Active channel loss, reed canary grass

expansion, and nutrient-enriched

groundwater in the Lower Chippewa
River in west-central Wisconsin
Presented by Emily Moothart and Scott Nesbit
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Douglas Faulkner and Dr. Garry Running
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Geography and Anthropology Department

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris

arundinacea L.)
Wetland invasive species
Native species
Early Uses
Forage
Soil breaking in (USDA-NRCS)

Later Uses
Wastewater management
Biofuel (Europe and Scandinavia)

RCG Native Locations

(Lavergne and Molofsy 2004)

Presence of RCG in Wisconsin

and LCR

(Wisconsin DNR
2011)

(Barnes
1999)

Lower Chippewa River

Presence of RCG in the Lower Chippewa Rive

Map by Dr. Douglas Faulkne

Study Objectives
Our research was conducted to determine if:
groundwater enriched in agricultural nutrients supports
the RCG infestation
This is based on these assumptions:
surplus of nutrients infiltrates through the soil and mixes
with the groundwater
RCG uptakes excess nutrients, allowing increased growth
Another investigated factor is that:
increased high capacity irrigation wells are related to RCG
increase

Methods
Collected water samples during summer of 2015
Nitrate and phosphorus were analyzed
6 sites
2 water samples at each site
1 water sample collected from channel
1 water sample collected from the channels adjacent bank
RCG presence

Method of Water Sampling

from Bank

Methods
Collected water samples during summer of 2015
Nitrate and phosphorus were analyzed
6 sites
2 water samples at each site

1 water sample collected from channel

1 water sample collected from the channels adjacent bank

Each site was collected 6 times throughout summer

Analyzed at Eau Claire County Health Department
Lab methods
Phosphorus: 4500 P.E. Ascorbic Acid Method
Nitrate: 4500 NO3 Nitrate Electrode Method for NO3

