TECHNICAL PAPERS
Jun 1, 1989

Impact of Land Use and NPS Loads on Lake Quality

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 115, Issue 3

Abstract

Extensive land use, nonpoint source (NPS), and lake water quality data are used to determine the interaction of lake water quality and watershed development in the Lake Austin watershed. Historical trends in total suspended solids and total phosphorus are examined over the 1979–84 period, during which impervious cover increased by 79% in the lake watershed. A PC‐based continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) model is used to depict the response of lake water quality to loadings associated with a variety of development options ranging from impervious cover of 10–40%. The reliability of the model is supported by the unusually simple lake hydraulics, exclusive NPS loading, and extensive data base. Model results are used to create a set of recommendations that should protect the water quality of the lake.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Barton Creek watershed study (1979). Vols. 1–3, prepared by Espey, Huston, and Associates for the City of Austin, Office of Envir. Mgmt., Austin, Tex.
2.
Bedient, P. B., Lambert, J. L., and Springer, N. K. (1980). “Stormwater pollutant load‐runoff relationships.” J. Water Pollut. Control Fed., 52(9), 2396–2404.
3.
Chapra, S. C., and Reckhow, K. H. (1983). Engineering approaches for lake management, volume 2: mechanistic modeling. Butterworth Publishers, Woburn, Mass.
4.
Colston, N. V. (1974). “Characterization and treatment of urban runoff.” EPA Report No. EPA‐440/9‐75‐004, U.S. Envir. Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
5.
Dillon, P. J. (1975). “The phosphorus budget of Cameron Lake, Ontario: The importance of flushing rate to the degree of eutrophy of lakes.” Limnology and Oceanology, 20(1), 28–39.
6.
The effect of projected urban land development on the quantity and quality of storm water runoff into Lake Austin. (1976). Prepared by Espey, Huston, and Associates for Wallace, McHarg, Roberts and Todd and the City of Austin, Office of Envir. Mgmt., Austin, Tex.
7.
Ferrara, R. A., and Witkowski, P. (1983). “Stormwater quality characteristics in detention basins.” J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 109(2), 428–447.
8.
Final report of the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program in Austin, Texas. (1983). City of Austin and Engineering Science, Austin, Tex.
9.
Garner, L. E., and Young, K. P. (1976). “Environmental geology of the Austin area: An aid to urban planning.” Report of Investigations No. 86, Bureau of Economic Geology, Univ. of Texas, Austin, Tex.
10.
Gordon, J. D., Pate, D. L., and Dorsey, M. E. (1985). “Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin metropolitan area, Texas, 1983.” USGS Open‐File Report 85‐172, U.S. Geologic Survey in cooperation with the City of Austin, Austin, Tex.
11.
Gordon, J. D., Pate, D. L., and Dorsey, M. E. (1986). “Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin metropolitan area, Texas, 1984.” USGS Open‐File Report 85‐676, U.S. Geologic Survey in cooperation with the City of Austin, Austin, Tex.
12.
Huber, W. C., et al. (1979). “Urban rainfall—runoff—quality data base, update with statistical analysis.” EPA Report No. EPA‐600/8‐79‐004, Municipal Envir. Res. Lab., Office of Res. and Development, U.S. Envir. Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
13.
Lake Austin/town lake water quality data analysis, (1984). City of Austin, Dept. of Public Works, Watershed Mgmt. Div., Austin, Tex.
14.
Loehr, R. C. (1974). “Characteristics and comparative magnitude of non‐point sources.” J. Water Poll. Control Fed., 46(8), 1849–1872.
15.
McCuen, R. H. (1982). A guide to hydrologic analysis using SCS methods. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
16.
McElroy, A. D., et al. (1976). “Loading functions for assessment of water pollution from nonpoint sources.” U.S. EPA Report No. EPA‐600/2‐76‐151, U.S. Envir. Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
17.
