National Capital Region Network - Nutrient Dynamics Monitoring

Background

Water quality is closely tied to nutrient inputs from associated land uses. Elevated nitrogen concentrations in streams and groundwater are common in areas of intensive row cropping and areas underlain by carbonate bedrock (limestone). Tributaries draining agricultural areas yield the greatest quantity of nitrogen to the Potomac River; streams draining agriculture and urban areas yield the greatest quantities of phosphorous in most waters of the Potomac River Basin.

Objectives

• Determine the flow-corrected values for nutrients in National Capital Region Network Streams.
• Assess variance in nutrients in priority streams of the National Capital Region Network.
• Assess trends in nutrients within and between watersheds and within and between stream orders. Trends will be detected with reference to (a) urban reference streams drawn from MBSS and/or NAWQA data in the region and/or (b) comparison of current to past condition.
• Assess stream condition by identifying single parameters with values out of bounds (a) biologically (determined through literature search), (b) according to drinking water standards, (c) according to EPA and State designated use standards, or (d) of previous variability. Provide information for Resource Stewardship Strategies and Annual GPRA reporting.

Nutrient Dynamics Metrics

Ammonia (NH3)

Nitrate (NO3)

Phosphorous (PO4)

Status

Nutrient dynamics monitoring was implemented in May 2005 in the following parks: ANTI, CATO, GWMP, HAFE, MANA, MONO, NACE, PRWI, ROCR, and WOTR.

Due to logistic difficulties of monitoring water quality along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP (CHOH), data collected by other agencies will be summarized for the park.

Contacts
Jim Pieper
NCRN Hydrologic Technician
202.342.1443 ext. 227

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