Results

Site 1 Nitrate

Site 1 Phosphorus

14

1.2

12

1.0

10

0.8

8
ppm

ppm 0.6

0.4

0.2

42191

42199

Surface Water

42570

42581

Groundwater

42220

42232

Safe Drinking Level

42260

0.0
42191

42199

Surface Water

42204

42215

Groundwater

42220

42232

42626

WI Effluent Standard

Site 2 Nitrate

Site 2 Phosphorus

14

1.2

12

1.0

10

0.8

8
ppm

ppm 0.6

0.4

0.2

0
42191

42199

Surface Water

42215

42220

Groundwater

42232

42260

Safe Drinking Level

0.0
42191

42199

Surface Water

42215
Groundwater

42220

42232

42260

WI Effluent Standard

Site 3 Nitrate

Site 3 Phosphorus

14

1.2

12

1.0

10

0.8

8
ppm

ppm 0.6

0.4

0.2

0
42198

42218

Surface Water

42233

42247

Groundwater

42254

42261

Safe Drinking Level

0.0
42198

42218

Surface Water

42233
Groundwater

42247

42254

42261

WI Effluent Standard

Site 4 Nitrate

Site 4 Phosphorus

14

1.2

12

1.0

10

0.8

8
ppm

ppm 0.6

0.4

0.2

0
42198

42218

Surface Water

42233

42247

Groundwater

42254

42261

Safe Drinking Level

0.0
42198

42218

Surface Water

42233
Groundwater

42247

42254

42261

WI Effluent Standard

Site 5 Nitrate

Site 5 Phosphorus

14

1.2

12

1.0

10

0.8

8
ppm

ppm 0.6

0.4

0.2

0
42193

42198

Surface Water

42204

42215

Groundwater

42220

42232

Safe Drinking Level

0.0
42193

42198

Surface Water

42204
Groundwater

42215

42220

42232

WI Effluent Standard

Site 6 Nitrate

Site 6 Phosphorus

14

1.2

12

1.0

10

0.8

8
ppm

ppm 0.6

0.4

0.2

0
42193

42198

Surface Water

42204

42215

Groundwater

42220

42232

Safe Drinking Level

0.0
42193

42198

Surface Water

42204
Groundwater

42215

42220

42232

WI Effluent Standard

Average Nitrate Levels

Average Phosphorus Levels

14

1.2

12

10

0.8

8
ppm

ppm 0.6
0.4

6
4

0.2

2
0
Site 1

Site 2

Surface Water

Site 3
Groundwater

Site 4

Site 5

Safe Drinking Level

Site 6

0
Site 1

Site 2

Surface Water

Site 3
Groundwater

Site 4

Site 5

Site 6

WI Effluent Standard

Discussion

Historic Nitrate on the Chippewa River at Short Street

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

ppm

Nitrate

Safe Drinking Level

Historic Total Phosphorus on the Chippewa River at Short Street

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
ppm

0.2
0
-0.2

Phosphorus

WI Effluent Standard

Source: Wisconsin DN

Historic Nitrate Data on the LCR at Durand

12
10
8

ppm

6
4
2
0
27304

33148

33254

33282

33338

33394

33456

Surface Water (Nitrate)

33528

33603

33675

33722

33833

33906

37896

Safe Drinking Level

Historic Phosphorus Data on the LCR at Durand

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
ppm

0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
Surface Water (Phosphorus)

WI Effluent Standard

Source: USGS

Est. Nitrogen Ag. Use in Dunn County

Est. Nitrogen Ag. Use in Eau Claire County

6000000

6000000

5000000

5000000

4000000

4000000

3000000
Kilograms
2000000

2000000

1000000

1000000

Est. Phosphorus Ag. Use In Dunn County

Est. Phosphorus Ag. Use In Eau Claire County

1400000

1400000

1200000

1200000

1000000

1000000

800000
Kilograms

3000000
Kilograms

kilograms

800000

600000

600000

400000

400000

200000

200000

Source: USGS

Groundwater Nitrate and Avg. Daily Discharge (Durand gage)

16000

14

14000

12

12000

10

10000

8000
Avg Daily Discharge (cfs)

6000

Nitrate (ppm)

4000
2000

Average Daily Discharge (cfs)

Site 1

Site 2

Site 4

Site 5

Site 6

Site 3

Surface Water Nitrate and Avg. Daily Discharge (Durand gage)

16000

14

14000

12

12000

10

10000

8000
Avg Daily Discharge (cfs)

6000

4000
2000

Avg Daily Discharge (cfs)

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

Site 4

Site 5

Site 6

Nitrate (ppm)

Groundwater Phosphorus vs Avg. Daily Discharge (Durand gage)

16000

1.4

14000

1.2

12000

10000

0.8

8000
Avg Daily Discharge (cfs)

0.6

6000

Phosphorus (ppm)

0.4

4000

0.2

2000
0

Avg Daily Discharge (cfs)

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

Site 4

Site 5

Site 6

Surface Water Phosphorus and Avg. Daily Discharge (Durand gage)

Avg Daily Discharge (cfs)

16000

1.4

14000

1.2

12000

10000

0.8

8000

0.6

6000

0.4

4000

0.2

2000

-0.2

Avg Daily Discharge (cfs)

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

Site 4

Site 5

Site 6

Phosphorus (ppm)

Conclusion
Able to detect nitrate and phosphorus using our
sampling method
Water samples collected from the bank show elevated
levels of nitrate and phosphorus regardless of discharge

Limitations
Sample collection dates
Accessibility of sites
Knowledge of groundwater system
Quantity of data
Water level variability
Baseflow vs bank storage

Water Level Variability

Further Research
Additional sample sites
With and without presence of RCG

Monitoring well

Acknowledgements
Dr. Douglas Faulkner and Dr. Garry Running
US Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP)
University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Department of
Geography and Anthropology
Eau Claire County Health Department
Zach Nemeth and Michelle Seigl

References Cited
Barnes, W. J. 1999. The Rapid Growth of a Population of Reed Canarygrass
(Phalaris arndinasea L.) and its Impact on Some Riverbottom Herbs. Journal of
the Torrey Botanical Society. 126(2): 133-138.
Faulkner, D. J. 2014. Assessing the Role of Reed Canary Grass in the Declining
Active Channel Area of the Lower Chippewa River.
Irrigation Well Data. 2014. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Retrieved May 20, 2015.
Lavergne, S. and Molofsky, J. 2004. "Reed Canary Grass ( Phalaris Arundinacea )
As A Biological Model In The Study Of Plant Invasions". Critical Reviews In Plant
Sciences 23 (5): 415-429.
Polechonska, L., and Klink, A. 2014. Accumulation and distribution of
macroelements in the organs of Phalaris arundinacea L.: Implication for
phytoremediation. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part aToxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 49(12), 1385-1391.