Water Quality Monitoring to Inform Conservation Management, Fishing Creek, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
USGS conducted synoptic sampling of major-ion chemistry and the nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in Fishing Creek during base flow to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of nutrients and to characterize biogeochemical processes.
Water-resource managers need detailed watershed information to guide conservation efforts aimed at improving water quality of local groundwater, streams and the Chesapeake Bay. In Fishing Creek, USGS performed synoptic sampling of major-ion chemistry and the nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in stream water during base flow to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of nutrients and to describe biogeochemical processes affecting concentrations.
Synoptic sampling of the Fishing Creek watershed was completed during high (spring) and low (summer/fall) base-flow conditions of 2019. Reaches of Fishing Creek and its tributaries lose flow to groundwater, and are often dry. Samples were collected at 12 perennial stream sites and field parameters were measured at 14 additional intermittent stream sites throughout the watershed (schematic below).
Field parameters measured at all sites (red and yellow dots):
- temperature
- specific conductance
- pH
- dissolved oxygen
- nitrate
Samples collected at perennial sites (red dots):
- isotopes (nitrogen and oxygen) of nitrate
- major ions
- nutrients
Results will be published in a peer-reviewed publication.
Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
USGS conducted synoptic sampling of major-ion chemistry and the nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in Fishing Creek during base flow to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of nutrients and to characterize biogeochemical processes.
Water-resource managers need detailed watershed information to guide conservation efforts aimed at improving water quality of local groundwater, streams and the Chesapeake Bay. In Fishing Creek, USGS performed synoptic sampling of major-ion chemistry and the nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in stream water during base flow to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of nutrients and to describe biogeochemical processes affecting concentrations.
Synoptic sampling of the Fishing Creek watershed was completed during high (spring) and low (summer/fall) base-flow conditions of 2019. Reaches of Fishing Creek and its tributaries lose flow to groundwater, and are often dry. Samples were collected at 12 perennial stream sites and field parameters were measured at 14 additional intermittent stream sites throughout the watershed (schematic below).
Field parameters measured at all sites (red and yellow dots):
- temperature
- specific conductance
- pH
- dissolved oxygen
- nitrate
Samples collected at perennial sites (red dots):
- isotopes (nitrogen and oxygen) of nitrate
- major ions
- nutrients
Results will be published in a peer-reviewed publication.