.430 Towanda 0.45 1.23 0.75 0.80 0.20 0.02 0.060 0.020 0.025 0.010 0.090 1.070 0.440 0.474 0.258 0.090 0.740 0.300 0.299 0.144 Wilkes-Barre 0.51 1.07 0.78 0.79 0.19 0.02 0.070 0.025 0.033 0.018 0.040 1.010 0.380 0.408 0.258 0.010 0.590 0.395 0.351 0.158 Richardsmere 4.68 8.50 6.35 6.48 1.18 0.02 0.210 0.095 0.094 0.065 3.810 8.260 5.630 5.896 1.458 0.030 1.670 0.600 0.574 0.449 20

Table 28.

Dissolved Nitrogen Species Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L Dissolved Nitrogen Dissolved Ammonium Dissolved Nitrate plus Nitrite Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Station Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Chemung 0.50 1.29 0.75 0.82 0.25 0.010 0.111 0.051 0.052 0.034 0.209 0.983 0.465 0.509 0.243 0.159 0.405 0.240 0.258 0.069 Cohocton 0.69 1.59 1.22 1.18 0.33 0.019 0.089 0.039 0.045 0.025 0.274 1.250 0.795 0.726 0.291 0.231 0.718 0.401 0.408 0.131 Conklin 0.41 0.90 0.61 0.63 0.17 0.013 0.066 0.029 0.033 0.018 0.148 0.730 0.261 0.341 0.173 0.081 0.467 0.232 0.256 0.114 Smithboro 0.45 1.00 0.63 0.69 0.21 0.010 0.076 0.029 0.035 0.023 0.184 0.815 0.384 0.423 0.241 0.131 0.334 0.216 0.230 0.064 Unadilla 0.39 1.32 0.78 0.83 0.30 0.010 0.060 0.025 0.032 0.018 0.106 0.986 0.436 0.511 0.246 0.113 0.739 0.215 0.282 0.173 Castanea 0.78 2.13 1.35 1.34 0.36 0.020 0.060 0.020 0.025 0.011 0.590 1.570 1.070 1.095 0.303 0.050 1.120 0.165 0.238 0.283 Conestoga 4.34 9.16 6.58 6.57 1.43 0.020 0.500 0.050 0.081 0.098 3.720 8.700 6.310 6.162 1.564 0.090 0.830 0.290 0.386 0.240 Danville 0.35 1.99 0.86 0.81 0.35 0.020 0.080 0.031 0.020 0.017 0.180 2.000 0.609 0.490 0.394 0.120 0.410 0.229 0.210 0.091 Dromgold 1.29 2.90 1.71 1.56 0.41 0.020 0.040 0.023 0.020 0.007 0.930 2.120 1.423 1.430 0.298 0.050 1.390 0.282 0.145 0.340 Hershey 2.39 4.09 3.41 3.50 0.45 0.020 0.160 0.045 0.030 0.041 1.900 3.940 3.100 3.245 0.523 0.070 0.760 0.268 0.190 0.237 Hogestown 2.38 4.95 3.84 3.93 0.74 0.020 0.050 0.028 0.025 0.009 1.760 4.670 3.461 3.570 0.794 0.030 1.830 0.356 0.170 0.448 Jersey Shore 0.32 1.47 0.64 0.60 0.27 0.020 0.060 0.025 0.020 0.012 0.290 0.770 0.448 0.415 0.129 0.010 1.150 0.178 0.080 0.297 Karthaus 0.24 1.63 0.54 0.46 0.35 0.020 0.080 0.033 0.025 0.019 0.170 0.680 0.329 0.300 0.133 0.010 1.290 0.182 0.110 0.324 Lewisburg 0.47 1.16 0.82 0.82 0.21 0.020 0.090 0.031 0.020 0.020 0.330 0.960 0.648 0.640 0.205 0.010 0.340 0.147 0.120 0.089 Manchester 0.95 3.64 2.34 2.35 0.64 0.020 0.110 0.030 0.044 0.031 0.650 3.390 2.000 1.849 0.651 0.130 1.400 0.280 0.458 0.321 Marietta 0.76 2.02 1.22 1.22 0.32 0.020 0.060 0.030 0.030 0.013 0.530 1.610 0.980 1.007 0.295 0.040 0.370 0.160 0.178 0.079 Martic Forge 4.25 9.17 6.46 6.78 1.54 0.020 0.220 0.045 0.081 0.072 3.180 9.480 6.080 6.263 1.895 0.280 1.230 0.625 0.656 0.275 Newport 0.95 3.33 1.42 1.49 0.46 0.020 0.100 0.020 0.027 0.016 0.810 1.760 1.150 1.191 0.246 0.060 2.220 0.140 0.275 0.410 Penns Creek 0.92 1.98 1.30 1.39 0.34 0.020 0.110 0.020 0.033 0.024 0.700 1.880 1.080 1.115 0.366 0.040 0.530 0.220 0.245 0.151 Saxton 1.09 2.69 1.59 1.64 0.37 0.020 0.060 0.020 0.024 0.011 0.890 1.830 1.420 1.389 0.278 0.050 1.480 0.145 0.241 0.366 Towanda 0.27 1.21 0.68 0.71 0.23 0.020 0.040 0.020 0.022 0.005 0.090 1.060 0.440 0.471 0.255 0.030 0.430 0.200 0.212 0.101 Wilkes-Barre 0.28 1.04 0.67 0.69 0.24 0.020 0.070 0.020 0.029 0.015 0.040 1.010 0.385 0.408 0.257 0.150 0.460 0.240 0.267 0.096 Richardsmere 4.48 8.43 6.18 6.32 1.27 0.020 0.210 0.095 0.090 0.063 3.810 8.260 5.560 5.838 1.462 0.030 0.850 0.465 0.466 0.271 21

Table 29.

