Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Stream water quality affects not only the organisms that use the streams as habitat, but also human populations that benefit from the clean water, recreation, and other ecosystem services that streams provide. Characterizing spatial and temporal water quality patterns are critical to maintain and improve these ecosystem services. We have focused on the water quality of streams in Wyoming County, NY. We used data from the New York DEC’s Department of Water Monitoring Data Portal to evaluate water quality. We found that water pollution in Wyoming County streams appears to be minimal, as indicated by water chemistry, heavy metals concentrations, and macroinvertebrate indicators. Overall, the water quality of Wyoming County’s streams is high according to most parameters, though there were a few exceptions with regard to erosion. Several sites in the county have poor or marginal scores for bank stability, bank vegetation, and sediment deposition. Based on our findings, we are able to recommend specific sites for the Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District to prioritize. This approach of identifying specific sites with historical data can aid in identifying potential underlying anthropogenic problems to inform efficient distribution of resources to remediation efforts.
Recommended Citation
Ford, Micah, "197-Assessing Water Quality for Streams in Wyoming County, NY: Pollution, Erosion, and Biodiversity" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 52.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/52
197-Assessing Water Quality for Streams in Wyoming County, NY: Pollution, Erosion, and Biodiversity
Stream water quality affects not only the organisms that use the streams as habitat, but also human populations that benefit from the clean water, recreation, and other ecosystem services that streams provide. Characterizing spatial and temporal water quality patterns are critical to maintain and improve these ecosystem services. We have focused on the water quality of streams in Wyoming County, NY. We used data from the New York DEC’s Department of Water Monitoring Data Portal to evaluate water quality. We found that water pollution in Wyoming County streams appears to be minimal, as indicated by water chemistry, heavy metals concentrations, and macroinvertebrate indicators. Overall, the water quality of Wyoming County’s streams is high according to most parameters, though there were a few exceptions with regard to erosion. Several sites in the county have poor or marginal scores for bank stability, bank vegetation, and sediment deposition. Based on our findings, we are able to recommend specific sites for the Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District to prioritize. This approach of identifying specific sites with historical data can aid in identifying potential underlying anthropogenic problems to inform efficient distribution of resources to remediation efforts.