Karen M. Gonzalez, 2005 University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus Civil Engineering Dept. Faculty mentor: Dr. A. Mayer 1)Through the concepts of hydrology and water quality provide a better description of the watershed area 2)Through stake holding influencers’ designation of desired uses for healthy watersheds, delineate critical areas Hydrology Facts: Surface area: 2.8mi² Highest extensions: 1089 ft Geology: a- Bedrock outcrop and areas of thin drift b- Ground Moraines and water laid Moraines c- Outwash Exit of the watershed outflow into Portage Canal d- Swamp deposits Soil types: a- Trimountain-Paavola-Arcadian Management concerns: Equipment limitation, erosion hazard, windthrow hazard, vegetation. b- Keweenaw-Trimountain-Kalkaska Management concerns: Equipment limitation and plant competition Water flow: Precipitation = EvapoTranspiration + RunOff 0.85m/yr = 0.38m/yr + 0.47m/yr Why is water flow so important? It’s very important when taking management decisions in a watershed area to consider that excess land use can increase runoff and decrease important natural gas emissions. Overall, changes to the natural water flow of a watershed will have chainlike consequences on its chemistry, its biology and also on its neighboring environment. Another important factor relevant to this particular watershed is that it’s flow has significance to a bigger watershed area that through the portage canal drains into Lake Superior. This is a critical area and unfortunately it is one that has caused an impairment for fish migration and other aquatic alterations. There are two landfill areas at the present time. One is to the north of Sharon Ave, and it is already filled up, and the other one, which is still operating, is to the South of Sharon Ave. Part 258 of Chapter 1 of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations includes location restrictions to address both the potential effects that a municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF) unit may have on the surrounding environment, and the effects that natural and human-made conditions may have on the performance of the landfill unit. Wetlands is one of those locations but there are certain flexibilities that apply. Floodplains however are enforced for being undoubtedly saturated areas. While the Huron Creek watershed is too small to be considered a flood plain, it has a similar geological formation and lies within a flood plain area. It is not surprising that in the seventies Environmental Enforcement agencies constantly visited Houghton City for lechate discharges and refuse burning amongst other bad waste management practices. It is also not surprising that today water samples of groundwater presumably impacted by lechate would reveal ammonia levels that exceed the Aquatic Maximum Value (the highest concentration of material in the ambient water column to which an aquatic community can be exposed briefly without resulting in unacceptable effects). It also showed that the ground water whose pH registered of between 8.0-9.0 in 1970 now had a pH as low as 5.96. Important considerations with respect to the location of the landfills within the watershed is that they are of close vicinity to the creek’s mouth. Lechate discharge, next to Wilderness Carwash What are designated uses and how will they help you identify water quality concerns? Watershed areas are of multiple recreational, residential and industrial uses. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) along with other entities created a series of designated uses to standardize the quality of Michigan’s watersheds. Designated uses are a helpful tool to characterize what type of watershed is the neighboring community exposed to and to propose what possible pollution problems are limiting the uses. Huron Ck. present condition Pollution association Meets supply although no current demand n/a n/a Industrial water supply Meets supply n/a n/a Public water supply at the point of intake Not recommended ammonia Heavy metals Failing septic systems Excessive sediment Old stamp mill landfill Navigation In the past was feasible, currently limited in dimensions Construction activity Canalizing Lake drainage Coldwater* fishery not currently Nutrients Water flow Failing septic systems Excessive sediment Other indigenous and aquatic life and wildlife Between poor and fair conditions Deforestation Nutrients Water flow Industrial activity Failing septic systems Excessive sediment Old stamp mill Partial body contact Not recommended Heavy metals Nutrients Full body contact Currently limited in dimensions although not recomended Construction activity Failing septic systems Excessive sediment Old stamp mill Canalizing ¾ Chemical and biological data collected Although development has done economical improvements in certain aspects of the city, it has also meant a drastic hydrologic change on wetland and wildlife. Overall it has had a significant effect on the watershed area. During my research in the creek I experienced many times Turbid water so sedimented, that it almost looked like Willy Wonka’s chocolate river was discharging on Huron creek. I also witnessed very poor construction practices. Construction are not only visual and physical pollution but they also are contributors to sound pollution. Wetland areas are particularly delicate and even though building over wetlands is permitted to a certain extent, there are several management considerations that should be taken account for. Good construction management usually includes trying to build structures around delicate areas. Since most of our soil is of moderate drainage it is easier to prevent erosion rather that try to control sedimentation that occurs from erosion. A couple of recommended structures include a broad-based dip, water bars, diversion ditches and culverts. Culverts are a very delicate thing however and all year long flow volume and speed has to be taken account off. Chemical testing has been done by several stakeholders. These are: Joan Chadde’s educational monitoring program, UP engineers, MDEQ, Geological Survey division of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Soil Survey of Houghton County area by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. All of these have been organized and compiled and are available at the MTU library under Huron Creek watershed. In general recent chemical testing (2002-2005) say: 1- That the creek is of low temperatures, ranging from 5ºC TO 21.1ºC. 2- That it is relatively low in dissolved oxygen levels (9ppm-11.8ppm) with high Chemical demand. 3- That it is high in Iron and copper levels 45 Habitatassesment 38 40 33 Biodiversity 28 MDEQ 30 ECOLOGY STUDENTS 7TH 25 23 18 MDEQ 35 ECOLOGY STUDENTS 7TH 20 8TH 15 13 8TH In different biological surveys the tendency observed for Huron Creek was that by the year biological diversity became more aggravated. Complementary Habit assessments showed the similar decline. 