COMPARISON OF NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS BETWEEN GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER SOURCES WITHIN A SMALL CUMBERLAND VALLEY WATERSHED, PENNSYLVANIA

Elevated nitrate concentrations can cause significant ecological degradation. The Susquehanna River and Middle Spring Creek are Pennsylvania water systems that are impaired by elevated nitrate concentrations closely related to the contributions of small watersheds. This project examines the difference between nitrate concentrations from ground and surface water sources that are influenced by land uses and geology within a small watershed in the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania. Measurements of nitrate concentration, temperature, pH, specific conductivity, and discharge will be collected weekly from late August to early December and at three sites: Dykeman Spring, which represents the ground water source, and two surface sources within the Mains Run watershed. One surface the water site represents the influence by carbonate bedrock and of agricultural land use. Another site represents the influence of a siliciclastic bedrock and forested environment. Nitrate loads will be calculated and quantitative analyses will be conducted on the data. ArcGIS will be used to map and analyze land use and geology affecting Dykeman Spring and the Mains Run watershed. Preliminary results indicate that nitrate concentrations are significantly higher at the agricultural site than at the forested site or at Dykeman Spring.