Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary
Journal of Great Lakes Research
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- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Data Releases:
- USGS data release - Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Fluvial-target samples
- USGS data release - Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Source samples
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
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Abstract
Black Creek, a headwater to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie, is an agricultural basin with a mix of cropland (66%), pasture (19%), and forest (7%) linked by a road network to the rural community. Suspended sediment was collected monthly during the 2018 water year for the main stem and two sub-basins using in-situ, passive samplers that integrated a range of streamflow conditions. Sediment fingerprinting used 44 indicators to apportion samples among five sources: cropland, pasture, forest, road dirt, and streambanks. Cropland, pasture, and streambanks had similar ranges in sediment-bound phosphorus (679-1670 ppm). Cropland contributed 21 ± 15% (monthly mean ± standard deviation; 0-46% among individual months) of suspended sediment during the year. Fall and spring peaks in cropland contribution highlight the ongoing importance of on-field management, but this small contribution of suspended sediment relative to the expanse of cropland may reflect implementation of best-management practices. Pasture contributed 0-66% (16±19%) of suspended-sediment and roads 0-26% (6±6%). Streambanks contributed 12-100% (55±25%) and was the only source identified in all sediment samples. In this basin, most cropland-adjacent streambanks are protected by a riparian setback. However, streams traversing other land-use types are not as consistently protected, and these setbacks do not protect the stream channel from discharge of water from sump pumps, road culverts, or tile drains. The contribution of sediment from other land uses combined with that from the agricultural drainage network (as streambank material) underscores the need to consider water movement in the basin as a whole.
Suggested Citation
Williamson, T.N., Dobrowolski, E.G., Gellis, A.C., Sabitov, T., Gorman Sanisaca, L.E., 2020, Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary: Journal of Great Lakes Research, v. 46, no. 5, p. 1307-1320, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2020.06.011.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary |
| Series title | Journal of Great Lakes Research |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jglr.2020.06.011 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Year Published | 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Maryland Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center |
| Description | 14 p. |
| First page | 1307 |
| Last page | 1320 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| Other Geospatial | Black Creek basin |