(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005-04)
Bradshaw, J. Kenneth; Radcliffe, David E.; Lichtenstein, Karin; Bakker, Mark; Jackson, Rhett; Markewitz, Daniel; Risse, L. Mark
In Georgia, over 600 stream segments are scheduled for TMDL development due designated use. Seventy-seven stream segments are listed for excessive sediment. The state does not have quantitative standards for the regulation of sediment concentration. The development of sediment yields using appropriate reference streams with minimum development may be a way to determine what the maximum daily sediment loading should be for impaired streams. This study was initiated to compare water quality in six streams with differing land use. This paper focuses on suspended sediment comparisons among the six streams. Two streams drain areas that are entirely forested and these represent reference streams for the purpose of this study. Two streams drain areas that are predominately agricultural (one dairy and the other a combination of poultry and cattle), and two streams drain areas that are in subdivisions with septic systems. Suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and stream stage were measured during base flow and storm flow conditions. Annual sediment and water yields were calculated and for each stream for the years 2003 and 2004. Average SSC ranged from 155 to 720 mg/L and was lowest in one of the forested steams and highest in the dairy stream. Sediment yield ranged from 0.91 to 10.11 Mg/ha/yr and was lowest in one of the forested steams and highest in the dairy stream. In general, the forested streams had the lowest sediment yields, the agricultural watersheds had the highest sediment yields, and the suburban streams were intermediate.