Progress 10/01/06 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Three major tributaries:Mountain creek, Charles creek, Hills creek of the Collins River were sampled for two years,2008 and 2009 during spring, summer and fall. During this period Nitrate-N, Ammonium-N, Ortho-Phosphorus, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium were monitored in the creeks during base flow. The following water quality parameters: pH, Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Specific conductance and Total dissolved solids were also monitored. Nitrate concentrations in the creeks were low; it ranged from 0.2 to 1.4 mg/L. Ammonium -N was negligible (below detection limit). The average concentration of nitrate- N in the creeks were: Mountain creek (0.02-1.41 mg/L) Charles creek (0.7-1.22 mg/L), Hills creek (0.06-0.50 mg/L). However, during rainstorm events in 2008, the average nitrate concentration in Hills creek ranged from 1.5-15.6 mg/L. Charles creek, 0.81- 1.37mg/L; Mountain creek 0.6-1.41 mg/L. It is what noting that rainfall events were minimal during the summers of 2008 and 2009. The national background concentration of nitrate -N in streams is about 0.6 mg/L. In some instances in the study, nitrate concentration in the creeks exceeded this value. Phosphorus, during base flow and rainstorm events was also low. It ranged from 0.02 mg/L in Mountain creek and Hills creek to 0.08 mg/L in Charles creek. Total phosphorus concentration greater than 0.025 can stimulate excessive growth of algae in surface water. Excessive algae growth can result in undesirable taste and odor of water. Additionally, all the creeks at the time of sampling had relatively low concentrations of cations except calcium. Mountain creek (0.9-3.0 mg/L of Na; 0.5-8.4 mg/L of K; 4.0-9.0 mg/L of Mg and 25.1-51.32 mg/L of Ca); Charles creek (0.4-2.0 mg/L of Na; 0.76-1.27 mg/L of K; 6.0-10.30 mg/L of Mg and 38.04-55.84mg/L of Ca); Hills creek (0.33-0.89 mg/L of Na; 0.88-1.35 mg/L of K; 6.69-10.74 mg/L of Mg and 37.9-63.77 mg/L of Ca). Considering the hydro-geologic conditions of Middle Tennessee, with abundance of limestone rocks, it was expected that calcium will be relatively high. Water quality parameters data during base flow were as follows: Mountain creek (Average pH value = 7.8, water temperature = 20.550C, dissolved oxygen 6.7 mg/L, turbidity = 2.2 NTU, Specific conductance = 245 micro Siemens and total dissolved solids = 155gram/L). Charles creek (Average pH value = 8.1, water temperature = 20.120C, dissolved oxygen 7.8 mg/L, turbidity = 4.72 NTU, Specific conductance = 261 micro Siemens and total dissolved solids = 168 gram/L). Hills creek (Average pH value = 6.6, water temperature = 21.280C, dissolved oxygen 6.6 mg/L, turbidity = 5.03 NTU, Specific conductance = 356 micro Siemens and total dissolved solids = 283 gram/L). Forums such as regional nursery trade shows (Southern Nursery Association trade show) and watershed association organized meetings were used to communicate research findings to appropriate scientific and stakeholder groups. PARTICIPANTS: Sam Dennis served as the PD of the project. He was responsible for the characterization of the Collins River sub-watershed. He directed the water sampling and analysis protocols including instrument calibrations. Debbie Eskandarnia served as the research assistant. She also was involved in the collection and analysis of the water samples. She also took the lead in data entry and tabulation. Debbie also made contact with growers, regularly updating their production practices. Steve Morris is an undergraduate student who worked on the project. His role was to assist the research assistant in data entry and sample instrument calibration. Chris Ransom is an undergraduate student who worked on the project. His role was to assist the research assistant in data entry and sample instrument calibration. TARGET AUDIENCES: -Field nursery crop growers. -Watershed association's members/stakeholders -Row crop growers. -The State regulatory agency (Tennessee Department of environment and conservation) PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Collins River is still on the State's 303(d)list of impaired water bodies. It is too soon to conclude that the in-flow creeks monitored (Mountain creek, Charles creek, Hills creek) contributed to the impairment of the water quality of the Collins River. More sampling seasons are needed to ascertain why Collins River is on the 303(d) list. Majority of the growers (98%) in the Collins River watershed had field grown nursery stock operation. They grew a mixture of trees like dogwood and shrubs like burning bushes. However, prior to the inception of the project, these growers in the watershed were not aware of the impact of their fertilizer and lime management practices on surface water. The results from the study play an integral role in educating the growers. The project targeted 10 growers per year in the watershed that will become aware of the impact of their nutrient management practices on surface water quality. We found out during the Collins River watershed association meetings that the actual number of growers who became aware of the impact ranged from 5-7 per year. We also found out that no grower developed nutrient management plans for their field operations. They also seldom do annual soil testing for fertilizer and lime requirements. There is the need to train future workforce (students) to meet the need of water resource issues, especially in the area of water quality assessment and monitoring. The project provided research and extension experiential training to two(2) undergraduate students.The students assisted in instrument(s) calibration and stream water sampling.
