The relationship of land use practices to surface water quality in the Upper Oconee Watershed of Georgia
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Authors: D. S. Fisher, J. L. Steiner, K. M. Endale, J. A. Stuedemann, H. H. Schomberg, A. J. Franzeluebbers, and S. R. Wilkinson
Date: 2000
Journal: Forestry Ecology and Management
Volume: 128
Number: 1-2
Pages: 39-48
Summary of Methods: Turbidity, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, and fecal coliform bacteria were measured in the Upper Oconee Watershed in Georgia to better understand the effects of agriculture and urbanization on water quality. Water samples from 18 sites were collected by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (monthly during 1996) and the Georgia Power Company (bi-weekly from February 1995 until April 1996). Eight sites were in the headwaters of the North Oconee, Middle Oconee, and Mulberry rivers which are heavily influenced by agricultural, especially poultry production, and the city of Athens. Ten sites were on the western side of the main watershed, near Lake Oconee, where there is less agricultural influence. In addition, coliform, enterococci, and E. coli were compared between two smaller watersheds, one grazed and one wooded and ungrazed.
Article Summary / Main Points: Water samples near poultry operations, other agriculture sites, and the city of Athens were higher in fecal coliforms than samples taken further down the watershed. Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were varied among the sites, but were higher near poultry farms, while turbidity was fairly uniform across all sites. Heavy rainfall events cause higher bacteria numbers in creek below the pastures in the small watershed that was grazed. The overflow pond site, in the smaller grazed watershed, and the small wooded watershed sites were able to mitigate bacteria numbers during rain events.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 136 Southern Piedmont
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Water quality Grazed land
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: grazing lands, dairy, poultry, urban, manure, coliform bacteria
Annotation: The results in this study are site specific due to the unique nature of the watershed. Large poultry operations and other agriculture along with urbanization create conditions influence water quality in this watershed. The authors assert that distance between agriculture and urban centers allowed for dilution of agricultural pollution (nutrients and bacteria) before it reaches the city.
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