Lake Wateree Water Quality Monitoring and Investigation

2008-2009

Report on Lake Wateree Sampling and Historic Water Quality – a Cooperative Exercise between Wateree Water Watch and USC
Robin W. (Buz) Kloot, Ph.D. (Earth Sciences and Resources Institute, USC) and Dan Tufford, Ph.D. (Department of Biological Sciences, USC)

Deep Water Investigation

History of Lake Wateree

Lake Wateree is located in Kershaw County, South Carolina. It was named after the Wateree Native American who used to inhabit the land. Now it is known as one of South Carolina's oldest man-made lakes, providing a place serving both preservation and receational purposes. The lake is a reservoir, intentionally created in 1920 by damming the Wateree River in order to produce electrical power; Resulting in a 14,000 acre lake with 190 miles of shoreline.

Scope of Work 2008:

Goal 1: Reinstitute WHOA Probe Data Collection Effort This goal will require the following actions:
1. Set up the most effective collection system (probe, GPS unit and data-logging mechanism). We intend to use WHOA's Manta Multiprobe and the handheld iPAQ Amphibian device (Eureka Environmental Engineers, Austin TX) that was purchased in December 2004. In addition we will use a YSI multiparameter sonde owned by USC.
2. Reestablish written data collection and instrument calibration protocols for the selected data collection system.
3. Develop a spatial database so that results may be analyzed and presented to WHOA and LWA in graphic and tabular form, within 24 hours of the data collection. The presentation of the collected data should be against a backdrop of the historical data.
4. Accompany WHOA/LWA on a minimum of six data collection runs at approximately one-month intervals at 20 sampling locations that include embayments, headwaters, and channel locations (see image at right).
5. Analyze collected data and report to associations. USC would be responsible for the set-up and maintenance of the probe, system, data collection, storage, interpretation and feedback to the associations. The associations would be responsible for providing volunteers and boat transport on agreed dates and times to take USC personnel onto the lake and to each sample site.

Goal 2: Analyze, Interpret and Present Results of 1999-2003 Probe Data to the Associations This goal will require the following actions:
1. Take current MSExcel workbook with 20 worksheets (one for each site, estimate 40 to 160 records per worksheet) and develop a relational database we can query by site (also X, Y coordinates), date, parameter and depth of sample.
2. Look for trends over space and time.
3. Map the results.
4. Examine the results (tabular and spatial) with the associations to see if local knowledge can shed any additional light on trends.
5. Provide report to the associations on the results.

Goal 3: Analyze longer-term SCDHEC water quality data trends (1995 or earlier to present) This goal will require the following actions:
1. Select three stations upstream of the lake on the Catawba, and two lake stations where data over a period is available from the EPA STORET database.
2. Select, if possible, two streams leading to the Catawba or directly to the lake where no known point source emissions occur. We would like to look at these trends to see whether any significant changes in nonpoint source pollution over this time period are apparent.
3. Acquire time series data for TP, TN, DO, pH, fecal coliform, and, where available, chlorophyll-a. Examine data from upstream, lake and from small streams for any trends over time.
4. Discuss trends with association members to see if local knowledge can shed any additional light on trends.
5. Provide report to associations of the results

Goal 4: Seek Additional Funding for Collaborative Efforts In collaboration with LWA, we will develop a generic proposal which may be used for existing grant or future applications. If any grant opportunity presents itself before the end of December 2008 we will submit one proposal for funding in conjunction with LWA.

Executive Summary from 2008

Scope of Work 2009:

1. Provide upkeep and calibration of Eureka and YSI probes prior to each monthly sampling run.
2. Provide one USC person (graduate student or faculty) to accompany WHOA volunteers on sampling trips.
3. Issue monthly report on each sampling run as per current format and make minor modifications where necessary and practicable.
4. Make modifications to current sampling routine if deemed necessary.
5. USC personnel (faculty and grad students) will meet with LWA quarterly (four times) at the lake to provide group feedback on results and/or to provide training to members who wish to become a part of the monitoring process.
6. A small number of water samples will be taken and analyzed at various depths-we expect to analyze for total phosphorus (and/or soluable reactive phosphorus- SRP) and BOD, amongst other samples.

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