Phosphorus Species and Total Suspended Solids Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L Total Phosphorus Dissolved Phosphorus Orthophosphorus Total Suspended Solids Station Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Chemung 0.029 0.156 0.088 0.090 0.039 0.032 0.090 0.050 0.058 0.024 0.023 0.088 0.049 0.055 0.026 2.2 111 6.8 22.6 32.6 Cohocton 0.020 0.132 0.061 0.070 0.033 0.016 0.068 0.048 0.046 0.016 0.015 0.068 0.038 0.042 0.017 1.4 103 4.0 15.7 26.9 Conklin 0.014 0.128 0.066 0.066 0.035 0.008 0.087 0.031 0.039 0.023 0.008 0.079 0.031 0.035 0.024 2.4 77 7.5 16.6 20.9 Smithboro 0.023 0.183 0.052 0.064 0.045 0.012 0.060 0.025 0.032 0.017 0.012 0.059 0.023 0.029 0.018 1.6 71 13.1 23.6 22.2 Unadilla 0.012 0.191 0.054 0.067 0.045 0.008 0.071 0.037 0.039 0.020 0.008 0.070 0.037 0.037 0.021 2.6 149 6.1 19.5 39.0 Castanea 0.013 0.108 0.028 0.037 0.026 0.010 0.091 0.012 0.024 0.023 0.010 0.078 0.010 0.019 0.019 5.0 18 5.0 7.2 4.1 Conestoga 0.044 0.468 0.156 0.187 0.116 0.027 0.314 0.109 0.128 0.073 0.018 0.274 0.091 0.107 0.064 5.0 150 16.0 27.4 34.2 Danville 0.020 0.142 0.075 0.071 0.032 0.010 0.121 0.042 0.037 0.026 0.010 0.106 0.032 0.022 0.024 5.0 60 18.7 14.0 17.1 Dromgold 0.013 0.147 0.038 0.028 0.034 0.010 0.091 0.025 0.018 0.021 0.010 0.070 0.018 0.014 0.015 5.0 30 9.1 5.0 7.5 Hershey 0.024 0.352 0.072 0.049 0.089 0.018 0.110 0.035 0.028 0.025 0.013 0.089 0.029 0.025 0.020 5.0 178 24.9 9.0 48.8 Hogestown 0.010 0.136 0.037 0.024 0.034 0.010 0.094 0.022 0.016 0.021 0.010 0.043 0.016 0.014 0.010 5.0 106 16.9 5.5 25.9 Jersey Shore 0.010 0.076 0.037 0.033 0.024 0.010 0.072 0.027 0.010 0.023 0.010 0.059 0.022 0.010 0.017 5.0 26 8.9 5.0 6.9 Karthaus 0.010 0.065 0.026 0.019 0.019 0.010 0.037 0.014 0.010 0.008 0.010 0.034 0.014 0.010 0.007 5.0 48 11.1 6.0 11.9 Lewisburg 0.012 0.114 0.040 0.036 0.028 0.010 0.099 0.026 0.012 0.024 0.010 0.083 0.021 0.010 0.019 5.0 38 9.5 5.0 9.3 Manchester 0.046 0.470 0.091 0.157 0.128 0.028 0.265 0.074 0.109 0.076 0.019 0.236 0.057 0.091 0.066 5.0 260 8.0 33.2 63.5 Marietta 0.021 0.200 0.046 0.061 0.047 0.010 0.050 0.014 0.019 0.011 0.010 0.034 0.011 0.015 0.008 5.0 160 12.0 25.3 37.7 Martic Forge 0.032 1.042 0.159 0.364 0.382 0.017 0.676 0.114 0.218 0.223 0.012 0.629 0.099 0.192 0.201 5.0 350 19.0 77.3 114.8 Newport 0.019 0.137 0.042 0.051 0.031 0.012 0.058 0.018 0.026 0.015 0.010 0.045 0.015 0.021 0.012 5.0 74 8.0 15.1 17.2 Penns Creek 0.010 0.296 0.034 0.058 0.075 0.010 0.155 0.021 0.036 0.040 0.010 0.135 0.018 0.028 0.035 5.0 86 7.0 16.9 21.9 Saxton 0.010 0.268 0.021 0.043 0.065 0.010 0.027 0.010 0.013 0.005 0.010 0.024 0.010 0.012 0.004 5.0 292 5.0 31.3 73.8 Towanda 0.019 0.195 0.060 0.073 0.043 0.013 0.101 0.042 0.044 0.023 0.012 0.077 0.035 0.036 0.019 5.0 174 10.0 25.4 38.0 Wilkes-Barre 0.020 0.156 0.053 0.068 0.043 0.011 0.066 0.028 0.032 0.018 0.010 0.055 0.021 0.025 0.014 5.0 106 13.0 25.6 29.1 Richardsmere 0.063 0.546 0.128 0.174 0.136 0.030 0.195 0.092 0.101 0.053 0.021 0.173 0.075 0.084 0.048 5.0 266 7.0 33.6 66.0 22

Table 30.

Flow, Total Organic Carbon, Total Kjeldahl, and Dissolved Kjeldahl Summary Statistics of Samples Collected During 2009, in mg/L Flow (cfs)

