Effect if reduced salinity input on river stratification and dissolved oxygen

Abstract

Abstract. Changes in the occurrence, character, and longitudinal extent of salinity (5") stratification, and related impacts on dissolved oxygen (DO), in the Seneca and Oswego Rivers, NY, in response to the abatement of ionic pollution of inflowing Onondaga Lake, is documented. The analysis is based on vertical profiles of specific conductance and DO collected over a 20 km reach of the river system for several years before and after the closure of the source of the ionic pollution, a soda ash manufacturing facility. The S difference between the lake and the Seneca River decreased from about 2.6 to 0.7 parts per thousand (%o) following the closure; more than 50% of the continuing difference is associated with lingering ionic waste loading from soda ash production. The occurrence and longitudinal range of the S stratification phenomenon was, and continues to be, highly dependent on river flow. It is most strongly manifested when river flow is low. The occurrence, magnitude, and longtitudinal extent of S stratification have decreased, and vertical exchange between the stratified layers has increased, since the closure, thereby ameliorating the coupled negative impact on the river's oxygen resources. However, under low flow conditions (e.g., probability of occurrence equal to 15%) S stratification continues to extent > 2 km upstream and > 8 km downstream of the point of entry of Onondaga Lake into the Seneca River. Severe DO depletion in the lowel fiver layer, representing violations of New York water quality standards, continues to occur where S stratification prevails. Elimination of the continuing ionic waste inputs from soda ash production would further limit the stratification phenomenon and improve the river's DO problem.

Spatial, seasonal, and diel distribution patterns of Hemimysis anomala in New York State's Finger Lakes

“…Suitable rocky habitat exists through most of the canal's reach, and thermal and salinity conditions in the canal (Effler et al, 1998;Effler et al, 1997) are within the species tolerance range (Borcherding et al, 2006). In addition to proper habitat, Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, as well as the SenecaCayuga canal, have high salinity (60-120 mg/L; Wing et al, 1995), which may facilitate the establishment of this brackish-water mysid (Jadewski et al, 2005).…”

Buffering of Alkaline Steel Slag Leachate across a Natural Wetland

“…In terms of ecological impacts, high-pH waters are characterized by the high rates of calcite precipitation as calcareous crystalline crusts (analogous in some ways to natural travertine deposits) which smother benthic and littoral aquatic habitats (6) and reduce light penetration to benthic primary producers. High pH itself can be directly harmful to fish populations (7), while associated water quality impacts of increased chemical oxygen demand, high sulfate loadings (8), salinity (9), and elevations of amphoteric or anionic heavy metals (e.g. arsenic and selenium (8)) have been reported for some alkaline leachates.…”

Effect of soda ash industry effluent on agarophytes, alginophytes and carrageenophyte of west coast of India

“…This waste caused: (1) plunging of the saline input, (2) chemical stratification in the surrounding region, (3) high salinity (e.g. increase in Cl − concentration), (4) elevated precipitation and deposition of calcium carbonate and phytoplankton similar to those observed in the study of the Seneca River [30][31][32][33].…”