During the past 20 years, nitrogen loads to Long Island Sound (LIS) have been substantially reduced in large watersheds affected by municipal wastewater loads.
As of 2014, nitrogen loads were reduced substantially in the Long Island Sound, largely meeting the goals set by a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirement between the States of Connecticut and New York. While the nitrogen loads have declined in the larger tributaries of Long Island Sound, there is little information on the current contribution of nitrogen from smaller nonpoint sources such as lawn fertilizers and private onsite septic systems.
To assess nitrogen contributions from small tributaries to the LIS, the U.S. Geological Survey will sample a network of 45 stream locations during typical base-flow conditions. Sampling locations were selected from small basins (2 – 20 mi2) in the southern portion of the LIS watershed, and are located across the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. The sampling locations were selected to avoid major water withdrawals or diversions, across a gradient of increasing urbanization, and across a gradient of geology. Sampling locations were selected to represent residential areas including those with on-site septic systems, rather than areas of major commercial development. Samples will be collected during two different time periods, including both the non-growing and growing seasons when streamflow conditions are at or close to mean annual base flow. This will be done to compare time periods with different in-stream processing of nutrients by biota.
Deliverables for this project include:
1) Published data sets of water-quality (nitrogen and phosphorus constituents) and streamflow data from the selected sampling locations, and
2) A USGS Scientific Investigations Report detailing findings.
Base-Flow Water Quality Sampling Locations
USGSSTATION ID |
USGS STATION NAME |
DRAINAGE AREA(square miles) |
011173545 |
QUEEN R 1400 FT UPSTR WM REYNOLDS RD AT EXETER RI |
3.78 |
01117468 |
BEAVER RIVER NEAR USQUEPAUG, RI |
8.87 |
01117900 |
BRUSHY BROOK NEAR HOPE VALLEY, RI |
3.71 |
01118300 |
PENDLETON HILL BROOK NEAR CLARKS FALLS, CT |
4.02 |
01118368 |
SHUNOCK RIVER AT ROUTE 2 AT NORTH STONINGTON, CT |
2.28 |
01122649 |
INDIAN HOLLOW BK AT JERUSALEM RD NEAR WINDHAM, CT |
4.39 |
01122710 |
MERRICK BROOK AT BASS RD NEAR SCOTLAND, CT |
11.5 |
01122875 |
DOWNING BROOK AT COLBURN RD NEAR CANTERBURY, CT |
2.08 |
01126525 |
SUGAR BROOK AT SUGAR BRK RD NR CENTRAL VILLAGE, CT |
2.47 |
01126644 |
UNAMED TRIB AT COMMUNITY AVE EXT AT PLAINFIELD, CT |
3.08 |
01126804 |
CORY BROOK AT DEPOT RD NEAR CANTERBURY, CT |
7.34 |
01126908 |
MOUNT MISERY BROOK ABV LOWDEN BRK NR VOLUNTOWN, CT |
4.53 |
01126925 |
MYRON KINNEY BK NR VOLUNTOWN CT |
4.47 |
01127680 |
TRADING COVE BK AT LEFFINGWELL, CT |
5.2 |
01128922 |
HEMPSTEAD BK AT BUDDINGTON RD NR GROTON, CT |
2.91 |
01192929 |
LONG HILL BROOK AT MILL ST AT MIDDLETOWN, CT |
5.01 |
01193129 |
CANDLEWOOD HILL BROOK NEAR LITTLE CITY, CT |
2.21 |
01193400 |
FAWN BK NR NORTH WESTCHESTER, CT |
12.8 |
01193600 |
FLAT BK NR EAST HAMPTON, CT |
2.43 |
01193794 |
ROARING BROOK NUMBER 2 NR EAST HADDAM, CT |
2.84 |
01194510 |
CEDAR POND BROOK AT BEAVER BK RD NR NORTH LYME, CT |
2.42 |
01195100 |
INDIAN RIVER NEAR CLINTON, CT |
5.68 |
01195113 |
BUNKER HILL BROOK AT RTE 148 NR KILLINGWORTH, CT |
2.0 |