Total Organic Carbon Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen Dissolved Kjeldahl Nitrogen Station Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Min Max Med Mn SD Chemung 308 18,575 2,096 3,468 4,627 2.4 4.6 3.4 3.6 0.79 0.24 0.80 0.38 0.43 0.17 0.25 0.47 0.29 0.31 0.07 Cohocton 65 3,158 281 532 805 2.8 6.7 3.7 4.1 1.16 0.26 0.77 0.33 0.43 0.17 0.30 0.74 0.44 0.45 0.12 Conklin 1,009 17,469 3,331 4,360 4,061 1.5 5.4 3.0 3.3 1.25 0.10 0.58 0.27 0.30 0.14 0.10 0.48 0.27 0.29 0.12 Smithboro 2,728 49,359 8,405 11,088 11,066 1.7 5.6 3.1 3.4 1.28 0.13 0.69 0.35 0.36 0.16 0.16 0.41 0.27 0.27 0.07 Unadilla 273 4,711 517 1,137 1,408 1.5 5.4 3.2 3.1 1.14 0.14 0.91 0.27 0.32 0.20 0.14 0.76 0.24 0.31 0.17 Castanea 314 1,602 549 771 442 1.4 2.4 1.8 1.8 0.33 0.08 1.42 0.23 0.01 0.36 0.07 1.14 0.19 0.26 0.28 Conestoga 299 2,190 563 767 505 1.9 6.2 3.3 3.7 1.34 0.03 1.29 0.51 0.54 0.35 0.13 0.90 0.46 0.47 0.25 Danville 4,819 70,814 15,999 11,966 13,155 1.6 5.6 2.9 2.7 0.98 0.01 0.61 0.33 0.35 0.13 0.14 0.45 0.26 0.23 0.09 Dromgold 53 1,044 427 241 370 1.2 5.9 2.6 2.3 1.38 0.10 1.67 0.35 0.18 0.41 0.07 1.41 0.31 0.17 0.34 Hershey 337 5,333 1,320 758 1,379 1.4 9.7 3.0 2.6 2.18 0.10 1.06 0.38 0.23 0.31 0.09 0.78 0.31 0.21 0.24 Hogestown 169 3,659 1,067 595 1,160 1.4 6.5 2.7 2.1 1.38 0.08 1.94 0.43 0.28 0.46 0.05 1.87 0.38 0.20 0.45 Jersey Shore 1,443 22,904 8,053 6,748 6,289 1.1 2.9 1.6 1.4 0.53 0.08 1.16 0.22 0.13 0.28 0.03 1.17 0.19 0.10 0.29 Karthaus 424 4,815 2,040 1,871 1,462 0.9 2.9 1.5 1.3 0.58 0.04 1.43 0.24 0.17 0.35 0.03 1.31 0.22 0.15 0.32 Lewisburg 2,423 25,991 9,096 7,229 6,257 1.2 3.8 1.8 1.6 0.68 0.01 1.08 0.24 0.19 0.20 0.01 0.39 0.17 0.16 0.09 Manchester 110 9,109 682 1,701 2,355 2.4 12.3 4.3 5.7 3.10 0.23 2.03 0.37 0.67 0.53 0.15 1.49 0.32 0.50 0.35 Marietta 9,623 135,571 29,672 37,955 27,015 1.7 4.9 2.6 2.8 0.92 0.15 0.71 0.28 0.32 0.14 0.10 0.51 0.20 0.22 0.10 Martic Forge 97 791 160 287 222 1.3 11.3 3.7 4.7 3.50 0.07 2.03 0.97 1.08 0.63 0.30 1.39 0.73 0.75 0.32 Newport 982 23,016 3,547 5,354 5,332 1.8 5.9 2.5 2.8 1.03 0.08 2.26 0.27 0.41 0.44 0.08 2.26 0.16 0.30 0.41 Penns Creek 128 2040 348 544 543 1.4 6.4 2.1 2.8 1.44 0.08 0.95 0.30 0.36 0.25 0.08 0.55 0.25 0.28 0.16 Saxton 86 13,995 721 2,015 3,648 1.6 9.5 2.4 2.9 1.96 0.10 1.51 0.19 0.37 0.44 0.07 1.51 0.17 0.27 0.37 Towanda 2,487 67,929 6,655 11,005 12,411 1.8 6.7 2.6 3.1 1.23 0.11 0.76 0.32 0.32 0.14 0.05 0.45 0.22 0.23 0.10 Wilkes-Barre 3,762 74,402 12,339 17,243 16,921 2.0 6.0 3.6 3.5 1.19 0.06 0.61 0.42 0.38 0.16 0.03 0.50 0.25 0.28 0.12 Richardsmere 85 1,511 225 395 399 2.3 11.6 3.7 4.4 2.34 0.12 1.88 0.65 0.68 0.47 0.05 0.98 0.49 0.53 0.31 23

24 COMPARISON OF THE 2009 LOADS AND YIELDS OF TOTAL NITROGEN, TOTAL PHOSPHORUS, AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT WITH THE BASELINES Annual fluctuations of nutrient and SS loads and water discharge create difficulties in determining whether the changes observed were related to land use, nutrient availability, or simply annual water discharge. Ott and others (1991) used the relationship between annual loads and annual water discharge to provide a method to reduce the variability of loadings due to discharge. This was accomplished by plotting the annual yields against the water-discharge ratio. This water-discharge ratio is the ratio of the annual mean discharge to the LTM discharge. Data from the initial five-year study (1985-89) were used to provide a best-fit linear regression line to be used as the baseline relationship between annual yields and water discharge. It was hypothesized that as future yields and water-discharge ratios were plotted against the baseline, any significant deviation from the baseline would indicate that some change in the annual yield had occurred, and that further evaluations to determine the reason for the change were warranted.

Several different baselines were developed for this report. The data collected in 2009 were compared with the 1985-89 baselines, where possible. Monitoring at some of the stations was started after 1987; therefore, a baseline was established for the five-year period following the start of monitoring. Additionally, 2009 yield values were plotted against baselines developed from years prior to 2009 including the first half of the dataset (usually 1985-1996), the second half of the dataset (usually 1997-2008), and the entire dataset (usually 1985-2009).

The results of these analyses are shown in Tables 31 and 32. The R2 value represents the strength of the correlation between the two parameters in the regression. An R2 of one means that there is perfect correlation between the two variables-flow and the individual parameter. The closer the R2 is to a value of one, the better the regression line is for accurately using one variable (flow) to predict the other. R2 values less than 0.5 have poor predictive value (< 50 percent) and have been noted with an asterisk (*) in Tables 31 and 32.

Where R2 value was low for a parameter when using linear regression to explain the relationship, the Y value is the yield value that the regression line predicts for 2009. The Y corresponds to the actual 2009 yield.

R2 values for TN tend to be close to one, as the relationship between TN and flow is very consistent through various ranges of flows. R2 values for TP and SS tend to vary more, especially towards higher flows. Thus, when regression graphs include high flow events, the resulting correlation tends to be less perfect indicated by a low R2 value. This is an indication that single high flow events, and not necessarily a high flow year, are the highest contributors to high loads in TP and SS. As has been evident in the last few years, the high loads that have occurred at Towanda and Danville can be linked directly to high flow events, specifically Tropical Storm Ernesto in 2006 and Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Due to this variation, baseline comparisons for this report utilized both linear regression and exponential regression.

The method yielding the higher R2 value was reported as it represents the better descriptor of the data. R2 values listed with an asterisk in Tables 31 and 32 represent baseline comparisons that utilized the exponential regression baseline for comparison. Seasonal baselines also were calculated for the initial five years of data at each site. Table 32 compares these baselines to the 2009 seasonal yields.

25 Table 31.

Comparison of 2009 TN, TP, and SS Yields with Baseline Yields Initial Baseline First Half Baseline Second Half Baseline Full Baseline 2009 Site/Parameter Q

R2 Y

Q R2 Y

Q R2 Y

Q R2 Y

Y TN 0.87*

5.87 0.87 5.50 0.92*

4.18 0.67*

4.61 3.36 TP 0.82*

0.358 0.91*

0.337 0.89*

0.334 0.88*

0.335 0.367 Towanda SS 0.87 0.54*

276.0 0.87 0.79*

303.0 0.82 0.75*

265.3 0.85 0.74*

270.0 137.8 TN 0.96*

8.78 0.87 6.51 0.79*

4.75 0.57*

5.38 3.92 TP 0.97 0.651 0.86 0.479 0.91*

0.335 0.86*

0.386 0.357 Danville SS 1.11 0.99 646.5 0.93 0.82*

314.0 0.87 0.79*

217.9 0.90 0.78*

257.7 138.4 TN 0.91 5.77 0.95 4.84 0.99 4.31 0.84 4.59 3.52 TP 0.93*

0.265 0.90*

0.210 0.95 0.235 0.89*

0.215 0.200 Lewisburg SS 0.94 0.71*

166.4 0.82 0.83*

120.3 0.89 0.67*

150.9 0.85 0.75*

138.0 72.9 TN 0.84 7.78 0.95 6.34 0.99 6.31 0.97 6.31 5.67 TP 0.68 0.442 0.76 0.312 0.85 0.278 0.80 0.293 0.238 Newport SS 0.94 0.94 263.1 0.83 0.90 156.8 0.86 0.88*

