Segment Analysis of Johnson Creek: The Location of Sources of Pollution

Abstract

Johnson Creek is located in the southern portion of the Lake Ontario watershed, Orleans and Niagara Counties, New York. The relatively large watershed encompasses 98.6 square miles and flows into Lake Ontario near Kuckville, New York. Two years of continuous water quality monitoring indicated that the Johnson Creek watershed was a source of phosphorus, nitrate, organic nitrogen, sodium and soils to Lake Ontario. That is, Johnson Creek and the watershed it drained are a source of nutrients and soil pollution to Lake Ontario relative to other watersheds of similar size in western New York. Where are the sources of nutrients, soils and salts within the Johnson Creek watershed? To answer this question the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Niagara and Orleans Counties, along with the Center of Applied Aquatic Science and Aquaculture at SUNY Brockport, undertook the process of identifying the point and non-point sources of nutrients and soils by stressed stream analysis or segment analysis. With this report, we provide evidence suggesting the location and the intensity of pollution sources in the Johnson Creek watershed. We have identified three areas/sources in the Johnson Creek watershed that have consistently had high levels of nutrients, soils or sodium. What follows is a synopsis of what pollutants are being lost and where the sources are located. Maps are included in the narrative to locate these sites.