Grantee Research Project Results
1999 Progress Report: CISNet for the Neuse River Estuary, NC: A Program for Evaluating Nitrogen Driven Eutrophication Associated with Changing Land Use in a Coastal Watershed
EPA Grant Number: R826938Title: CISNet for the Neuse River Estuary, NC: A Program for Evaluating Nitrogen Driven Eutrophication Associated with Changing Land Use in a Coastal Watershed
Investigators: Luettich Jr., Richard A. , Paerl, Hans
Current Investigators: Luettich Jr., Richard A. , Paerl, Hans , Pinckney, Jay
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: October 1, 1998 through September 30, 2001
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999
Project Amount: $555,300
RFA: Ecological Effects of Environmental Stressors Using Coastal Intensive Sites (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Statistics , Water Quality , Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Objective:
The overall objective of the UNC-CH CISNet proposal was to build upon the historical water quality database in the Neuse River Estuary (NRE) and to enhance ongoing research. The specific research components are: (1) bi-weekly monitoring of water quality; (2) determination of atmospheric nitrogen (N) loading; (3) quantification of N loading from a large coastal farm; (4) continuous monitoring of circulation; and (5) data management, archival, and integration.
Progress Summary:
Weekly Monitoring of Water Quality Parameters Along the Length of the NRE. The bi-weekly water quality monitoring program at 19 mid-estuary stations was continued through this reporting period. We intensified sampling to weekly and sub-weekly intervals following the passing of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999. We have processed, analyzed, and distributed the bi-weekly salinity and oxygen data for 1999. Compared to 1994-1998, freshwater discharge to the Neuse estuary was low until late summer 1999. The mainstem channel was stratified and the bottom water was hypoxic through most of the summer. We extended the regular bi-weekly sampling out into Pamlico Sound as research teams monitored a plume of freshwater following Hurricane Floyd.
Enhanced Determination of Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen (ADN) to the NRE. During 1999, we purchased two Aerochem Metrics Model 301 Atmospheric Deposition Collectors and located one of the collectors at Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge (CINWR), where we began weekly sampling in August 1999.
Quantification of the Effects of N Loading From Open Grounds Farm on NRE Water Quality. We established a water quality sampling station to assess the potential for N loading from the Open Grounds Farm, the largest contiguous farm on the east coast. This station became part of the bi-weekly surveys in March 1999.
Continuous Monitoring of Circulation and Flushing of the NRE. We placed a bottom mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler and CTD and platform-mounted vertical profiling CTD/dissolved oxygen instruments on both sides of the estuary. A wind event occurred in August 1999, when within a few hours the near bottom current developed a strong northerly, cross-estuary direction and pushed bottom water towards the northern shore. Over a 2-3 hour period, the nearshore bottom water decreased from 8 to 4 mg L-1. Within the next few hours, the winds diminished and reversed, and the nearshore water column returned to an unstratified, oxygenated state.
Systematic Management, Archival, and Integration of Data From All Ongoing NRE Research. All mid-estuary water quality data are stored in spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) that are available for other NRE researchers. Data from 1994-1998 are available electronically and on compact disc from the IMS, while the hydrographic data for 1999 can be accessed at the Web site.
Future Activities:
Future activities will include the following:
1. We will continue the
regular bi-weekly water quality monitoring at each of the water quality
stations.
2. In the upcoming months, we will install the atmospheric collector at Pamlico Community College and initiate weekly sampling. We will continue weekly sampling at CINWR and analyze archived samples for NOx, NHx, and TKN.
3. We presently are calibrating current meters in wetland creeks of Open Grounds Farm to obtain accurate flow measurements from the farm to the west fork of the South River. This will allow calculation of loading from a portion of the farm directly adjacent to the South River.
4. Our plan for the upcoming year is to obtain a full summer of intensive circulation, hydrographic, and oxygen data. We then will begin to assess the longitudinal and lateral variability of transport and ecological processes in the NRE.
5. We will be building a searchable database using Microsoft Access. We plan to combine the water quality data from UNC, NCDWQ, and Weyerhauser with similar historical data collected by East Carolina University in the 1980s and other data on physical transport, sediment geochemistry, benthic population, and fishes. We are in the process of exploratory data analyses to look for relationships among driving factors (e.g., freshwater discharge) and patterns in water column hydrography, nutrients, and oxygen concentrations. The output from the simulation model will be interfaced with the database to derive nutrient budgets for different segments of the NRE between New Bern and the downstream boundary.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 82 publications | 21 publications in selected types | All 19 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Borsuk M, Stowe C, Luettich RA, Paerl HW, Pinckney JL. Probabilistic prediction in the Neuse River Estuary using an empirical model of oxygen dynamics. Limnology and Oceanography. |
R826938 (1999) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
watersheds, estuary, precipitation, nitrogen, ecosystem, aquatic, ecology, monitoring, Atlantic coast, North Carolina, NC., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water & Watershed, Nutrients, Ecology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Chemistry, State, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Monitoring/Modeling, Air Deposition, Southeast, Biology, Watersheds, aquatic ecosystem, coastal ecosystem, environmental monitoring, eutrophication, hydrological stability, ecological exposure, risk assessment, fish kills, estuaries, coastal watershed, meteorology, bioavailability, coastal zone, esturarine eutrophication, algal growth, coastal environments, hypoxia, CISNet Program, anoxia/hypoxia, estuarine ecosystems, algal blooms, aquatic ecosystems, Neuse River Estuary, water quality, North Carolina (NC), stress responses, atmospheric deposition, land use, nitrogen, ecological responseRelevant Websites:
http://www.marine.unc.edu/neuse/ Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.