126.7 0.84 0.81*

130.4 99.7 TN 1.00 9.41 0.95 7.52 0.98 6.39 0.92 6.88 5.63 TP 0.79 0.469 0.90 0.401 0.84 0.368 0.87 0.376 0.251 Marietta SS 1.04 0.70 385.2 0.91 0.90 303.9 0.87 0.79*

270.1 0.89 0.78*

244.1 145.6 TN 0.99 37.94 0.98 34.08 0.97 31.76 0.97 32.91 25.57 TP 0.72*

2.657 0.90 2.403 0.59 1.761 0.65 2.084 0.981 Conestoga SS 1.02 0.87 1,548.3 0.95 0.89 1,200.2 0.95 0.32#

996.0 0.95 0.57 1,099.6 292.4 Q = discharge ratio R2 = correlation coefficient

• indicates where an exponential regression was used instead of a linear regression as it yielded a higher R2.

1. indicates a R2 that is low and thus is less accurate at predicting Y Table 32.

Comparison of 2009 Seasonal TN, TP, and SS Yields with Initial Baseline Yields Fall Spring Summer Winter Site/Parameter Q

R2 Y

Y09 Q

R2 Y

Y09 Q

R2 Y

Y09 Q

R2 Y

Y09 TN 0.98 1.31 0.75 0.97 1.41 0.84 0.99 0.66 0.40 0.99*

2.17 1.37 TP 0.97*

0.076 0.081 1.00*

0.073 0.091 0.99 0.049 0.059 0.69*

0.119 0.136 Towanda SS 0.832 0.92*

31.8 21.2 0.58 1.00*

44.2 29.9 1.9 0.94*

20.7 15.0 1.04 0.20*#

89.6 71.7 TN 1.00 1.74 0.96 1.00 1.71 0.96 0.99 0.942 0.50 1.00 2.52 1.50 TP 0.98 0.116 0.088 1.00 0.126 0.089 0.93 0.080 0.059 0.97 0.166 0.122 Danville SS 1.09 0.96*

48.1 31.9 0.85 0.98 105.7 32.6 1.77 0.79 35.8 21.6 1.21 0.98*

109.4 52.3 TN 1.00 1.56 1.01 1.00 1.29 0.82 0.99 0.65 0.43 0.99 1.81 1.27 TP 0.99 0.067 0.060 0.99 0.059 0.046 0.97 0.038 0.027 0.99*

0.067 0.067 Lewisburg SS 1.14 0.97*

26.4 22.5 0.69 0.96 27.5 13.0 1.25 0.41#

10.3 7.5 0.95 0.95*

40.0 29.9 TN 1.00 2.839 2.05 0.98 2.511 2.04 1

0.514 0.39 0.96 1.278 1.19 TP 1.00*

0.169 0.10 0.89 0.16 0.09 0.997 0.037 0.02 0.84 0.029 0.03 Newport SS 1.556 0.99*

88.85 45.3 1.02 0.98 109.79 44.5 0.66 0.995 13.02 3.3 0.6 0.83*

13.08 6.5 TN 1.00 2.403 1.73 1.00 2.152 1.44 1.00 1.021 0.70 0.999 2.366 1.76 TP 1.00 0.122 0.08 0.91 0.119 0.07 0.89*

0.061 0.04 0.872 0.095 0.06 Marietta SS 1.3 0.98 99.9 51.1 0.87 0.92 101.96 37.7 1.37 0.91*

34.99 16.9 0.94 0.966 53.75 39.9 TN 0.98 12.37 8.89 1.00 9.81 6.79 0.999 6.179 4.61 1.00*

6.986 5.27 TP 0.85 1.034 0.44 0.99 0.666 0.22 0.21#

0.682 0.23 0.45*#

0.414 0.10 Conestoga SS 1.778 0.95 300.58 158.0 0.99 0.98 412.57 68.2 0.91 0.16#

548.4 50.4 0.62 0.25*#

129.2 15.8 Q = discharge ratio R2 = correlation coefficient

• indicates where an exponential regression was used instead of a linear regression as it yielded a higher R2.

1. indicates a R2 that is low and thus is less accurate at predicting Y

26 DISCHARGE, NUTRIENT, AND SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT TRENDS Flow-Adjusted Concentration (FAC) trend analyses of water quality and flow data collected at the six Group A monitoring sites were completed for the period January 1985 through December 2009. Trends were estimated based on the USGS water year, October 1 to September 30, using the USGS 7-parameter, log-linear regression model (ESTIMATOR) developed by Cohn and others (1989) and described in Langland and others (1999). This estimator relates the constituent concentration to water discharge, seasonal effects, and long-term trends, and computes the best-fit regression equation. These tests were used to estimate the direction and magnitude of trends for discharge, SS, TOC, and several forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. Slope, p-value, and sigma (error) values are taken directly from ESTIMATOR output. These values are then used to calculate flow-adjusted trends using the following equations:

Trend =

100*(exp(Slope * (end yr - begin yr)) - 1)

Trend minimum =

100*(exp((Slope - (1.96*sigma))

• (end yr - begin yr)) - 1)

Trend maximum =

100*(exp((Slope + (1.96*sigma))

• (end yr - begin yr)) - 1)

The computer application S-Plus with the USGS ESTREND library addition was used to conduct Seasonal Kendall trend analysis on flows (Schertz and others, 1991). Trend results were reported for monthly mean discharge (FLOW) and FAC. Trends in FLOW indicate the natural changes in hydrology. Changes in flow and the cumulative sources of flow (base flow and overland runoff) affect the observed concentrations and the estimated loads of nutrients and SS. The FAC is the concentration after the effects of flow are removed from the concentration time series. Trends in FAC indicate that changes have occurred in the processes that deliver constituents to the stream system. After the effects of flow are removed, this is the concentration that relates to the effects of nutrient-reduction activities and other actions taking place in the watershed. A description of the methodology is included in Langland and others (1999).

