NUTRIENT CONTAMINATION WITHIN THE GREAT MIAMI WATERSHED (DAYTON, OHIO)

I have investigated the concentrations of nutrients in the Great Miami watershed, their impacts on the quality of the ecosystem, and management practices designed to minimize runoff of nutrients from farm fields. Based on preliminary research, we have developed the following hypothesis: If nutrients found in the rivers are from runoff from farm fields, the concentrations of nutrients will be greater in the spring after fertilizer application, while base line concentrations of nutrients would be a combination of discharges from wastewater treatment plants and from of ground water flowing into the river.

Procedure

Literature review - research water quality problems from nutrients, the sources of the problems and possible solutions to reduce or prevent contamination of surface and ground water. Read geologic articles and study maps to determine the geologic setting of the Great Miami River watershed.

Data analysis – review water quality data that has been collected by the Miami Conservancy District (MCD). Review the data from waste water treatment plant discharge data.

Sample collection – Collect water quality and sediment samples from the sampling sites for nitrate, ammonia and phosphorous.

Comparative analysis – Contact areas where they are implementing “Best Management Plans” to control soil erosion. Collect several water samples from each site to compare the quality of surface water runoff from a farm which uses best management plans to control erosion and runoff with one that has no controls (2 water samples and 2 sediment samples).

Report preparation – the report includes the literature review and data analysis of the water quality and sediment data. The report will determine if our hypothesis was correct.

Preliminary Results

The results show a great amount of surface runoff carrying nutrients into the river basins. There seems to be many seasonal rain events that indicate nutrient runoff into rivers during the spring.