Summary and Interpretation of Discrete and Continuous ...

Prepared in cooperation with the

Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management

Maryland Department of the Environment

Maryland Geological Survey

Summary and Interpretation of Discrete and Continuous

Water-Quality Monitoring Data, Mattawoman Creek,

Charles County, Maryland, 2000¨C11

Scientific Investigations Report 2012¨C5265

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Cover. View of Mattawoman Creek looking upstream at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgaging station 01658000 near

Pomfret Road, Charles County, Maryland. [Photograph taken June 2010 by David P. Brower, USGS.]

Summary and Interpretation of Discrete

and Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring

Data, Mattawoman Creek, Charles County,

Maryland, 2000¨C11

By Jeffrey G. Chanat, Cherie V. Miller, Joseph M. Bell, Brenda Feit Majedi, and

David P. Brower

Prepared in cooperation with the

Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management

Maryland Department of the Environment

Maryland Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2012¨C5265

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2013

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Suggested citation:

Chanat, J.G., Miller, C.V., Bell, J.M., Majedi, B.F., and Brower, D.P., 2013, Summary and interpretation of discrete and

continuous water-quality monitoring data, Mattawoman Creek, Charles County, Maryland, 2000¨C11:

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012¨C5265, 42 p.

ISBN

978-1-4113-3528-8

iii

Contents

Abstract............................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2

Purpose and Scope...............................................................................................................................4

Description of Mattawoman Creek and Watershed........................................................................4

Description of Comparison Basins.....................................................................................................5

Choptank River near Greensboro, Maryland, U.S. Geological Survey

Station Number 01491000...............................................................................................7

North Branch Patapsco River at Cedarhurst, Maryland, U.S. Geological

Survey Station Number 01586000.................................................................................7

Georges Creek at Franklin, Maryland, U.S. Geological Survey Station

Number 01599000............................................................................................................8

Northwest Branch Anacostia River near Hyattsville, Maryland,

U.S. Geological Survey Station Number 01651000.....................................................9

Potomac River at Chain Bridge, U.S. Geological Survey Station Number

01646580............................................................................................................................9

Methods of Study............................................................................................................................................9

Measurements of Continuous Flow and Water Quality...................................................................9

Field Collection of Discrete Water-Quality Samples......................................................................10

Laboratory Methods............................................................................................................................10

Regression Models for Nutrients and Sediment............................................................................11

Estimates of Loads and Yields...........................................................................................................11

Evaluation of Data Integrity.........................................................................................................................12

Discrete-Sample Quality Assurance................................................................................................12

Constituents Computed by Difference.............................................................................................13

Lateral Mixing.......................................................................................................................................13

Hydrologic Conditions..................................................................................................................................15

Continuous Water-Quality Data..................................................................................................................16

Discrete Water-Quality Samples................................................................................................................19

Corresponding Range of Continuous Conditions............................................................................19

Suspended-Sediment and Nutrient Concentrations......................................................................19

Seasonal Patterns...............................................................................................................................22

Interrelations between Physical Parameters, Nutrients, and Suspended Sediment..............24

Comparisons between Watersheds¡ªConcentration Data..........................................................26

Estimation of Continuous Concentrations of Nutrients and Suspended Sediment...........................26

Suspended Sediment..........................................................................................................................27

Total Phosphorus.................................................................................................................................28

Total Nitrogen.......................................................................................................................................29

Estimation of Nutrient and Suspended-Sediment Loads and Yields....................................................30

Comparisons between Watersheds¡ªLoad Estimates..................................................................33

Limitations of Analysis.................................................................................................................................36

Summary and Conclusions..........................................................................................................................36

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................37

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................37

Appendix A1: Relations between Measured Water-Quality Parameters and

Constituents Discussed in this Report.........................................................................................41

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