Trend results for each monitoring site are presented in Tables 33 through 38. Each table lists the results for flow, the various nitrogen and phosphorus species, TOC, and SS. The level of significance was set by a p-value of 0.05 for FAC (Langland and others, 1999). The magnitude of the slope incorporates a

confidence interval and was reported as a range (minimum and maximum). The trend percent change was the magnitude of change in flow-adjusted concentration estimated to have occurred over the trend period. The values were recorded as a range with the actual value located within the range. The slope direction indicated the direction of the trend percent change and was reported as not significant (NS) or, when significant, as down to indicate decreasing FACs and improving trends or up to indicate increasing FACs and degrading trends. When a time series for a particular parameter had greater than 20 percent of its observations BMDL, a trend analysis could not be completed and it was listed as BMDL.

27 Table 33.

Trend Statistics for the Susquehanna River at Towanda, Pa., October 1988 Through September 2009 Slope Magnitude (%)

Parameter STORET Code Time Series/Test Slope P-Value Min Trend Max Trend %

Change Trend Direction FLOW 60 SK 52.63 0.3930 NS TN 600 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-43.2

-40.0

-36.6 37-43 Down DN 602 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-39.8

-36.1

-32.2 32-40 Down TON 605 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-51.3

-45.2

-38.4 38-51 Down DON 607 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-43.1

-35.5

-26.8 27-43 Down DNH3 608 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-41.8

-31.3

-19.1 N/A BMDL TNH3 610 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-51.4

-42.4

-31.9 32-51 Down DKN 623 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-41.2

-34.2

-26.2 26-41 Down TKN 625 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-50.8

-45.1

-38.8 39-51 Down TNOx 630 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-40.4

-36.2

-31.8 32-40 Down DNOx 631 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-40.2

-35.9

-31.2 31-40 Down TP 665 FAC 0.00 0.8120

-11.1 1.6 16.1 N/A NS DP 666 FAC 0.00 0.7570

-11.2 2.2 17.7 N/A NS DOP 671 FAC 0.10

<0.0001 486.2 633.0 816.5 486-817 Up TOC 680 FAC 0.00 0.0043

-12.4

-7.5

-2.3 2-12 Down SS 80154 FAC

-0.02 0.0012

-41.8

-28.6

-12.3 12-42 Down Down = downward/improving trend Up = Upward/degrading trend BMDL = Greater than 20% of values were Below Method Detection Limit NS = No significant trend Table 34.

Trend Statistics for the Susquehanna River at Danville, Pa., October 1984 Through September 2009 Slope Magnitude (%)

Parameter STORET Code Time Series/Test Slope P-Value Min Trend Max Trend %

Change Trend Direction FLOW 60 SK 111.3 0.1259 NS TN 600 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-48.4

-45.4

-42.2 42-48 Down DN 602 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-42.6

-39.0

-35.2 35-43 Down TON 605 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-59.9

-54.9

-49.3 49-60 Down DON 607 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-48.9

-42.8

-36.0 36-49 Down DNH3 608 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-53.3

-44.7

-34.5 N/A BMDL TNH3 610 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-58.0

-50.7

-42.2 42-58 Down DKN 623 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-48.2

-42.6

-36.3 36-48 Down TKN 625 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-60.0

-55.5

-50.4 50-60 Down TNOx 630 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-40.4

-36.3

-32.0 32-40 Down DNOx 631 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-40.8

-36.5

-31.8 32-41 Down TP 665 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-34.7

-25.2

-14.3 14-35 Down DP 666 FAC 0.00 0.6024

-17.8

-4.0 12.1 N/A NS DOP 671 FAC 0.09

<0.0001 518.4 693.4 918.1 N/A BMDL TOC 680 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-23.9

-19.4

-14.8 15-24 Down SS 80154 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-59.0

-51.2

-41.9 42-59 Down Down = downward/improving trend Up = Upward/degrading trend BMDL = Greater than 20% of values were Below Method Detection Limit NS = No significant trend

28 Table 35.

Trend Statistics for the West Branch Susquehanna River at Lewisburg, Pa., October 1984 Through September 2009 Slope Magnitude (%)

Parameter STORET Code Time Series/Test Slope P-Value Min Trend Max Trend %

Change Trend Direction FLOW 60 SK

-12.50 0.8109 NS TN 600 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-36.5

-31.9

-26.9 27-37 Down DN 602 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-31.3

-27.0

-22.4 22-31 Down TON 605 FAC

-0.04

<0.0001

-65.7

-59.5

-52.3 52-66 Down DON 607 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-58.3

-51.8

-44.2 44-58 Down DNH3 608 FAC

-0.01 0.0007

-37.3

-25.4

-11.2 N/A BMDL TNH3 610 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-44.4

-33.8

-21.2 21-44 Down DKN 623 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-47.3

-39.9

-31.4 31-47 Down TKN 625 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-59.1

-52.7

-45.3 45-59 Down TNOx 630 FAC

-0.01 0.0001

-17.4

-12.2

-6.6 7-17 Down DNOx 631 FAC

-0.01 0.0001

-18.0

-12.4

-6.4 6-18 Down TP 665 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-41.8

-30.7

-17.6 18-42 Down DP 666 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-54.9

-45.5

-34.2 N/A BMDL DOP 671 FAC 0.07

<0.0001 312.5 449.6 632.2 N/A BMDL TOC 680 FAC 0.00 0.1602

-2.2 5.4 13.7 N/A NS SS 80154 FAC

-0.02 0.0014

-45.4

-31.2

-13.4 13-45 Down Down = downward/improving trend Up = Upward/degrading trend BMDL = Greater than 20% of values were Below Method Detection Limit NS = No significant trend Table 36.

Trend Statistics for the Juniata River at Newport, Pa., October 1984 Through September 2009 Slope Magnitude (%)

Parameter STORET Code Time Series/Test Slope P-Value Min Trend Max Trend %

Change Trend Direction FLOW 60 SK 8.174 0.6437 NS TN 600 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-17.0

-12.6

-7.9 8-17 Down DN 602 FAC 0.00 0.0009

-11.9

-7.6

-3.2 3-12 Down TON 605 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-59.3

-52.5

-44.5 45-59 Down DON 607 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-51.9

-45.1

-37.4 37-52 Down DNH3 608 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-45.2

-34.5

-21.6 N/A BMDL TNH3 610 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-44.1

-33.5

-20.9 N/A BMDL DKN 623 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-53.0

-45.9

-37.7 38-53 Down TKN 625 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-55.4

-48.4

-40.3 40-55 Down TNOx 630 FAC 0.00 0.4986

-3.4 1.7 7.1 N/A NS DNOx 631 FAC 0.00 0.0970

-0.9 4.4 10.0 N/A NS TP 665 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-45.7

