Characterization of Metal Concentrations in Sediment and Water of the Swan Creek Watershed, A Major Tributary in the Maumee River Area of Concern

In 1985, the Swan Creek watershed was designated as a part of the Maumee River Area of Concern by the International Joint Commission’s Water Quality Board, due in part to the presence of heavy metal and organic chemical sediment contamination detrimental to the overall quality of the Great Lakes. The primary objective of this study is to determine current level of metals in water and sediment from Swan Creek, to identify those areas that might warrant remediation and those which meet Area of Concern delisting criteria. In addition, samples of the glaciolacustrine sediments underlying the AOC were analyzed in order to establish the geogenic metals input and to evaluate the extent of anthropogenic inputs by calculating enrichment factors. Metals concentrations in water and sediment samples indicate they are not a concern for water quality and not a concern for sediment quality for all but the lowest six miles of Swan Creek and particularly the lowest two miles where elevated levels of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn persist. Enrichment factors for the lowest reach indicate anthropogenic sources for the metals consistent with the largely commercial and industrial land use associated with this reach. However, enrichment factors for the upper and middle reaches, that have primarily agricultural and residential land use, show no significant anthropogenic input indicating additional ecological studies should be done to evaluate the possibility of delisting these regions from the Maumee AOC.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geology

Grantor dc:publisher

Bowling Green State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Cropper, Neal H.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Farver, John

• Geology
• Geochemistry
• heavy metals
• metal concentrations
• Swan Creek
• Maumee River
• Area of Concern
• AOC

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1364908977

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:bgsu1364908977