EPSCoR Water Dynamics Workshop

Highlights from the Northeast and Appalachian States

Michelle DaleyResearch Scientist, University of New Hampshire

Associate Director, NH Water Resources Research Center

Percent Change in Total Population 2000 to 2030 by Northern New England

County

Urbanization/Suburbanization and Climate Change

USGS Fact Sheet FS 2005-3001

2000 to 2030 Timing of Spring Runoff in Maine

• New England is a water rich area and yet we still face issues with water supply

• In stream flow rules to protect aquatic and terrestrial biota and human use

Example Issues….• Local cross basin transfers• Global cross basin transfers – water bottling plants• Unregulated private well withdrawals• Artificial aquifer recharge

Urbanization/Suburbanization and Water Quantity

0.1 1 10

Cl (

mg/

L)

1

10

100

1000

r ² = 0.76; p<0.01

Chronic Toxicity

Southeast NHCentral NH

km Road km-2

Urbanization/Suburbanization and Water Quality: Road Salt Impacts on Stream Salinization

Photo Credit: New Hampshire Department of Transportation Data from NH WRRC

Suburbanization and Water Quality: Coastal Nitrogen Flux Driven by Population Density

Sub-basins of the Lamprey River Hydrologic Observatory

People km-2

10 100

NO

3-N k

g ha

-1 y

r-1

0.01

0.1

1

10

r ² = 0.66; p<0.01

What controls long-term N Balance? Nitrogen Inputs and Outputs from the LRHO (2005)

Total N Output2.4 kg N ha-1 yr-1

Total N Retention84% (or 13.0 kg N ha-1 yr-1)

Stored or lost to atmosphere?

FoodFertilizer

Rain and dry deposition

Total N Input15.4 kg N ha-1 yr-1

3.11.8

10.5

0.82 kg DIN ha-1 yr-1 (5 % of N Inputs)

Lake Champlain – Lake Champlain – A Truly Great Lake . . . .A Truly Great Lake . . . .

Images courtesy of Mary Watzin, University of Vermont

With Some Challenges – Phosphorus PollutionWith Some Challenges – Phosphorus PollutionToxic Cyanobacteria Blooms in a Northern BayToxic Cyanobacteria Blooms in a Northern Bay

Images courtesy of Mary Watzin, University of Vermont

Suburban Stormwater Management in Vermont

• How sensitive are streams to stormwater stressors?

• Are streams that are structurally impaired also functionally impaired?

• How can scientific knowledge be used to manage stormwater discharge to Vermont’s streams?

• How long will it take for streams recover from stormwater impairment?

Research questions courtesy of Breck Bowden, UVM

Climate Change

People km-2

10 100

NO

3-N

kg

ha-1

yr

-1

0.01

0.1

1

10

?

km Road km-20.1 1 10

Cl (

mg/

L)

1

10

100

1000 ?

Future Challenges in the Northeast• Impacts of climate change layered with

suburbanization• Arsenic (interactions with other constituents)• Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products

(PPCPs)• Groundwater water rights • Better interactions with society and policy

makers

Ohio Riverwestern WV

Challenges for the Appalachian States –WV, KY, TNChallenges for the Appalachian States –WV, KY, TN

• Large river systemsLarge river systems- - Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland, and KentuckyOhio, Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland, and Kentucky

• Coal-Fired Power PlantsCoal-Fired Power Plants- CO- CO22 production, metal deposition, thermal effluents production, metal deposition, thermal effluents

• Coal Mining Coal Mining - acid mine drainage, sedimentation, metals- acid mine drainage, sedimentation, metals

• TransportationTransportation- habitat alteration, dredging, invasive species- habitat alteration, dredging, invasive species

Slide courtesy of Charles Somerville, WV