Publications
- Dumenyo, C.K., Kersey, C., Dennis, S.O. and Eskandarnia, D. 2010. Survey for bacterial pathogens in creeks at the Collins River sub-watershed. In Proceedings Southern Nursery Association Research Conference Vol. 55: 000 (In Press).
- Dennis, S. O., Eskandarnia, D., Clardy, A. and Tsegaye, T. 2009. Water quality assessment of two creeks at the Collins River sub-watershed dominated by nursery crop production. Accepted. Jour of Environmental Monitoring and Restoration. Vol 7: 000.
- Dennis, S. O., Eskandarnia, D. and Clardy, C. 2009. Know your creek: A look at the water quality of two creeks at the Collins River sub-watershed. In Proceedings Southern Nursery Association Research Conference Vol. 54: 43-47.
- Dennis, S. O., Eskandarnia, D. and Tsegaye, T. 2009. Assessing nutrients in two Creeks at the Collins River Sub watershed in Middle Tennessee. Abstract-CD. American Society of Agronomy Conference. Southern Branch. Atlanta GA.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The possible impact of field nursery crop production on surface water continues to play an integral role in the project. Three major tributaries (Mountain creek, Charles creek, Hills creek) of the Collins River were sampled in the summer of 2008 during ten consecutive weeks. Grab water samples were taken during base flow and in some instances during rainstorm events. The water samples were analyzed for Nitrate-N, Ammonium-N, Ortho-Phosphorus, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium. The following water quality parameters: pH, Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Specific conductance and Total dissolved solids were also monitored. While the project is still at the data acquisition stage; the PD and his research assistant attended the Collins River watershed technical stakeholders meeting in late summer of 2008. The meeting was held in McMinnville Tennessee. We used the forum to present the data collected thus far. PARTICIPANTS: Sam Dennis served as the PD of the project. He was involved in the collection and analysis of the water samples. Debbie Eskandarnia served as the research assistant. She also was involved in the collection and analysis of the water samples. She also took the lead in data entry and tabulation. TARGET AUDIENCES: -Field nursery crop growers. -Watershed association's members/stakeholders -Row crop growers. -The State regulatory agency (Tennessee Department of environment and conservation) PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None
Impacts
The average nitrate concentrations during base flow in the creeks were low: Mountain creek (0.02-1.41 mg/L) Charles creek (0.7-1.22 mg/L), Hills creek (0.06-0.50 mg/L). However, during rainstorm events the average nitrate concentration in Hills creek ranged from 1.5-15.6 mg/L. Charles creek, 0.81- 1.37mg/L; Mountain creek 0.6-1.41 mg/L. It is worth noting that the number of times it rained was very few during the summer of 2008. Phosphorus, during base flow and rainstorm events was also low. It ranged from 0.02 mg/L in Mountain creek and Hills creek to 0.08 mg/L in Charles creek. Additionally, all the creeks at the time of sampling had relatively low concentrations of cations except calcium. Mountain creek (0.9-3.0 mg/L of Na; 0.5-8.4 mg/L of K; 4.0-9.0 mg/L of Mg and 25.1-51.32 mg/L of Ca); Charles creek (0.4-2.0 mg/L of Na; 0.76-1.27 mg/L of K; 6.0-10.30 mg/L of Mg and 38.04-55.84mg/L of Ca); Hills creek (0.33-0.89 mg/L of Na; 0.88-1.35 mg/L of K; 6.69-10.74 mg/L of Mg and 37.9-63.77 mg/L of Ca). Considering the hydro-geologic conditions of Middle Tennessee, with abundance of limestone rocks, it was expected that calcium will be relatively high. Water quality parameters data during base flow were as follows: Mountain creek (Average pH value = 7.8, water temperature = 20.550C, dissolved oxygen 6.7 mg/L, turbidity = 2.2 NTU, Specific conductance = 245 micro Siemens and total dissolved solids = 155gram/L). Charles creek (Average pH value = 8.1, water temperature = 20.120C, dissolved oxygen 7.8 mg/L, turbidity = 4.72 NTU, Specific conductance = 261 micro Siemens and total dissolved solids = 168 gram/L). Hills creek (Average pH value = 6.6, water temperature = 21.280C, dissolved oxygen 6.6 mg/L, turbidity = 5.03 NTU, Specific conductance = 356 micro Siemens and total dissolved solids = 283 gram/L). Based on the finding thus far, growers (10) present at watershed technical stakeholders meeting in late summer are aware of the possible impact of nursery crop production in the creeks especially during rainstorm events.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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