01195149 |
HUZZLE GUZZLE BRK AT HORSE POND RD NR MADISON, CT |
2.08 |
01196081 |
HUMISTON BROOK AT MARION AVE AT MARION, CT |
2.18 |
01196210 |
HONEYPOT BROOK AT CREAMERY ROAD AT CHESHIRE, CT |
2.06 |
0119665996 |
UNNAMED TRIBUTARY AT RED CEDAR RD ORANGE, CT |
2.75 |
01201009 |
UNAMED TRIBUTARY AT WARREN, CT |
4.51 |
01201995 |
W BR SHEPAUG R NR MILTON, CT |
1.3 |
01202700 |
BUTTERNUT BK NR LITCHFIELD, CT |
2.44 |
012035014 |
POOTATUCK RIVER AT RTE 25 AT BOTSFORD, CT |
10.7 |
01205555 |
HALL MEADOW BK NR WINCHESTER, CT |
10.6 |
01205595 |
NICKEL MINE BK AT NORFOLK RD AT W TORRINGTON, CT |
5.57 |
01205904 |
SPRUCE BK AT E LITCHFIELD RD AT E LITCHFIELD, CT |
2.54 |
012087991 |
FARMILL RIVER AT MOHEGAN RD NEAR SHELTON, CT |
3.71 |
01208948 |
SASCO BK AT SOUTHPORT ON INGLESIDE RD ABV BANKS PD |
5.38 |
01208984 |
UMPAWAUG POND BROOK AT SIMPAUG TPKE NR REDDING, CT |
2.04 |
01209300 |
W BR SAUGATUCK R AT WESTON, CT |
9.15 |
01209716 |
EAST BRANCH SILVERMINE R AT RTE 33 NR WILTON, CT |
1.97 |
01210310 |
E BRANCH MIANUS R AT WILDWOOD RD NR STAMFORD, CT |
3.92 |
01211106 |
GREENWICH CREEK AT RTE 1 NR COS COB, CT |
4.98 |
01299000 |
BLIND BROOK NEAR PURCHASE NY |
2.1 |
01299200 |
UNAMED TRIBUTARY AT LINCOLN AVE NEAR PURCHASE, NY |
2.18 |
01301960 |
TROUBLESOME BROOK AT BRONX R PKWY NR TUCKAHOE, NY |
2.72 |
- Overview
During the past 20 years, nitrogen loads to Long Island Sound (LIS) have been substantially reduced in large watersheds affected by municipal wastewater loads.
As of 2014, nitrogen loads were reduced substantially in the Long Island Sound, largely meeting the goals set by a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirement between the States of Connecticut and New York. While the nitrogen loads have declined in the larger tributaries of Long Island Sound, there is little information on the current contribution of nitrogen from smaller nonpoint sources such as lawn fertilizers and private onsite septic systems.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A new USGS sampling location at 01193400, Fawn Brook near North Westchester, Connecticut. Hydrologists John Mullaney and Janet Barclay reconning the site for suitability.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A new USGS sampling location at 01193400, Fawn Brook near North Westchester, Connecticut. Hydrologist Janet Barclay and Hydrologic technician Kaitlin Laabs reconning the site for suitability. To assess nitrogen contributions from small tributaries to the LIS, the U.S. Geological Survey will sample a network of 45 stream locations during typical base-flow conditions. Sampling locations were selected from small basins (2 – 20 mi2) in the southern portion of the LIS watershed, and are located across the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. The sampling locations were selected to avoid major water withdrawals or diversions, across a gradient of increasing urbanization, and across a gradient of geology. Sampling locations were selected to represent residential areas including those with on-site septic systems, rather than areas of major commercial development. Samples will be collected during two different time periods, including both the non-growing and growing seasons when streamflow conditions are at or close to mean annual base flow. This will be done to compare time periods with different in-stream processing of nutrients by biota.