-36.9

-26.7 27-46 Down DP 666 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-45.5

-36.9

-27.0 27-45 Down DOP 671 FAC 0.04

<0.0001 126.8 192.4 276.9 127-277 Up TOC 680 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-23.6

-17.3

-10.4 10-24 Down SS 80154 FAC

-0.02 0.0001

-50.3

-37.4

-21.1 21-50 Down Down = downward/improving trend Up = Upward/degrading trend BMDL = Greater than 20% of values were Below Method Detection Limit NS = No significant trend

29 Table 37.

Trend Statistics for the Susquehanna River at Marietta, Pa., October 1986 Through September 2009 Slope Magnitude (%)

Parameter STORET Code Time Series/Test Slope P-Value Min Trend Max Trend %

Change Trend Direction FLOW 60 SK

-25.94 0.8924 NS TN 600 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-32.2

-28.0

-23.5 23-32 Down DN 602 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-42.9

-39.0

-35.0 35-43 Down TON 605 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-55.0

-48.3

-40.7 41-55 Down DON 607 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-50.5

-42.7

-33.6 34-51 Down DNH3 608 FAC

-0.01 0.0014

-34.1

-22.7

-9.3 9-34 Down TNH3 610 FAC

-0.01 0.0002

-37.5

-26.4

-13.2 13-37 Down DKN 623 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-46.9

-39.3

-30.6 31-47 Down TKN 625 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-52.4

-46.1

-38.9 39-52 Down TNOx 630 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-19.6

-14.3

-8.5 9-20 Down DNOx 631 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-19.5

-14.1

-8.3 8-19 Down TP 665 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-33.1

-24.2

-14.1 14-33 Down DP 666 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-42.0

-33.4

-23.6 24-42 Down DOP 671 FAC 0.09

<0.0001 493.2 658.5 869.9 N/A BMDL TOC 680 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-18.4

-13.3

-7.9 8-18 Down SS 80154 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-48.5

-37.4

-24.0 24-48 Down Down = downward/improving trend Up = Upward/degrading trend BMDL = Greater than 20% of values were Below Method Detection Limit NS = No significant trend Table 38.

Trend Statistics for the Conestoga River at Conestoga, Pa., October 1984 Through September 2009 Slope Magnitude (%)

Parameter STORET Code Time Series/Test Slope P-Value Min Trend Max Trend %

Change Trend Direction FLOW 60 SK 3.697 0.3811 NS TN 600 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-24.1

-20.8

-17.3 17-24 Down DN 602 FAC 0.00 0.0601

-8.6

-4.2 0.4 N/A NS TON 605 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-59.0

-53.3

-46.7 47-59 Down DON 607 FAC

-0.01 0.0396

-22.3

-12.2

-0.7 1-22 Down DNH3 608 FAC

-0.06

<0.0001

-78.1

-74.4

-69.9 70-78 Down TNH3 610 FAC

-0.06

<0.0001

-79.0

-75.4

-71.1 71-79 Down DKN 623 FAC

-0.01

<0.0001

-35.4

-27.7

-19.0 19-35 Down TKN 625 FAC

-0.04

<0.0001

-63.5

-58.8

-53.4 53-64 Down TNOx 630 FAC 0.00 0.9417

-5.7

-0.2 5.6 N/A NS DNOx 631 FAC 0.00 0.6812

-4.4 1.2 7.1 N/A NS TP 665 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-57.5

-51.8

-45.3 45-58 Down DP 666 FAC

-0.02

<0.0001

-49.3

-44.9

-40.0 40-49 Down DOP 671 FAC

-0.01 0.0004

-31.7

-21.7

-10.3 10-32 Down TOC 680 FAC

-0.03

<0.0001

-50.8

-46.4

-41.7 42-51 Down SS 80154 FAC

-0.05

<0.0001

-76.0

-70.7

-64.1 64-76 Down Down = downward/improving trend Up = Upward/degrading trend BMDL = Greater than 20% of values were Below Method Detection Limit NS = No significant trend

30 DISCUSSION 2009 monthly flows were compared with historical monthly flows to find similar months for comparison. For months chosen, individual loads from both the historical month and the 2009 month were compared to see where loads had substantially deviated from the accepted premise that higher flows tend to yield higher loads.

For example, 2009 flow at Towanda was 10,244 cubic feet per second (cfs) for June 2009 and 10,638 CFS for June 1994. By looking closer at the daily flows of each month, the peak daily flow for June 1994 was 52,700 cfs and for June 2009 was 34,000 cfs. With June 2009 having both a 4 percent lower average monthly flow and a 35 percent lower average daily flow as compared to 1994, it would be expected that June 1994 would have higher loads if there had been no improvements or degradations during the time period. Further comparison of the two months showed that 2009 had 34 and 68 percent lower loads of TN and SS, respectively, which was expected.

In contradiction to what was expected, DP and DOP had 97 and 1,045 percent higher loads during June 2009, respectively. This shows a dramatic difference from what would be expected given the difference in flows. It could be inferred that TN and SS loads have been reduced from 1994 to 2009 and DP and DOP loads have increased over the time period at Towanda. Similarly, May 1994 was comparable to May 2009 with the flow difference being 1 percent more during 1994. TN and SS loads were 40 and 20 percent lower, respectively, during May 2009 while TP, DP, and DOP were 31, 53, and 93 percent higher, respectively, during May 2009 as compared to May 1994.

Closer inspection of the flows indicate that the May 2009 peak daily average was 25 percent higher than the May 1994 peak daily average so the comparison may not be as strong.

Table 39 shows a condensation of monthly loads at all sites down to a percent variation that can be compared to the variation in monthly flow. To calculate these values, the percent difference between each monthly comparison was averaged together to get one value for each parameter and site and may be useful for identifying parameters for future in-depth study.

The flow value corresponds to the percent difference between the comparison period and the 2009 period and does not specifically designate the 2009 flow as higher or lower than the comparison flow. Parameter percent values do indicate whether the values were lower or higher during 2009 as compared to other years.

For example, the average flow difference for 2009 comparisons at Towanda was 5 percent while the average TN values for 2009 were 30 percent less, and the TP values were 20 percent greater than the comparison periods.

Towanda 2009 annual flow at Towanda was 85 percent of the LTM with June, August, and October rising above LTM values. This resulted in loads for all parameters, except DP and DOP, being largely below the LTM. These included TN, TP, and SS at 61, 78, and 24 percent of LTM, respectively. In contrast, DP and DOP both were above LTM at 126 and 184 percent, respectively, including the DOP average concentration being 215 percent of the LTM.

