The Effect of Mixed Land Use on Non-Point Source Pollution in the Lower Tallapoosa Basin. (S11-ankumah969078-poster)
Authors:
E. Hunter* - Tuskegee Univ.
R. Ankumah - Tuskegee Univ.
T. Tinsley - Tuskegee Univ.
P.K. Biswas - Tuskegee Univ.
Abstract:
Water monitoring findings reported under Section 305 (b) of the CWA showed that 73 percent of the 2,628 total miles assessed and monitored in the state of Alabama were considered to be impaired meaning they partially support on or more uses. The primary source of this impairment was due to nonpoint source pollution resulting from agriculture land uses. The objectives of this study was to assess spatial and temporal variability in nutrient concentrations within a mixed land use watershed of the Lower Tallapoosa River and to test whether PLOAD can be used to accurately predict these loading.
The study was conducted on 4 creeks located in Macon County. Grab samples were taken bi-weekly at all sites with additional grab samples collected after major rainstorm events. Primary in stream measurements included DO, turbidity, pH, temperature,nitrates (NO3-N), orthophospates (P), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP). Statistical analysis on the lab analysis showed that although the nitrate and total nitrogen analyses was higher at the impaired creeks, it was not significant for the sites or the seasons at the p > 0.05 level. The mean nitrate ranged from 0.485 to 2.264 mg/L, while the total nitrogen ranged from 2.04 to 3.66 mg/L. There was also no significant difference between total P and orthophosphate between sites, however a significant difference was observed between seasons. The PLOAD model output also showed no significant difference between sites.
Speaker Information: Ramble Ankumah, Tuskegee Univ., 305 Milbank Hall Dept. of Agric. & Environ. S, Tuskegee, AL 36088; Phone: (334)-727-8400; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Tuesday, November 4, 2003, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Presentation Start: 4:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 1407) Keywords: Non-point Source Pollution; Nitrates; Landuse; Phosphorus