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The geochemical composition of the Scioto River, Ohio: influence of urbanization and seasonal changes in agricultural inputs

Wichterich, Connor M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1650390476648329

Abstract Details

2022, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Earth Sciences.
Despite efforts to mitigate and reduce contamination of surface water resources, water quality remains impaired in many places worldwide, primarily due to nonpoint source pollutants including agriculture and urbanization. These both introduce excess sediment and nutrients, various types of chemicals, and more to surface waters. The Scioto River in the Upper Scioto River Basin in central Ohio was studied to assess the influence of large-scale agriculture and urbanization/suburbanization on river geochemistry. The Scioto River has its headwaters in land dominated by row-crop agriculture, then flows through the expanding metropolitan Columbus area, then again through suburbs and agricultural land south of downtown Columbus. Additionally, the river is dammed in two places, providing another means of assessing how modification of natural river systems impacts river geochemistry. The Scioto River was sampled in five locations with varying degrees of surrounding agricultural and urban land use. Samples were collected weekly at three locations from February 2021 to August 2021, then monthly through December 2021. The other two locations were sampled monthly for the entire study period. Samples were analyzed for major ions, nutrients, select trace elements, and stable water isotopes. Results revealed that concentrations of many analytes were generally highest at the most upstream location, decreased until downtown Columbus, and increased at the location furthest downstream. Because much of the study area is underlain by carbonate bedrock, correlations with Ca and/or Mg were thought to indicate a primarily geogenic source of the solute. Elements with moderate to strong positive correlations with Ca and/or Mg included Na, HCO3, Cl, SO4 F, Br, Li, U, Ni, Rb, Mo, Ba, and Sr. Additionally, many of these elements had moderate to strong negative correlations with NO3+NO2, which is primarily from agricultural inputs. Further, log C – log Q relationships of these data revealed chemostasis or weak dilution of analytes that positively correlated with Ca/Mg, suggesting a geogenic source of these elements. In contrast, NO3+NO2 and Cu displayed slight mobilization behavior. Yields of Cu and NO3+NO2 decreased from upstream agricultural locations until downtown Columbus, where yields of both increased before decreasing at the location furthest downstream. This suggests an urban input of NO3+NO2 in addition to agricultural inputs upstream, and an influx of Cu from metropolitan Columbus, potentially from impermeable surface runoff that collects contamination from fossil fuel combustion and vehicle wear/emissions. Lastly, the influence of hydrologic modification from damming of the river was evident in these data. Correlations between elements were weakest at sample locations closest to the reservoirs, and log C – log Q relationships were closest to chemostatic at these locations for most analytes. These data reveal both urban and agricultural controls on the river’s chemistry that vary due to hydroclimatic conditions and surrounding land use. Frequent sampling of the Scioto River during relatively higher flows allowed for a more nuanced understanding of sources of solutes to the river. Continued water quality monitoring is imperative to maintain and protect water quality resources, especially as urban populations are predicted to grow significantly in the next century.
W. Berry Lyons (Advisor)
Thomas Darrah (Committee Member)
Nicholas Basta (Committee Member)
Susan Welch (Committee Member)
111 p.
Earth; Environmental Geology; Environmental Science; Geology; Hydrologic Sciences; Hydrology
Scioto River; ohio; surface water chemistry; agriculture; urbanization; Columbus; reservoir; dam; log C-log Q; anthropogenic

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Citations

  • Wichterich, C. M. (2022). The geochemical composition of the Scioto River, Ohio: influence of urbanization and seasonal changes in agricultural inputs [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1650390476648329

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wichterich, Connor. The geochemical composition of the Scioto River, Ohio: influence of urbanization and seasonal changes in agricultural inputs. 2022. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1650390476648329.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wichterich, Connor. "The geochemical composition of the Scioto River, Ohio: influence of urbanization and seasonal changes in agricultural inputs." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1650390476648329

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1650390476648329
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