Highest season flows and loads of all parameters were recorded during winter. Although spring had the next highest flow, fall had higher load values for TNH3, DP, and DOP. Summer recorded the lowest flows and loads for all parameters.

March 2009 accounted for a high percentage of the nutrient load including 23, 25, and 45 percent of the TN, TP, and SS loads, respectively. A closer comparison of January and August at Towanda shows that although the flow was comparable at 8,315 and 8,437 cfs, respectively, there was a dramatic difference in SS, with 16 million pounds transported during January and 48 million pounds during August.

This may indicate a difference in the amount of new erosion that was transported, as the ground was likely frozen during January, and may account for the dramatic decrease in SS load.

31 Also noteworthy is that although TP load increased 78 percent from January to August, DP and DOP only increased by 37 and 26 percent, respectively. During the same period, there was a 28 percent drop in TN loads. This may be due to higher volatilization and/or plant uptake increases during the summer versus winter. Drops were also found when comparing January and August in TNOx and TNH3 with 55 percent and 43 percent, respectively.

Comparisons with baselines at Towanda showed that TP was higher than predicted by each method. Looking closer at seasonal baselines, all seasons showed that TP was higher than predicted by baseline comparisons. All other annual and seasonal baseline comparisons were below predicted values for 2009.

Trends for 1989 through 2009 at Towanda were decreasing for all parameters except flow, TP, DP, DOP, and DNH3. DNH3 had no significant trend due to 20 percent of the values BMDL, resulting in no significant trends. Flow, TP, and DP had no significant trends while DOP had an upward trend. This trend indicates that DOP flow-adjusted concentrations have increased by between 486 and 817 percent over the 20-year time period. Starting at the detection limit for DOP (0.01mg/L), this increase would result in values of about 0.06 mg/L today.

Danville 2009 flow at Danville was similar to Towanda including above LTM values during June, August, and October with annual flow at 90 percent of the LTM. Annual loads for all parameters were below LTM values except DP and DOP, with 119 and 165 percent of the LTM, respectively.

DP and DOP average concentration values for 2009 were above the LTM by 131 and 183 percent, respectively.

Seasonal load and flow values were highest during the winter and lowest during summer.

Comparable monthly flows at Danville were February to December and May to November but there were no large differences between TN, TP, and SS loads. As with Towanda, March had the highest flows and highest loads for these parameters. Interestingly, October had the third lowest monthly flow and the second highest SS load. As with Towanda, Danville had lowest flows and lowest loads of TN, TP, and SS during September.

2009 TN, TP, and SS yields at Danville were lower than all baseline values except for TP, when compared to the second half of the dataset. The predicted yield was 0.335 lbs/acre, and the actual 2009 yield was 0.357 lbs/acre.

All seasonal yields for 2009 were below the initial five-year baseline yields. 2009 trends at Danville were the same as at Towanda with two exceptions: TP had a downward trend and DOP had no trends, as 20 percent of the values were BMDL.

Marietta 2009 flows at Marietta were 89 percent of the LTM with the same months as Towanda and Danville being above the LTM: June, August, and October. 2009 loads also were well below LTM values, including 73 percent for TN, 55 percent for TP, and 37 percent for SS. High seasonal flows occurred during winter followed by spring. Although winter had 2 percent higher flows for the period, it had 23 percent, 26 percent, and 36 percent higher loads of DN, DNOx, and DNH3, respectively, and 17 percent less TOC. Comparison of monthly flows and loads for TN, TP, and SS show that January had 9 percent less flow than June, while the TN load during the time period was 23 percent greater than the TN load during June. This could account for the variation in DN, DNOx, and DNH3 when comparing the winter and spring months. The lower January flow and higher than expected TN loads as compared to June could be a product of lower temperature and less rain during January, causing reductions in volatization and infiltration. The same situation was found when February was compared to May. Additionally, TP, DP, and DOP loads were slightly higher for the lower flow spring period. As with other mainstem sites, Marietta recorded lowest flows and loads of all parameters during the summer season.

32 Additional monthly comparisons, like those shown in Table 39, show that DP and DOP had large variations from expected conditions.

Specific monthly comparisons with similar flow months that occurred prior to 2000 showed that DP and DOP loads have increased. When used to compare a similar flow month during the early to mid-2000s, the same comparison method shows the opposite for DP and DOP as values seem to be lower than expected during 2009. Past reports have also shown that the early to mid-2000s have shown increases in these two parameters at Marietta as well as several other sites. Specifically at Marietta, these increases have begun to somewhat reverse over the past few years while loads at Danville, Towanda, and Lewisburg have continued to show high values of both DP and DOP.

2009 annual and seasonal yields at Marietta were below baseline values for TN, TP, and SS for all comparisons. Apparently, some change had occurred from north to south on the mainstem regarding TP, as yields at Towanda were above all baseline predictions, while yields at Danville were above the baseline prediction using the second half of the dataset.

Changes in trends from Danville to Marietta included the addition of two downward trends for DNH3 and DP. DOP had no trend due to concentration BMDL and there was no trend for flow. All other parameters had downward trends through 2009. Most dramatic reductions from 1987 to 2009 occurred for TON and DON, with 41-55 percent change in TON and 34-51 percent change in DON.

Lewisburg 2009 annual flow at Lewisburg was 86 percent of the LTM with August, October, and December being above the LTM. Subsequently, loads for all parameters except DP and DOP were well below LTM values. DP loads at Lewisburg were 105 percent of the LTM while the average concentration was 122 percent of the LTM. DOP loads were 178 percent of the LTM and average concentration was 207 percent of the LTM. Compared with DP and DOP values at Towanda, Danville, and Marietta, it seems that both DP and DOP recorded higher values in the middle and northern parts of the basin versus the southern portion. Comparisons with Newport and Conestoga indicated the same pattern as Newport recorded values of DP below the LTM and DOP at the LTM while Conestoga recorded lower than LTM values for both DP and DOP. Lewisburg recorded substantially lower than LTM values of SS at 28 percent of LTM for 2009.

No noticeable patterns were found when comparing seasonal loads at Lewisburg. The highest flow values and load values for all parameters were recorded during winter followed by fall, spring, and summer.

Monthly comparisons similar to those mentioned for Marietta show the same pattern.

Specific comparisons of January and June show that June had 4 percent less flow than January, coupled with 34 percent less TN, 6 percent more TP, and 24 percent more SS. Comparison of May to October at Lewisburg shows a variation in flow of less than 1 percent coupled with higher values of both TP and SS during October, with 25 percent and 129 percent more loads of the constituents, respectively.

