Abstract
The application of road salt in an urban watershed leads to
increased
sodium and chloride concentrations in surface water and
groundwater,
which can adversely affect aquatic ecosystems, and may have
consequences for soil cation exchange. This study focuses on the
spatial and temporal variations in sodium and chloride
concentrations
in Patroon Creek, Albany County, New York, a tributary of the
Hudson
River. For two years, weekly surface water samples were gathered
from 7
sites along Patroon Creek for major ion concentrations as measured
by
ion chromatography. Additionally, a USGS gage on Patroon Creek
measures
specific conductivity, water temperature, stage, and discharge in
15
minute intervals. Sodium and chloride concentrations in the creek
are
highest at all sampling sites in winter months, and near large
parking
lots and areas with high road density. However, concentrations
remain
elevated throughout the year with respect to natural background
levels.
Mean chloride concentration is 224 ppm (n = 644). Sodium and
chloride
in the creek water are a result of halite road salt application in
the
watershed, which is evidenced by the rapid rise in sodium and
chloride
concentrations in the creek during winter storm events, and the
high
correlation between sodium and chloride in the water (sodium to
chloride ratio in mEq = 0.94:1, R2 = 0.95, n = 578).
Roughly
one-third of the 37 km2 watershed is covered by
impervious
surfaces, suggesting that much of the road salt applied to the
watershed is washed directly into Patroon Creek. This study
attempts to
create a mass-balance of inputs and outputs of halite salt to and
from
the Patroon Creek Watershed system. Inputs of sodium and chloride
include road salt application, groundwater baseflow input, and
input
from precipitation. Outputs include discharge of salt by Patroon
Creek
to the Hudson River, output from a combined sewage overflow
system, and
loss to groundwater recharge. The budget does not balance
perfectly;
there seems to be a net gain of salt to the system.
Erickson, E.K., 2004. Road salt application and its effects on
sodium and chloride ion concentrations in an urban stream Patroon
Creek, Albany, NY.
Unpublished MSc. thesis, State University of New York at
Albany.
83 pp., + ix
University at Albany Science Library call number: SCIENCE
Oversize
(*) QE 40 Z899 2004 E75
thesis (scanned
text) - 15.1MB pdf file
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