Real-time nutrient monitoring system and data analysis offers insight into stream dynamics

Session: 59. - Innovative Monitoring across the Great Lakes

Karlin Danielsen, OHM Advisors, [email protected]
Robert Czachorski, H2Ometrics/OHM-Advisors, [email protected]
Vincent Kelly, Green Eyes LLC, [email protected]
Nathan Zgnilec, OHM-Advisors, [email protected]

Abstract

Measuring, tracking and disseminating nutrient levels entering Lake Erie from tributaries is a critical component to understanding and predicting HABs and improving the water quality. Solutions to these problems have been hampered by the absence of an affordable nutrient detection method and the ability to make data available in a real-time, analytical platform.

An affordable, autonomous, real-time nutrient analysis system was developed to monitor soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), and Nitrate and Nitrite.  The readiness of this technology was demonstrated in a pilot deployment at Rock Creek in Tiffin, OH.  The system components included a Green Eye Science NewLAB automated chemical measurement system, Trimble Telog remote telemetry units to collect and transmit the data to the cloud, and the H2Ometrics platform for data monitoring and analytics.  The maximum nutrient loading were found to be independent of stream peak flows but directly correlated to turbidity.  Modeling tools in H2Ometrics break flow into two peaks, one associated with rapid runoff, and a second peak associated with the nutrient carrying flow.  This robust system offers new insight into stream dynamics and the performance of best management practices.

1. Keyword
nutrients

2. Keyword
monitoring

3. Keyword
harmful algal blooms

4. Additional Keyword
real-time