Deliverables for this project include:
1) Published data sets of water-quality (nitrogen and phosphorus constituents) and streamflow data from the selected sampling locations, and
2) A USGS Scientific Investigations Report detailing findings.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A new USGS sampling location at 01201995, West Branch Shepaug River at Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A new USGS sampling location at 01126908, Mount Misery Brook above Lowden Brook near Voluntown, Connecticut.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A new USGS sampling location at 01208948, Sasco Brook at Southport, Connecticut. Base-Flow Water Quality Sampling Locations
USGS
STATION ID
USGS STATION NAME
DRAINAGE AREA
(square miles)
011173545
QUEEN R 1400 FT UPSTR WM REYNOLDS RD AT EXETER RI
3.78
01117468
BEAVER RIVER NEAR USQUEPAUG, RI
8.87
01117900
BRUSHY BROOK NEAR HOPE VALLEY, RI
3.71
01118300
PENDLETON HILL BROOK NEAR CLARKS FALLS, CT
4.02
01118368
SHUNOCK RIVER AT ROUTE 2 AT NORTH STONINGTON, CT
2.28
01122649
INDIAN HOLLOW BK AT JERUSALEM RD NEAR WINDHAM, CT
4.39
01122710
MERRICK BROOK AT BASS RD NEAR SCOTLAND, CT
11.5
01122875
DOWNING BROOK AT COLBURN RD NEAR CANTERBURY, CT
2.08
01126525
SUGAR BROOK AT SUGAR BRK RD NR CENTRAL VILLAGE, CT
2.47
01126644
UNAMED TRIB AT COMMUNITY AVE EXT AT PLAINFIELD, CT
3.08
01126804
CORY BROOK AT DEPOT RD NEAR CANTERBURY, CT
7.34
01126908
MOUNT MISERY BROOK ABV LOWDEN BRK NR VOLUNTOWN, CT
4.53
01126925
MYRON KINNEY BK NR VOLUNTOWN CT
4.47
01127680
TRADING COVE BK AT LEFFINGWELL, CT
5.2
01128922
HEMPSTEAD BK AT BUDDINGTON RD NR GROTON, CT
2.91
01192929
LONG HILL BROOK AT MILL ST AT MIDDLETOWN, CT
5.01
01193129
CANDLEWOOD HILL BROOK NEAR LITTLE CITY, CT
2.21
01193400
FAWN BK NR NORTH WESTCHESTER, CT
12.8
01193600
FLAT BK NR EAST HAMPTON, CT
2.43
01193794
ROARING BROOK NUMBER 2 NR EAST HADDAM, CT
2.84
01194510
CEDAR POND BROOK AT BEAVER BK RD NR NORTH LYME, CT
2.42
01195100
INDIAN RIVER NEAR CLINTON, CT
5.68
01195113
BUNKER HILL BROOK AT RTE 148 NR KILLINGWORTH, CT
2.0
01195149
HUZZLE GUZZLE BRK AT HORSE POND RD NR MADISON, CT
2.08
01196081
HUMISTON BROOK AT MARION AVE AT MARION, CT
2.18
01196210
HONEYPOT BROOK AT CREAMERY ROAD AT CHESHIRE, CT
2.06
0119665996
UNNAMED TRIBUTARY AT RED CEDAR RD ORANGE, CT
2.75
01201009
UNAMED TRIBUTARY AT WARREN, CT
4.51
01201995
W BR SHEPAUG R NR MILTON, CT
1.3
01202700
BUTTERNUT BK NR LITCHFIELD, CT
2.44
012035014
POOTATUCK RIVER AT RTE 25 AT BOTSFORD, CT
10.7
01205555
HALL MEADOW BK NR WINCHESTER, CT
10.6
01205595
NICKEL MINE BK AT NORFOLK RD AT W TORRINGTON, CT
5.57
01205904
SPRUCE BK AT E LITCHFIELD RD AT E LITCHFIELD, CT
2.54
012087991
FARMILL RIVER AT MOHEGAN RD NEAR SHELTON, CT
3.71
01208948
SASCO BK AT SOUTHPORT ON INGLESIDE RD ABV BANKS PD
5.38
01208984
UMPAWAUG POND BROOK AT SIMPAUG TPKE NR REDDING, CT
2.04
01209300
W BR SAUGATUCK R AT WESTON, CT
9.15
01209716
EAST BRANCH SILVERMINE R AT RTE 33 NR WILTON, CT
1.97
01210310
E BRANCH MIANUS R AT WILDWOOD RD NR STAMFORD, CT
3.92
01211106
GREENWICH CREEK AT RTE 1 NR COS COB, CT
4.98
01299000
BLIND BROOK NEAR PURCHASE NY
2.1
01299200
UNAMED TRIBUTARY AT LINCOLN AVE NEAR PURCHASE, NY
2.18
01301960
TROUBLESOME BROOK AT BRONX R PKWY NR TUCKAHOE, NY
2.72
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