Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay Continuum
Freshwater inflow is important in transporting nutrients to a bay. We hypothesized that freshwater inflow was transporting dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus to the Inland Bays. We analyzed long term (1998–2019) water quality data collected from Indian River, Indian River Bay, Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, L...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Hydrology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/9/8/138 |
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| author | Bhanu Paudel Lori M. Brown |
| author_facet | Bhanu Paudel Lori M. Brown |
| author_sort | Bhanu Paudel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Freshwater inflow is important in transporting nutrients to a bay. We hypothesized that freshwater inflow was transporting dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus to the Inland Bays. We analyzed long term (1998–2019) water quality data collected from Indian River, Indian River Bay, Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, Little Assawoman Bay, and Rehoboth Bay watersheds. Freshwater inflow altered nitrite+nitrate (N-NO<sub>2_3</sub>) concentrations in all but Lewes-Rehoboth Canal watershed, whereas phosphate (P-PO<sub>4</sub>) concentrations in all watersheds were altered by freshwater inflow and metabolic processes in the water. The average N-NO<sub>2_3</sub> and P-PO<sub>4</sub> were higher than the standard (0.14 and 0.01 mg/L for N-NO<sub>2_3</sub>+N-NH<sub>3</sub> and P-PO<sub>4</sub>, respectively) for growing seasons (March–October) i.e., 0.83 + 0.14 and 0.09 mg/L in Indian River; 0.79 + 0.10 and 0.06 mg/L in Indian River Bay; 0.21 + 0.15 and 0.09 mg/L in Lewes-Rehoboth Canal; 0.49 + 0.10 and 0.11 mg/L in Little Assawoman Bay; 1.0 + 0.08 and 0.06 mg/L in Rehoboth Bay. Average total suspended solids in the Indian River (33), Indian River Bay (22), and Lewes-Rehoboth Canal (31) were higher than the standard concentrations, i.e., 20 mg/L for the Inland Bays. With the evidence of higher dissolved nutrients and low dissolved oxygen concentrations, need for nutrient load reduction and water quality monitoring are paramount for the sustainable management of Inland Bays. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:56:49Z |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:56:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
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| series | Hydrology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec2a7f3cf55649f6aca972779f4cb9ce2023-12-01T23:46:16ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382022-08-019813810.3390/hydrology9080138Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay ContinuumBhanu Paudel0Lori M. Brown1Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Watershed Stewardship/Watershed Assessment and Management Section, 285 Beiser Blvd., Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904, USADelaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Watershed Stewardship/Watershed Assessment and Management Section, 285 Beiser Blvd., Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904, USAFreshwater inflow is important in transporting nutrients to a bay. We hypothesized that freshwater inflow was transporting dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus to the Inland Bays. We analyzed long term (1998–2019) water quality data collected from Indian River, Indian River Bay, Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, Little Assawoman Bay, and Rehoboth Bay watersheds. Freshwater inflow altered nitrite+nitrate (N-NO<sub>2_3</sub>) concentrations in all but Lewes-Rehoboth Canal watershed, whereas phosphate (P-PO<sub>4</sub>) concentrations in all watersheds were altered by freshwater inflow and metabolic processes in the water. The average N-NO<sub>2_3</sub> and P-PO<sub>4</sub> were higher than the standard (0.14 and 0.01 mg/L for N-NO<sub>2_3</sub>+N-NH<sub>3</sub> and P-PO<sub>4</sub>, respectively) for growing seasons (March–October) i.e., 0.83 + 0.14 and 0.09 mg/L in Indian River; 0.79 + 0.10 and 0.06 mg/L in Indian River Bay; 0.21 + 0.15 and 0.09 mg/L in Lewes-Rehoboth Canal; 0.49 + 0.10 and 0.11 mg/L in Little Assawoman Bay; 1.0 + 0.08 and 0.06 mg/L in Rehoboth Bay. Average total suspended solids in the Indian River (33), Indian River Bay (22), and Lewes-Rehoboth Canal (31) were higher than the standard concentrations, i.e., 20 mg/L for the Inland Bays. With the evidence of higher dissolved nutrients and low dissolved oxygen concentrations, need for nutrient load reduction and water quality monitoring are paramount for the sustainable management of Inland Bays.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/9/8/138Delaware Inland Baysnitratephosphatefreshwater inflowDelaware comprehensive conservation and management plan |
| spellingShingle | Bhanu Paudel Lori M. Brown Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay Continuum Hydrology Delaware Inland Bays nitrate phosphate freshwater inflow Delaware comprehensive conservation and management plan |
| title | Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay Continuum |
| title_full | Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay Continuum |
| title_fullStr | Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay Continuum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay Continuum |
| title_short | Long Term (1998–2019) Changes in Water Quality Parameters as a Function of Freshwater Inflow in a River–Bay Continuum |
| title_sort | long term 1998 2019 changes in water quality parameters as a function of freshwater inflow in a river bay continuum |
| topic | Delaware Inland Bays nitrate phosphate freshwater inflow Delaware comprehensive conservation and management plan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/9/8/138 |
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