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U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the Lake St. Clair Regional Monitoring Project; Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; and Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne Counties, Michigan

Stream-Water Quality during Storm-Runoff Events and Low-Flow Periods in the St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair Basin, Michigan

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1201

By Thomas L. Weaver and Lori M. Fuller

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Abstract

This report, a product of the Lake St. Clair Regional Monitoring Project, describes four water-quality studies in the St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair Basin from the early 1970´s through 2005. All the studies examined water quality of streams in the basin; the most recent studies focused primarily on water quality during high- and low-streamflows. This report explains how storm-runoff and low-flow periods affect water quality in the basin. Included is a summary of stream-water quality findings from the National Stream Quality Accounting Network (1973–95); the National Water-Quality Assessment (1996–98); the Oakland County Land-Use Change study (2001–03); and the Lake St. Clair Regional Monitoring Project (2004–05).

Citation:

Weaver, Thomas L. and Lori M. Fuller, 2007, Stream-Water Quality during Storm-Runoff Events and Low-Flow Periods in the St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair Basin, Michigan–U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1201, 19p. Date Posted: July 23, 2007:
[https://pubs.water.usgs.gov/ofr2007-1201/ ]

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

What Defines Water Quality?

What Factors Determine Volume And Quality Of Storm Runoff?

What Causes Low-Flow Periods, And How Do They Affect Stream-Water Quality?

What Has Monitoring Of Storm Runoff And Low Flow Taught Us About Changing Water Quality In The St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair Basin?

National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN)

National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)

USGS Oakland County Land-Use Change Study

Lake St. Clair Regional Monitoring Project (LSCRMP)

How Will This Information Be Used In The Future?

Summary

References Cited

Figures

1. Map showing Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River, and major tributary drainage basins.
2. Photographs showing examples of high and low streamflow on the Clinton River.
3. Photograph showing contrasting agricultural practices–planted buffer strip adjacent to drainage ditch compared to buffer strip.
4. Map showing St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair Basin and selected streamflow-gaging stations.
5. Map showing streamflow and water-quality data-collection sites of the Lake St. Clair Regional Monitoring Project, Michigan.
6. Graph showing continuous streamflow, specific conductance, and water temperature and seasonal dissolved oxygen and pH for the Clinton River near Fraser, Michigan, 2004–05.

Tables

1. Selected summary statistics and trend results for pH, major dissolved ions, and nutrients at Clinton River at Mt. Clemens, Michigan.
2. Site number, name, and location of Lake St. Clair Regional Monitoring Project water-quality sites in the St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair Basin, Michigan.

For additional information, contact:

U.S. Geological Survey
Michigan Water Science Center
6520 Mercantile Way, Suite 5
Lansing, MI 48911-5991
GS-W-MIlns_DC@usgs.gov
or visit our Web site at:
http://mi.water.usgs.gov

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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Persistent URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/2007/1201/ Page Contact Information: USGS Publishing Network Last modified: Wednesday, December 07 2016, 08:19:27 PM

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