The relationship of land use practices to surface water quality in the Upper Oconee Watershed of Georgia

Abstract

On a watershed scale, geospatial information can be used to identify water resources that are least buffered from contamination. Implementing conservation practices at these locations may accelerate the process of increasing a watershed's ability to support its designated uses. The Upper Oconee Watershed of Georgia contains land areas devoted to poultry, dairy, and beef production. Within these historically agricultural lands, urbanization is proceeding rapidly around existing cities. Agricultural production practices are concentrated in the watershed with poultry in the headwaters area and dairy near a major lake (Lake Oconee). The objective of this research was to relate data sets representing surface water quality at selected sites throughout the watershed to the predominant land use in that portion of the watershed. The location of 550 poultry operations in the headwaters of the Upper Oconee Watershed, away from the city of Athens GA, has minimized con¯icts between agricultural and urban interests. Phosphorus, nitrogen, and fecal coliform bacteria were high near the poultry production area, but were reduced within the watershed prior to reaching the intake for the municipal water supply. Athens had a large impact on surface water quality and approximately doubled the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen in the Oconee River. The Oconee River contributed approximately 70% of the water¯owing to Lake Oconee. The residents of Lake Oconee have noted the 30 dairies located west of the lake impacting two relatively minor creeks¯owing to the lake. These two creeks make up approximately 2.5% of the¯ow to the lake, but the proximity of the dairies to the lake makes losses of phosphorus, nitrogen, and fecal bacteria apparent in water samples. Fecal coliform numbers were elevated in some creeks with little agricultural or urban development. To test alternative microbial assays, surface water from a grazed watershed was compared to water from a wooded watershed. Assays for enterococci and E. coli may provide a better test for fecal contamination and allow differentiation between natural areas and areas impacted by grazing animals. Analysis of the Upper Oconee Watershed identi®ed agricultural impacts and areas that should be priorities for natural resource management to reduce agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Focusing conservation efforts at these locations may prevent agricultural±urban con¯ict. However, the data also indicate that municipal sources of nutrients and fecal bacteria must be reduced to make signi®cant progress in the watershed. #

Assessing the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover on Water Quality in the Watershed of a Reservoir

“…Thus, efforts within the watershed should be focused to develop a planning process in which agriculture and urban interests with responsibility for water quality are shared. Addressing these issues together is essential to avoid short-term counterproductive conflicts and to develop a long-term vision for the watershed (Fisher et al, 2000).…”

Spatial water quality assessment of Langat River Basin (Malaysia) using environmetric techniques

“…The presence of AN is related to the influence of domestic waste and agricultural runoff (Fisher et al 2000;Osborne and Wiley 1988). McFarland and Hauck (1999), in their study, found that higher nitrogen levels were detected in agricultural waters, where fertilizers, manure, and pesticide have been applied.…”

Poultry Litter Fertilization Impacts on Soil, Plant, and Water Characteristics in Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) Plantations and Silvopastures in the Mid-South USA

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