1. Evaluation of Proposed Controls Over Baseflow Phosphorus Concentrations in Wadeable Streams in Wisconsin
Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

2. BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES METHODS DISCUSSION OVERVIEW
Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

3. 1. BACKGROUND Photo Credit: WEAL 2008 Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley
Photo Credit: WEAL 2008

4. PHOSPHOROUS Eutrophication 1. BACKGROUND …Models, Legislation
Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

5. Water Chemistry ug/l 88 Benthic 61 Macroinvertebrates 89 Fish 59
Total Phosphorus concentrations proposed by work group (ug/l)
Least Impacted Reference Condition
Minimum Effect
Criteria
Possible use in implementation
Factor in ORW consideration
Factor in ERW consideration
Enforcement Level
Streams – intermittent, headwater and mainstem for cold, cool and warm water natural communities 50 60 74
Rivers 75
103
Water Chemistry
ug/l
Secchi Depth
106
Suspended Chlorophyll a 70
Average for category 88
Benthic
Benthic Chlorophyll a 39
Diatom Nutrient Index 57
Diatom Siltation Index 74
Diatom Biotic Index 72 61
Macroinvertebrates
Hilsenhoff Biotic Index
Percent EPT Individuals 87
Percent EPT Taxa 91 89
Fish
Fish IBI 55
Percent Carnivores
Percent Intolerant 67 59
Average of category averages

6. R2 = 43% p < 0.001 2001 – 157 sites 2002 – 78 sites 2003 – 5 sites
Total: 240 sites

7. 1. BACKGROUND
Although efforts are underway to set stream standards in Wisconsin and elsewhere, there is still controversy regarding the mechanisms that control stream phosphorous concentrations. This represents a collective misunderstanding of the fundamental processes that control water quality at the catchment scale (Boomer et al. 2008). It is a very common practice for researchers to attribute poor results to inadequate spatial data (Hunsaker et al. 1995; Soranno et al. 1996; Jain et al. 2000; Jones et al. 2001; Richards et al. 2006; Boomer et al. 2008). Although commonly ignored in water quality models, biotic and abiotic in-stream processing are also important to consider (Froelich 1988; Haggard et al. 2007; McDaniel et al. 2009).
Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

8. 2. OBJECTIVES Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

9. 2. OBJECTIVES
Evaluate Proposed Controls Over Baseflow Phosphorus Concentrations in Wadeable Streams in Wisconsin
1)Determine whether the statewide cropland vs median total phosphorous regression can be improved by incorporating a spatially explicit explanatory variable, derived from higher more accurate spatial data sets.
2)Explain the mechanism that causes baseflow phosphorous concentrations in the Montello River Watershed to steadily decline after major runoff events
The results of this study will increase our understanding of the factors that control stream phosphorous concentrations. This information could be used to more effectively manage the landscape to achieve desired total phosphorous concentrations, and establish standards for streams. It also could be used to develop a predictive model, offering great benefit to the scientific community and others.
Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

10. 3. PROPOSED METHODS Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

11. 3. PROPOSED METHODS SSURGO instead of STATSGO
Objective 1
Determine whether the statewide cropland vs median total phosphorous regression can be improved by incorporating a spatially explicit explanatory variable, derived from higher more accurate spatial data sets.
SSURGO instead of STATSGO
PCSA instead of Watershed
More work with travel time/flow distance
Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

12. Σ(eFLag* β)
Σ(eFLall* β)
Pixel Value
(proportion – no units)

13. 3. PROPOSED METHODS
Objective 2
Explain the mechanism that causes baseflow phosphorous concentrations in the Montello River Watershed to steadily decline after major runoff events
Perform sorption – desorption experiments (sorption isotherms, EPC0 ) that mimic the uptake/release after events.
Provide some estimate of the relative contribution of biotic uptake to this process.
Link the EPC0 to landscape characteristics. This could involve applying the spatially-based metric derived in objective 1, or it could be completely independent of this.
Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

15. KW03

16. 4. DISCUSSION Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

17. APPENDIX Graduate Student: Mark Breunig
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Paul McGinley

22. Q (cfs)
TP (g/s)
Figure 25. A closer look at the flood that occurred in early June of 2008; instantaneous TP loads and continuous discharge between June 7 and June 14, 2008.