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Hejna_Thesis_07122020.pdf (10.21 MB)

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Nutrient and Water Quality Analysis of a Lake Erie Headwater Tributary

Hejna, MaryAnne
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1594576287454459

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science in Engineering, University of Akron, Civil Engineering.
Lake Erie is a drinking water source for millions of people and therefore requires protection from anthropogenic impacts. Nine percent of Lake Erie’s freshwater comes from its tributaries. These sources should deliver clean water to the lake and thus warrant stewardship. Today, nonpoint sources emanating from agricultural and urbanized tributary watersheds are responsible for nutrient pollution loads to the lake and its tributaries. This thesis focused on the existing water quality parameters (nutrients and water chemistry) throughout the Euclid Creek watershed, an urbanized Lake Erie headwater tributary east of the Cuyahoga River. Field sampling was conducted from March 2019 to March 2020 at 14 sites with 23 dry weather collections and 11 wet weather collections. Results suggest that the 2019 annual phosphorus load entering Lake Erie was 22,600 pounds, over four times the target of 5000 pounds. Multiple upstream sites were the major nonpoint sources of nutrient pollution. Four locations averaged phosphorus levels 12 to 15 times the target of 0.05 mg/L, with two in the East Branch and two in the Main Branch. The main cause of the pollution pointed to leaky sanitary sewers. Like many urbanized areas throughout the United States, the original headwaters have been replaced by underground stormwater infrastructure. Due to the high level of connectivity between the creek and the storm sewer network, Euclid Creek responds rapidly to rainfall. There was evidence of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) activations during storm events downstream of the confluence of the two branches and in the East Branch. Seasonally, spring storms contributed the most pollution during the monitoring period. The presence of the Cleveland Metroparks significantly reduced [p<0.05] nutrients during dry weather. Residential areas contributed more pollution than the three golf courses and the regional airport located within the watershed. The East Branch has little protection from urban run-off. This research suggests that water quality improvements are needed in both upstream branches. Autosamplers should be installed for future water quality monitoring at the two upstream existing US Geological Survey stations to gather data during wet weather events and baseflow conditions. Fish rocks, protective cave-like features, should be installed at upstream sites to protect aquatic life from storm-induced currents. If possible, storage for wet weather flows should be provided for both branches.
Teresa Cutright (Advisor)
Stephen Duirk (Committee Member)
Richard Einsporn (Committee Member)
271 p.
Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering
nutrient pollution; Lake Erie tributary; nonpoint pollution sources; urban watershed; water quality; TMDL; rainfall analysis; urban run-off; dry and wet weather collections; elevated phosphorus concentration

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hejna, M. (2020). Nutrient and Water Quality Analysis of a Lake Erie Headwater Tributary [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1594576287454459

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hejna, MaryAnne. Nutrient and Water Quality Analysis of a Lake Erie Headwater Tributary. 2020. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1594576287454459.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hejna, MaryAnne. "Nutrient and Water Quality Analysis of a Lake Erie Headwater Tributary." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1594576287454459

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1594576287454459
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