Nick Shepherd University of Oklahoma

Transcription

1 Nick Shepherd University of Oklahoma

2 Introduction Hypotheses & Objectives Methods Results Conclusions 2

3 Introduction 3

4 4 Introduction: Castor canadensis Life cycle 10 year life expectancy in wild Sexual maturity in 1.5 to 2 years Average 5 kits per birth at a 100 day gestation period 2.7% mortality rate for first 2 years Site preferences Dam narrow portions of waterways to create larger water surface area and increase water depth Abundant food sources Aquatic vegetation: duckweed and pondweed Woody plants: Trembling aspen and willow

5 5 Introduction: Castor canadensis Ecosystem engineers Alter riparian area and form extensive wetlands Provide habitat variety Increase plant and animal species richness Water quality impacts Largely inconclusive, mainly regarding nutrients

6 6 Introduction: Unnamed Tributary (UT) Located in Commerce, OK Tar Creek Superfund Site Impacted by mine drainage Headwaters are untreated mine drainage (SEC) Treatment began Feb (Dr. Nairn: Wed. 8 am) Second source 1/3 mile downstream (MRPTS) Treatment began Nov Tributary one mile long and flows into Tar Creek Evidence of beaver presence in 2013/2014

7 Introduction: UT Sites SEC UT-Pipe D1 UT-U D2 MRPTS UT-D D3 D4 D5 D6 LWC UT-R 7

8 Hypotheses & Objectives 8

9 9 Hypotheses 1. Presence of beaver dams will show improvement in water quality and decreases in metals concentrations based on historical data 2. Water exiting the beaver dam ponds will have lower metals concentrations than waters entering dam impounded water 3. Sediment total metals concentrations will exceed EPA site specific guidelines

10 10 Objectives 1. Identify water quality trends using historical data 2. Determine water quality impacts due to presence of beaver dams 3. Determine sediment total metals concentrations

11 Methods 11

12 12 Methods: Historical Data Dates back to 2004 Two sites (UT-U and UT-D) Establish dates of events that would impact UT water quality Background (regular monitoring 2004 to 2006) SEC French drain construction (2006/2007) MRPTS construction (2008) Established beaver population (2013/2014) Identify trends between each event

13 13 Methods: In and Out Water Quality Parameters Physical Water Quality Parameters Total and Dissolved Metals Measurement Alkalinity Turbidity Temperature, Specific Conductance, DO %, ph As, Cd, Fe, Pb, Zn

14 Methods: In and Out Sediment Characterization Particle Size Analysis Solids Digestion Total Metals 14

15 Methods: UT Sites SEC UT-Pipe D1 UT-U D2 MRPTS UT-D D3 D4 D5 D6 LWC UT-R 15

16 Results 16

17 2009 Date Beavers MRPTS 2014 MRPTS French Drain French Drain Background Unit Historical Data Parameter Beaver

18 Historical Data 18 Specific Total Conductivity Iron French Drain French Drain MRPTS Beavers Concentration (mg/l) ms/cm Background Background MRPTS MRPTS Beaver Beaver UT-U UT-D Date

19 Metals Concentrations In and Out of Beaver Dams mg/l D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 LWC Total Zn Aug. '16 Nov. '16 Jan. ' Stream Distance (m) mg/l D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 LWC Total Pb Aug. '16 Nov. '16 Jan. ' Stream Distance (m)

20 Metals Concentrations In and Out of Beaver Dams mg/l D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 LWC Stream Distance (m) Total Fe Aug. '16 Nov. '16 Jan. '17 mg/l D1 D2 D3 D Stream Distance (m) Total Cd Aug. '16 Nov. '16 Jan. '17 20

21 21 MRPTS designed Fe removal rate 20 g m -2 day -1

22 22 Iron Removal Rate at Dam 1 From rapid habitat assessment: Volume : 1,560 m 3 Surface area: 3,000 m 2 Beaver Dam 1 Fe removal rate: 7.2 g m -2 day -1

23 Cd (mg/kg) Sediment Concentrations: Total Metals 0 PEC = 11.1 D1 In D1 Out UT-U D4 In D4 Out D5 In D5 Out D6 In D6 Out Location (Upstream to Downstream) LWC In LWC Out UT-R 1, Pb (mg/kg) PEC = 150 Cd Pb Zn (mg/kg) 15,000 10,000 5, Fe (Kg/Kg) Zn Fe PEC = 2,083 D1 In D1 Out UT-U D4 In D4 Out D5 In D5 Out D6 In D6 Out LWC In Location (Upstream to Downstream) LWC Out UT-R 23

24 Conclusions 24

25 25 Conclusions 1. Presence of beaver dams will show improvement in water quality and decreases in metals concentrations based on historical data Accepted 2. Water exiting the beaver dam ponds will have lower metals concentrations than waters entering dam impounded water Partially accepted: Minimal impact on [Pb] 3. Sediment total metals concentrations will exceed EPA site specific guidelines Partially accepted: two sites below total metals guidelines

26 26

27 Acknowledgements Property Owners: Mayer and Martin Families Grand River Dam Authority City of Commerce University of Oklahoma: School of CEES Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds (CREW) Especially Brandon Holzbauer-Schweitzer and Bryan Page 27

28 Questions? 28