South Puget Sound Dissolved Oxygen Study

WQ Partnership MeetingMarch 15, 2007

Andrew Kolosseus360-407-7543

akol461@ecy.wa.gov

The Problem

Goal of the Study

Determine how human activities (along with natural factors) affect low dissolved oxygen levels in South Puget Sound.

This study is part of Governor Gregoire’s long-term effort to protect Puget Sound

Primary Issues

• Fish need oxygen• Solve the problem before it gets

worse• Nitrogen is the main pollutant that

causes low dissolved oxygen levels

Long Term

If the study shows that something needs be done to protect dissolved oxygen levels in South Puget Sound, a plan of action that will result in clean water will be necessary.

Involvement

1. Webpage www.ecy.wa.gov/puget_sound then click on “South Puget Sound Dissolved Oxygen Study”

2. ListServ

3. Technical Advisory CommitteeNext meeting: March 19

Technical Advisory Committee

Tribes

WWTPs

University

Municipalities

Counties

Business Interests

Conservation District

Department of Health

Environmental Groups

Federal Government

Why do we care about nitrogen?

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South Puget Sound Dissolved Oxygen Study

Input Data

Model Development

What-if Scenarios

1. Collect data to set up model

• Point source loads• Nonpoint source loads

– Rivers/streams– Groundwater– Septic systems– Fertilizer

• Atmospheric deposition

Input Data

Model Development

What-if Scenarios

WWTPs currently

monitored

Current tributary monitoring

Marine Data

• Ambient monitoring

• Monthly boundary sampling cruises

• Depth profiles

• Grab samples

• Productivity

• Currents (ADCP)

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South Sound Marine Stations

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South Sound Marine Stations

Atmospheric Deposition

• National Atmospheric Deposition Program

• Hood Canal??

• South Sound Phase 1 Total Nitrogen loads:– 3 kg/d– (1.2 tons/yr)

Nitrate (mg/l) Nitrate (kg/ha)Ammonium (mg/l)

Meteorology

• Wind

• Precipitation

• Cloud cover

• Air temperature

• Dewpoint temperature

• Solar radiation

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PARKOLYMPIA

FOREST HQ

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BREMERTON

OLYMPIA WSO AP

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SEATTLE WSO CI

SEATTLE WB AP

KENT

GRAPEVIEW3 SW

Available rain data

Septic systems, land cover effects

• Included in river and stream monitoring

(89% of the watersheds tributary to South Sound)

2a. Develop model to represent complex physical structure

Input Data

Model Development

What-if Scenarios

2

2b. Develop model to represent water quality processes

Input Data

Model Development

What-if Scenarios

2c. Compare model output to data

Input Data

Model Development

What-if Scenarios

3. Apply model to various what-if scenarios

Input Data

Model Development

What-if Scenarios

What if nitrogen

loads decrease?

Will South Sound DO levels…

… improve markedly?

… remain low?

Point vs. nonpoint

Deschutes/LOTT

Puyallup/Tacoma

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen

Watershed Inflows

Direct Point

Sources

South Puget Sound Phase 1

Expected Schedule

• Data collection

• Model development

• Potential follow-up activities

2006-07

2007-09

2010-

South Puget Sound Dissolved Oxygen Study

Andrew Kolosseus360-407-7543

akol461@ecy.wa.gov