Urban and Rural Phosphorus Contributions of the Pinnebog River Watershed to Saginaw Bay

Session: Poster session

David Karpovich, Saginaw Valley State Univ., [email protected]
Paul Braman, Saginaw Valley State University, [email protected]
Emmalee Griswold, Saginaw Valley State University, [email protected]
Aleece Rambow, Saginaw Valley State University, [email protected]
Marissa Dobulis, Saginaw Valley State University, [email protected]
Alexander Yankley, Saginaw Valley State University, [email protected]
Lee Koski, Saginaw Valley State University, [email protected]

Abstract

The total loading of phosphorus into the Saginaw Bay was 757 tons/year in 2009 according to the J-THIA NPS model. This is 72% over the goal value of 440 tons/year set forth by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978. In the Saginaw Bay Watershed, the Pigeon-Wiscoggin sub-watershed contributes 18.7% of the annual “NPS total Phosphorus” loading.¹ The Pinnebog River serves as the main outgoing channel for drainage from Bad Axe, Michigan, within this sub watershed.

The Pinnebog River is predominantly filled with rural run off, but Bad Axe serves as one of its few urban basins. We monitored four storm drains in Bad Axe and several sites on Bad Axe Creek to determine both urban and rural contributions to phosphorus loading. This was done in a two month period on a 1.5 mile stretch of the Bad Axe Drain, which ultimately flows into the Pinnebog River. The concentration of pollutants was measured along with volumetric flow to determine pollutant loading at each site. The results will ultimately be used for watershed land use planning in order to reduce phosphorus loading to the Pinnebog River and Saginaw Bay.

1 - https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/sagbayphosrep_283289_7.pdf

1. Keyword
nutrients

2. Keyword
watersheds

3. Keyword
monitoring

4. Additional Keyword
Saginaw Bay

5. Additional Keyword
rural runoff

6. Additional Keyword
urban runoff