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Watershed Origins of Sediment Loads
Sediment Loading from Three Tributary Streams to the South End of Cayuga Lake, Watershed Origins of Sediment Loads WRC-Cornell Partnership Meeting November 25, 2014
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Selected USGS LOADEST Regression Model 3 Based on Statistical Criteria (Bias < 25%; Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency Index)
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Comparison of CSI and USGS Sediment Load Estimates at German Cross Road, tons/year x 103
‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 Mean CSI 12.8 21.5 16.4 10.4 6.9 2.8 8.1 40.1 3.7 13.6 +/- 11.6 USGS 22.5 15.9 49.9 21.3 10.3 7.6 14.8 51.9 5.1 22.1 +/-17.3 Ratio CSI/ 0.57 1.4 0.33 0.49 0.67 0.37 0.54 0.77 0.73 0.65 +/- 0.32
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CSI-USGS Differences: Sampling, Measurement, and LOADEST Calibration
CSI volunteers collect grab samples; USGS uses submerged autosampler CSI measures Total Suspended Solids (EPA method); USGS measures total sediment (USGS method) CSI calibrates LOADEST by pooling concentration-flow data from all years to obtain a single calibration curve; USGS re-calibrates LOADEST each year Results show that CSI protocol “low balls” sediment loading estimates at German Cross Road by about 1/3, on average, compared to USGS
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Downstream Increases in Fall Creek Sediment Loads, tons/year
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Davis Rd 647 595 1,528 393 653 Freeville 1,277 1,114 3,299 811 1,436 Freese Rd 7,412 7,594 30,038 3,415 10,512 Cayuga St. 10,396 9,754 34,257 5,225 12,475
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Stormwater Impacts on Fall Creek Sediment Yields, tons/year/mile2
% Load in Storm Yield, 2012 Davis Rd 41.9 73% 10.8 54% Freeville 50.5 78% 12.4 58% Freese Rd 240.3 89% 27.3 69% Cayuga St. 269.7 86% 41.1 65%
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Summary: Sediment Loading from Fall Creek to Cayuga Lake
Upper Fall Creek watershed above Freeville accounts for ~11% of sediment loading to Cayuga Lake Lower Fall Creek watershed accounts for ~70% of sediment load, Virgil Creek for ~19% Increased stormwater flows in 2011, including Tropical Storm Lee, resulted in a ~6x increase in sediment yields from the Fall Creek watershed, ~4x in the upper watershed, when compared to 2012, a low flow year
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Downstream Increases in Six Mile Creek Sediment Loads, tons/year
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 600 Rd 203 444 1,799 200 228 German Cross Rd 2,775 8,110 40,096 3,732 5,346 Plain St. 2,499 7,018 36,130 3,850 5,631
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Stormwater Impacts on Six Mile Creek Sediment Yields, tons/year/mile2
% Load in Storm Yield, 2012 600 Rd 149.9 93% 16.7 81% German Cross Rd 1,038.7 95% 96.7 84% Plain St. 734.4 94% 78.3 82%
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Summary: Sediment Loading from Six Mile Creek to Cayuga Lake
Stormwater typically accounts for ~82% of total sediment load in Six Mile Creek compared to ~65% in Fall-Virgil Creek, consistent with its “flashiness” Extreme stormwater flows in 2011, particularly Tropical Storm Lee, resulted in a ~9x increase in sediment yields from the Six Mile Creek watershed compared to 2012, a low flow year
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Downstream Increases in Cayuga Inlet Sediment Loads, tons/year
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Blakeslee Rd 517 1,745 33,537 678 1,237 Upstream of Buttermilk 3,736 5,187 37,845 1,977 1,625 Cherry & Tabor St. ND 52,959 2,333 2,920 Farmers Mkt. 70,312 2,942 4,325 Cass Park 72,355 2,933 3,845
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Stormwater Impacts on Cayuga Inlet Sediment Yields, tons/year/mile2
Yield, 2011 tons/year/mile2 % Load in Storm Yield, 2012 tons/year/mile2 Blakeslee Rd 989.3 98% 20.0 78% Upstream of Buttermilk 536.1 94% 28.0 67% Cherry and Tabor St. 583.3 96% 25.7 57% Farmers Mkt. 491.7 20.6 62% Cass Park 457.9 97% 18.6 58%
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Summary: Sediment Loading from Cayuga Inlet to Cayuga Lake
The upper Inlet above Blakeslee Road contributes about ¼ to 1/2 half of the total Inlet sediment load to Cayuga Lake, depending on stormwater flows Extreme flows in 2011, including Tropical Storm Lee, resulted in a ~25x increase in the yield of sediment from the Inlet compared to 2012 Sediment loads at Cass Park were less than the combined loads from Six Mile Creek at Plain Street plus the Inlet at Cherry & Tabor Streets, indicating sediment is trapped in the lower Inlet
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Sediment Trapping in the Lower Cayuga Inlet, tons/year
2011 2012 2013 Sum of loads at (Cherry & Tabor St.) + (Plain St.) 89,089 6,183 8,550 Load at (Cass Park) – (Cascadilla Creek) 67,260 2,115 3,027 Difference = Sediment Trapped in Lower Inlet 21,829 4,068 5,523
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Sediment Trapping in the Lower Cayuga Inlet
Between 2011 to 2013, approximately 31,420 tons of sediment were trapped in the lower Cayuga Inlet from Cherry & Tabor St. to Cass Park, about 2/3 due to Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 In years of normal flows, such as 2012 and 2013, about 2/3 of sediment from the Inlet and Six Mile Creek is trapped in the lower Inlet and about 1/3 enters Cayuga Lake Extremely high flows in 2011 pushed most of the sediment into the lake, however, ~4x more was trapped in 2011 than either 2012 or 2013
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Practical Applications of Sediment Loading Estimates Acquired Through Volunteer-CSI Monitoring Partnerships Track build-up of sediment in lower Inlet Track build-up of sediment in City of Ithaca drinking water reservoir Identify upstream areas in Cayuga Inlet watershed that are prone to extreme sediment loss during “100-year” floods Estimate rate at which southern shelf of Cayuga Lake is filling in with sediment
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