Development and Use of Water Quality Indices (WQI) to Assess the Impact of BMP Implementation on Water Quality in the Cool Run Tributary of the White Clay Creek Watershed

The purpose of this project was to develop a Water Quality Index (WQI) that would be used to evaluate the water quality of Cool Run and to evaluate the effects that implemented agronomic best management practices (BMPs) had on water quality. A variety of water quality parameters were measured from eight sites within the University of Delaware Agricultural Experimental Station farm (UDAES) from July 2006 to July 2009. Based on this data there has been a positive impact on the water quality as Cool Run exits the UDAES and continues through residential areas. Many sections of the stream within the UDAES are still impaired from previous farm management practices. Several new practices have been implemented within this study period. Two recent BMPs that were installed within the study area are a manure collection system and a constructed wetland. Older management practices have been in place since 2001. These practices include riparian buffer zones, fencing to prevent of livestock from entering the stream, and the addition of a storm water detention basin. A working model was developed to allow the WQI to be used for the evaluation of up to eight different water quality parameters sets or to be used to create a spatial distribution of the WQI values as the stream flows through the UDAES. The model was used for the evaluation and rating of the individual sites and the Best Management Practices (BMPs) that were put in place. Future researchers will be able to use and update the Kiliszek Water Quality Index (KWQI) with the current Delaware water quality standards and criteria to monitor the quality of water within the Cool Run Stream.