The study involves routinely sampling sites for total phosphorus, total orthophosphate, turbidity, nitrate-nitrogen, fecal coliform bacteria and algal cover. Storm event sampling will also be conducted. Drought conditions, since the beginning of this study, prevented much information from being collected to date from storm events and runoff data. High bacteria and nutrients levels were associated with point sources below a fish hatchery and below a poultry processing plant. Phosphorus and turbidity measurements have been low but many sites showed extended nitrate values following rare periods of excessive precipitation.
Some survey sites have persistent sources of nitrate that appear to be associated with groundwater.
Fecal coliform counts were low at almost all sites during dry conditions but higher levels were associated with rainfall events. Scheduled routine and storm event sampling will continue. Once all flow stations are calibrated, total loads for each square mile of the watershed will be developed.