The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Macoupin County Soil and Water Conservation District and the American Farmland Trust, undertook a monitoring effort from 2017 to 2021 in the upper Macoupin Creek watershed. The monitoring effort was to determine and characterize nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended-sediment concentrations, loads, and yields for a 566.7 square kilometer area of the Macoupin Creek watershed at two locations on upper Macoupin Creek bracketing a segment of the watershed where increased implementation of conservation land-use practices was planned. Two monitoring stations were established, consisting of an upstream site (Macoupin Creek at Highway 108 near Carlinville, Illinois; U.S. Geological Survey streamgage 05586647) and a downstream site (Macoupin Creek at Highway 111 near Summerville, Ill.; U.S. Geological Survey streamgage 05586745). Data collected at these stations included continuous stream discharge and periodic samples for nutrients and suspended sediment. A Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season–Kalman model was implemented to estimate daily concentrations for nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphorus, and suspended sediment for both monitoring stations. These daily concentrations were used in conjunction with the continuous stream discharge data to derive estimates of constituent flux, loads, and yields.
During the study period, the study area subbasin of the upper Macoupin Creek watershed reduced downstream nitrate and total phosphorus cummulative yields by approximately 54 and 21 percent, respectively; however, the cummulative yield of suspended sediment increased by approximately 10 percent from inputs within the study area. These data indicate that nitrate and phosphorus transport is greater from the upstream subbasin and being diluted in the combined subbasin by lower transport from the study area, whereas suspended sediment is being contributed from the study area reach, presumably through surface runoff and streambank and streambed erosion.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2023 |
---|---|
Title | Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations, loads, and yields in upper Macoupin Creek, Illinois, 2017–21 |
DOI | 10.3133/sir20225131 |
Authors | Luis A. Garcia, Paul J. Terrio, Adam E. Manaster |
Publication Type | Report |
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Series Title | Scientific Investigations Report |
Series Number | 2022-5131 |
Index ID | sir20225131 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Central Midwest Water Science Center |
Related Content
Nutrient and Sediment Concentrations, Loads, and Yields in the Upper Macoupin Creek Watershed, Water Years 2018–2021
Luis A Garcia
Physical Scientist
Adam E Manaster
Student Trainee (Hydrology)
Related Content
- Data
Nutrient and Sediment Concentrations, Loads, and Yields in the Upper Macoupin Creek Watershed, Water Years 2018–2021
This data release includes estimates of annual and daily concentrations and fluxes for nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphorus, and suspended sediment for two sites in the Upper Macoupin Creek Basin watershed (UMCB) produced using the Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season -- Kalman Filter (WRTDS-K; Zhang and Hirsch, 2019) model in the Exploration of and Graphics for RivEr Trends (EGRE - Connect
Luis A Garcia
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneAdam E Manaster
Student Trainee (Hydrology)EmailPhone