October represents the beginning of the water year and typically consists of substantial rises in flows during the time period. Give that flow was essentially the same for both months, the increases in SS load could be attributed to increases in runoff versus infiltration due to the fall turnover of vegetation and crops. Higher sediment loads during October may have been influenced by low flows during September, which was not an issue during May 2009.

2009 annual baseline comparisons for Lewisburg were below all predicted values for TN, TP, and SS. Seasonal baseline comparisons were also below predicted values, except for TP during winter, which was at the predicted value.

Most trends at Lewisburg were downward for 2009. Similar to Marietta, largest trend reductions from 1984 to 2009 were for TON and DON, with 52-66 percent and 45-59 percent reductions, respectively. DNH3, DP, and DOP all had no trends due to concentrations BMDL.

TOC and flow had no significant trends.

33 Newport 2009 annual flow at Newport was 85 percent of the LTM with monthly rises above the LTM during May, June, October, and December.

Annual loads were also below LTM including SS being less than 50 percent of the LTM. Both DOP and TOC were at 100 percent of the LTM although flow values were 85 percent of the annual LTM. Seasonal flows were highest during spring at 5,708 cfs followed by fall at 4,717 cfs. High seasonal loads varied between the two seasons for different parameters with no substantial differences to note.

Relevant monthly comparisons at Newport include February, June, and October, which are evenly split through the year temporally.

Moving from those months through the year, there was an increase in flow of 8 percent between February and June, a decrease of 6 percent between June and October, and a 1 percent increase between February and October.

Through all of these changes, the differences in values of TN, TP, and SS between the same months increased by a substantial percentage beyond the smaller change in flow, with the exception of TN from February to June, which only changed 1 percent. June values of TP and SS were 152 percent and 230 percent higher, respectively, than February values. October values of TP and SS were 252 percent and 497 percent higher, respectively, than February values, although there was only a 1 percent difference in total monthly flow.

Baseline comparisons at Newport indicate that 2009 yield values were below predictions for TN, TP, and SS for all comparisons. The only exception was the seasonal comparison of TP during winter, which was slightly above the predicted initial baseline value. Trends at Newport were more variable than at the other sites. Both TNH3 and DNH3 had no trends due to BMDL, while both TNOx and DNOx had no significant trends. There were significant downward trends in TON and DON including reductions of 45-59 percent and 37-52 percent for each, respectively, since 1984. Apparently, these large reductions in TON and DON were enough to define a downward trend for both TN and DON, with 8-17 percent and 3-12 percent reductions, respectively, documented from 1984 through 2009. TP and DP had downward trends amounting in 27-46 percent and 27-45 percent reductions, respectively, over the time period.

Interestingly, DOP continued a previous upward trend in spite of the downward TP and DP trends, including increases of 127-277 percent over the time period. Whereas the trend results indicate one direction over the entire time period, several monthly comparisons indicate a situation similar to Marietta in that comparisons of 2009 to the early and mid-2000s indicate less difference than comparisons with the 1980s and 1990s. Thus, the increases in DOP seem to have leveled off since the early to mid-2000s but still represent substantial increases since the beginning of the monitoring period in 1984.

Conestoga 2009 annual flows at Conestoga were 95 percent of the LTM representing the highest LTM flow percentage of all sites. Monthly flow values surpassed the LTM during seven of the 12 months including August through December.

Conestoga continued to be the site with the highest yields and average concentrations for all parameters. However, when compared to previous years, 2009 values implied substantial reductions in several parameters. When comparing LTM load and concentration values, Conestoga had the lowest percentage of LTM values for TP, TON, DOP, DON, and TOC.

Additionally, the 2009 SS average concentration was the lowest percentage of LTM average concentration of all sites at 26.5 percent.

Seasonal flows were highest during the fall followed by spring, summer, and winter. Due to the uncommon distribution of flows at Conestoga (with winter being the lowest flow period and summer having substantial flow), a few comparisons can be made. Comparison of spring and summer shows that summer had 40 percent less flow, which resulted in lower loads of most parameters ranging from 24 percent for TOC to 80 percent for DON, with TN and DN at 47 and 46 percent, respectively. The interesting comparison is that TP, DP, and DOP all increased from spring to summer with increases

34 of 4, 23, and 27 percent, respectively. Although trends analysis for DOP showed decreasing trends, this monthly comparison implied that DOP values were higher than expected. The cause of this observation may be similar to the cause of the increases in DOP found at other sites including

Towanda, Danville, and Lewisburg.

Monthly comparisons similar to those shown in Table 39 indicate dramatic differences when March 2009 is compared to March 1985.

Flow during 2009 was 8 percent lower than March 1985 flow while TN, DN, TON, DON, TNOx, and DNOx monthly loads during 2009 ranged from 45 to 67 percent lower than 1985 values. Other substantial reductions taken from this comparison include TP, DP, DOP, TOC, and SS at 365, 222, 189, 261, and 183 percent lower than March 1985 values, respectively. By far, the biggest change was for TNH3 and DNH3 at 1,293 and 1,192 percent, respectively, below the 1985 March values.

2009 annual and seasonal yields were below all baseline comparisons for TN, TP, and SS.

The most substantial comparison involved SS with the 2009 yield being 292 and the baseline predictions ranging from 996 to 1,548 lbs/acre/year. Seasonal comparisons indicate that the lowest deviation from the baseline prediction occurred during fall for SS where the value for 2009 was 50 percent less that the baseline prediction.

Trends for 2009 at Conestoga were downward for all parameters except DN, TNOx, and DNOx, which had no significant trends.

These downward trends included DOP which had been trending upward at most sites. As previously mentioned, in spite of the downward trend, DOP did show conditions that could be perceived as degrading when comparing the spring and summer seasons.

35 Table 39.

Average of Monthly Changes from Historical Similar Flow Month Site Q

TN DN TON DON DNH3 TNH3 TNOx DNOx TP DP DIP TOC Sed Towanda 5

-30

-28

-24

-20

-31

-48

-40

-38 20 58 360

-5

-26 Danville 3

-38

-33

-46

-31

-63

-55

-39

-39

-2 33 171

-16

-8 Lewisburg 7

-26

-22

-13

-1

-38

-47

-25

-24 4

37 233 3

-28 Newport 4

-9

-9

-6

-14

-26

-6

-9

-9

-15

-31 44 6

-7 Marietta 7

-19

-21

-21

-36

-16

-12

-17

-16

-27

-57 12 2

-7 Conestoga 4

-24

-23

-71

-65

-87

-100

-18

-19

-74

-38

-48

-31

-87

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