Virginia Coastal Program: 2003 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2003 Task 71
Grantee:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Project Title:
Shallow Water Quality Monitoring Program for the Piankatank River
Project Description as Proposed:
The development
and use of new water quality standards within the Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries have placed new requirements on accurate measurements
of the temporal and spatial variability of water quality parameters,
principally turbidity, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen. The coupling
of continuous, fixed water quality stations and the recently developed
surface water quality mapping system (DATAFLOW) allow the assessment
of water quality criteria as well as an assessment of the physical
and biological controlling processes. Funding for this project will
allow for monthly DATAFLOW cruises (March-November 2004) and the
establishment of a continuous fixed water quality station on the
upper portion of the Piankatank River. When combined with other
projects scheduled to begin in late 2003-early 2004 (see Extended
Project Description), the resulting water quality monitoring program
will include the establishment and maintenance of three continuous,
fixed water quality stations and complete DATAFLOW coverage of the
Piankatank River in 2004. Generated water quality information from
this project will support a number of ongoing projects that include
SAV and oyster reef restoration, the Dragon Run SAMP, and the assessment
of shallow water quality as it pertains to recently developed USEPA
water quality (turbidity, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen) criteria.
The DATAFLOW system integrates simultaneously collected water quality
(dissolved oxygen, Chla, turbidity, pH, temperature and specific
conductance), location (?3 m) and depth information (?0.1 m). Discrete
measurements are made at 3-4 second intervals that result in a sampling
resolution on the order of 50 meters. Real-time data presentation
provides feedback to the operators so that conditions such as algal
blooms and low-oxygen water conditions can be more intensively mapped
during the cruise. Post processing of DATAFLOW information along
with field collected verification samples results in interpolated
surface water quality contour plots. The fixed stations, which measure
previously mentioned water quality parameters and depth, will be
placed at a specified depth below MLW and collect water quality
information at 15-minute intervals. Fixed stations can be used to
evaluate water quality over the short-term (15 minute, tidal, diel,
or weekly) and allow for adjustment of DATAFLOW information for
temporal changes that may occur over the longer-term cruise intervals.
Grab sample nutrient and Chla data will also be collected and integrated
into the proposed shallow water monitoring program. To ensure comparability
for usage in assessment of water quality criteria, data collection
procedures will follow those used by the NOAA/CBNERRVA System-wide
Monitoring Program and the U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Shallow
Water Habitat Monitoring Program being preformed by VIMS.
Federal Funding:
$60,000
Project Contact:
Willy Reay 804.684.7119, wreay@vims.edu
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Funding for this project allowed for monthly Dataflow cruises and the establishment of a continuous fixed water quality station in the mid-portion of the Piankatank River. When combined with concurrent projects (Piankatank River SAV Restoration Project: R. Orth and K. Moore; CBNERRVA Dragon Swamp Monitoring Project: W. Reay), the resulting water quality monitoring program included three continuous, fixed water quality stations and near complete Dataflow coverage of the Piankatank River. Deliverables for this project included (1) submission of water quality data and metadata Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality Chesapeake Bay Program and U.S.EPA Chesapeake Bay Program's Chesapeake Information Management System (CIMS), (2) enhancement of CBNERRVA web site to provide delivery of collected Piankatank River water quality data, and (3) a final report summarizing methodology, field efforts, and major findings. The final report summarizes physical and chemical water quality status based on fixed continuous (15-minute sampling intervals) water quality stations located at Burtons Point, Blands Wharf and Dragon Swamp and Dataflow surface water quality mapping of the Piankatank River from March-November, 2004. Dissolved oxygen levels are compared to recently developed Chesapeake Bay and nontidal coastal water criteria. Dissolved oxygen criteria were exceeded to a fair degree at Dragon Swamp, less so at Blands Wharf and on rare occasions at Burtons Point. Turbidity levels, a measure of relative water clarity, are compared to sumerged aquatic vegetation criteria. Suspended sediments or non-chlorophyll based suspended material were typically the greatest contributor to turbidity and light attenuation throughout the river. At the downriver Burtons Point fixed station, water clarity typically met the target for polyhaline and mesohaline SAV growth to 1 meter (approximately <7 NTUs), while water clarity at the upriver Blands Wharf station did not meet that target. Based on 15-minute interval data, NTU values exceeded the SAV target value (7 NTUs) sixty percent of the time at the Blands Wharf station as compared to five percent at Burtons Point. If water quality in 2005 is similar to 2004, water quality habitat conditions should be suitable for growth and survival in the lower Piankatank River, especially in the Burtons Point region.
Form C end
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
