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REGION, LANDSCAPE, AND SCALE EFFECTS ON LAKE SUPERIOR TRIBUTARY WATER QUALITY
Citation:
Detenbeck, N E., C M. Elonen, D L. Taylor, L E. Anderson, T. M. Jicha, AND S L. Batterman. REGION, LANDSCAPE, AND SCALE EFFECTS ON LAKE SUPERIOR TRIBUTARY WATER QUALITY. JAWRA 40(3):705-720, (2004).
Impact/Purpose:
to predict sensitivity of second-order streams to nonpoint source pollution
Description:
In this study we apply an approach to third-order streams that we used previously to predict sensitivity of second-order streams to nonpoint source pollution based on the nonlinear responses of hydrologic regimes and associated loadings of non-point source pollutants to watershed attributes. We detected consistent or seasonal differences between North and South Shore third-order streams for particulates (mineral and organic), turbidity, all forms of phosphorus (P), ammonium, dissolved nitrogen (N), silica, dissolved and total organic carbon, colour, conductivity and alkalinity, with higher values in the low mature forest watersheds. We detected significant mature forest x storage interactions for turbidity, total and organic suspended solids, total and dissolved nitrogen, silica, dissolved and total organic carbon, and conductivity. We detected both regional differences in water quality and those associated with watershed attributes more commonly for third-order streams in the western Lake Superior drainage basin as compared with second-order streams. Use of ecoregions alone as a basis for setting regional water quality criteria would have led to misinterpretation of reference condition and assessment of impacts in the Northern Lakes and Forest Ecoregion.