10 8 6TH-9TH 6TH-9TH 5 3 TEACHERS TEACHERS 0 -2 2001 2002 2003 2004 ¾ 2001 2002 2003 2004 Copper (µg/g) Silver (µg/g) Zinc (µg/g) Cu : Zn >1000 23.62 1442.6 0.92 32.04 45.02 1000-500 43.25 1429.3 0.98 34.79 41.81 500-250 16.41 482.2 1.91 11.82 40.80 250-149 106.72 1114.9 1.67 50.22 22.20 149-63 79.96 1007.6 0.955 32.94 30.59 <63 29.71 1245.1 0.84 36.05 34.54 2005 Critical areas: Critical areas are geographic portions of a watershed that contribute a majority of the pollutants affecting a watershed’s utility. Through the identification of possible sources of pollution, we have potential critical areas. These potential areas have been surveyed and studied to identify , but in order to asses them further testing should be done. This study and designation of delicate environments help managers make special considerations before their projects are completed 35.71 Average #3 Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Although technology has progressed with the advancement of civil and environmental engineering, many residences have septic systems that have been built many years before present homeowners might have moved there. Regulation on this type of system is very poor yet it is imperative that managers within the watershed area take into consideration this fact. Poorly built septic systems often result in high nutrient levels for groundwater and also a hassle for the owner who has responsibility for giving it maintenance. For wetland areas septic systems are not recommended, because the water table is often high and comes within the minimal 4 ft distance that there should be between it and the bottom of the filtering tank (as designated by EPA). There are two residential areas which are on septic systems and a few commercial installations. The area on Green Acres road doesn’t seem to be directly providing high nitrates or any other excess nutrient to the water. It’s approximation to stamp sand and poor rock trails is of concern however as these nutrients speed organic growth and decomposition, and provide good environment for methylation of metals. By the end of the creek however, in the area of Dakota Heights, nutrients seem to be a point source pollution, as algae vegetation has been seen spawning. * Cold water is water whose temperature is of less than 27ºC 50 43 Mercury (ng/g) #4 Construction Activity Sources agriculture Size fraction (µm) Example Floodplain protection dike design Harting,, 1999 Harting Designated use 48 From the mining industry that took place in the Isle royal mining company there was basaltic rock left after sluicing it and collecting big pieces of copper. This process however doesn’t collect all copper content or many other metals present in this released rock formation. The most concerning pollutant associated with stamp sand leftovers is Mercury. While there was no indication that mercury was used in an amalgamation process to separate metals, recent studies published that Mercury is present in native copper, silver and gold as a naturally occurring amalgam. Testing done on Isle Royal Stamp Sands reveal contents of elemental mercury within them, along other concerning heavy metals. Even though the water testing done did not reveal the presence of elemental mercury Hgº, we don’t have any testing for mercury ion Hg²+, monomethyl-mercury ion HgCH3+ or Dimethylmercury Hg(CH3)2. These complex formations of mercury are bound as Organometallic compounds, which differ from complexes and chelates in that the organic portion is bonded to the metal by a carbon-metal bond and the organic ligand is frequently not capable of existing as a stable separate species. These compounds are synthesized biologically by bacteria and they are particularly toxic because of their mobilities in living systems and abilities to cross cell membranes. A genuine concern is that pollution generated from sewage along with humic substances and low pH water levels help elemental mercury to methylate. Another important concern pertinent to the watershed area is the creation of impoundments as replacement for wetland which create ideal conditions for methylation. An important characteristic of our watershed’s geology is high iron levels in water. These are likely to decrease mercury mobility by adsorption onto oxide and oxyhydroxide surfaces. It helps form a highly insoluble compound of sulfide, HgS, that would most likely sink into sediments. Sulfur compound testing, and the overall nature of northern waters aren’t composed of high levels of sulfur, so the relationship between these to metals should be evaluated. Poor Rock although hasn’t been profoundly tested on is known to have the same property of natural mercury amalgamation. So run off from rain and snow that comes in contact with these surfaces is also a concern. Designated Uses: ¾ Research Experience for Undergraduates #2 Stamp Sand and Poor Rock #1 Landfills Objectives: ¾ Sustainable Futures Institute Huron Creek Watershed Management Plan: Technical Background Conclusion: Recommendations: References: The Huron Creek watershed is very poor in terms of stream utility. It has to my knowledge 2 critical areas that for a long time have represented issues between the stakeholders. Other potential critical areas most likely would be defined as critical if further testing and research where done Watersheds are everywhere, whether you like it, or not, it’s what connects us all. If the city of Houghton would have issued a crew for developing good management decisions in 1980, maybe today the people from the city of Houghton and Portage township would still be able to enjoy and utilize the Huron Creek. Water management plans are a very important thing and Influencing stakeholders need to recognize that and make good management decisions based on a thorough analysis of the watershed’s technical aspects, of its people and their needs. #1 lechate collection systems and/or protection dike #2 Begin a formal database with a weekly testing of the same locations proposed by MDEQ and UPE&A. Add Mercury ion II, and other Mercury formations. #3 Set Gages on culverts for recording measurements of water flow #4 Develop or promote an existing program that helps people study their septic design and determine if it’s meeting their household water discharge rate #5 Designate a steering committee for the watershed planning that includes residents of both townships and focus on how to reestablish water uses for their community •Doonan C.J, Hendrickson G.E, Berlay J.R, 1970 “Ground Water and Geology of Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan” Geological Survey Division DNR, Lansing, Mi •USDA, 1989 “Soil Survey of Houghton County Area, Michigan” Soil Conservation service, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI •Water Division, Dec. 2002 “A Biological Survey of selected Waterbodies located on the Keweenaw peninsula” Michigan Department of Environmental Quality •Harting S.L. 1999 “Mercury in Native Ore Deposits: an Ignored and Sidesoread Source of Mercury to Lake Superior Sediments” DiscertationMTU, Houghton, MI REU is founded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)