The Susquehanna River watershed is one of the major suppliers of fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay; however, the water quality of 67% of the streams in New York State is unknown.  The goal of this study was to determine the physical and chemical parameters that influence the water quality of Ouleout Creek, a tributary to the Susquehanna River, which has a bottom release dam at East Sidney, NY.  The presence of dams affects the nutrient transport and sediment load of the streams, while also modifying the effects of storm events on the downstream environments. Water samples were collected in triplicates at six sites, four times in the last 12 months, in the Ouleout Creek watershed.  At each site, field parameters such as dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, temperature, and turbidity were recorded.  Dissolved silica content was measured using a colorimetric method.  Total suspended sediment (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were determined using standard EPA protocols.  In addition, water samples were filtered and preserved for cation and anion analyses, which was done by using atomic absorption spectroscopy and ion chromatography, respectively. The chemical composition of the water reflects the geology of the watershed with calcium and sodium as the dominant cations, and chloride and sulfate as the dominant anions.  No significant inorganic contaminations are found.  Higher chloride and sodium concentrations in the spring samples indicate road salt input by snowmelt runoff.  No seasonal and spatial variations are found in TDS.  Thus, the dam does not affect the chemical composition of the water; however, turbidity and TSS vary by season and among sites, and are highest below the dam during water release events.  This pattern is consistent with the operation of a bottom release dam that regulates the sediment release from this tributary.

Water quality assessment of the Ouleout Creek in upstate New York

247th National Meeting (2014)

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