RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STREAM STAGE AND DISCHARGE ON MAJOR TRUIBUTARIES THAT ENTER LAKE ERIE

To quantify the transport of contaminants from local waterways into Lake Erie, it was first necessary to develop a correlation between stream stage and discharge. Six major ungaged tributaries that enter Lake Erie, within Erie County, New York were measured weekly to determine stream discharge and stream stage throughout the summer of 2015. An acoustic Doppler flow meter was used to measure discharge, while Solinst pressure transducers were installed in stilling wells in four of the six tributaries to record continuous hourly stage readings throughout the summer. Gaging staffs were set up in the other two streams and stage data was collected via text message through the USGS program CrowdHydrology. Rating curves were developed to determine the relationship between stream stage and discharge. These rating curves showed good characteristics at Eighteen Mile, Big Sister, and Scajaquada Creek. The three remaining stations resulted in inconclusive rating curves due to backflow effects or shifts in the streambed sediment, which skewed these data for the remaining curves. Results showed variability in hydrograph recession following precipitation events, which ranged from 24 hours to no longer than 60 hours after the data was collected. This information can be applied in order to better predict when beach closures will occur. The bacteria E. Coli is often detected at high levels in Lake Erie, resulting in beach closure. During storms, combined sewer overflow events result in the deposition of E. Coli into local waterways. Results of this project will help to predict when beach closures should occur based on each streams characteristic hydrograph recession data.