Miertschin, J. D. (1985). “Evaluation of the effects of point and nonpoint source phosphorus loads upon water quality in the Highland Lakes,” thesis presented to the University of Texas, at Austin, Texas, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
18.
Mockus, V. (1957). Use of storm and watershed characteristics in synthetic hydrograph analysis and application. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Washington, D.C.
19.
“National eutrophication survey, report on Lake Travis, Burnet and Travis Counties, Texas.” (1977). Corvallis Environmental Research Laboratory, and Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory. EPA Working Paper No. 664, U.S. Envir. Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
20.
Rast, W., and Lee, E. F. (1983). “Nutrient loading estimates for lakes.” J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 109(2), 502–517.
21.
Rast, W., and Lee, E. F. (1977). “Summary analysis of the North American (U.S. Portion), OECD eutrophication project: Nutrient loading—lake response relationship and trophic status indices.” U.S. EPA Report No. EPA/3‐78‐008, Ecological Res. Series, U.S. Envir. Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oreg.
22.
Shanahan, P., and Harleman, D. R. F. (1984). “Transport in lake water quality modeling.” J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 110(1), 42–57.
23.
Slade, R. M., Jr., et al. (1983a). “Hydrologic Data for Urban Studies in the Austin Metropolitan Area, Texas, 1981.” USGS Open‐File Report 83‐44, U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the City of Austin, Austin, Texas.
24.
Slade, R. M., Jr. et al. (1983b). “Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin metropolitan area, Texas, 1982.” USGS Open‐File Report 84‐061, U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the City of Austin, Austin, Tex.
25.
Smith, R. A., Alexander, R. B., and Wolman, M. G. (1987). “Water‐quality trends in the nation's rivers.” Science, 235, 1607–1615.
26.
Soil survey of Travis County, Texas. (1974). Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, in cooperation with Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Washington, D.C.
27.
Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. (1977). 13th Ed., Am. Public Health Assoc., Am. Water Works Assoc., Water Pollution Control Fed., Washington, D.C.
28.
Statewide monitoring network—sampling data inventory. (1986). Texas Water Commission, and Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin, Tex.
29.
Stormwater quality modeling for Austin Creeks. (1984). City of Austin, Dept. of Public Works, Watershed Mgmt. Div., Austin, Tex.
30.
Study of urban stormwater quality, Austin intensive planning area. (1978). Prepared by Espey, Huston, and Associates in cooperation the Texas Dept. of Water Resour. for the Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin, Tex.
31.
Tapp, J. S. (1978). “Eutrophication analysis with simple and complex models.” J. Water Pollut. Control Fed., 50(3), 484–492.
32.
Uchrin, C. G., and Weber, W. J., Jr. (1981). “Modeling suspended solids and bacteria in Ford Lake.” J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 107(5), 975–993.
33.
Vollenweider, R. A. (1975). “Input‐output models, with special reference to the phosphorus loading concept in limnology.” Schweiz. Zeitschr. Hydrol., vol. 37.
34.
Vollenweider, R. A. (1976). “Advances in defining critical loading levels for phosphorus in lake eutrophication.” Memoirs 1st Ital. Idrobio, Italy, vol. 33.
35.
“Water resources data, Texas, water years 1976‐1984.” (1977‐85). USGS Water‐Data Report TX76‐1 and TX76‐2 through TX84‐1 and TX84‐2, U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the City of Austin, Austin, Tex.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 115Issue 3June 1989
Pages: 633 - 649

History

Published online: Jun 1, 1989
Published in print: Jun 1989

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

David A. Todd
Consultant, Wray & Todd Interests, Ltd., 1724‐A Sunset Blvd., Houston, TX 77005
Philip B. Bedient
Prof. of Envir. Engrg., Rice Univ., Houston, TX 77251
John F. Haasbeek
Grad. Student, Dept. of Envir. Sci. and Engrg., Rice Univ., Houston, TX
John Noell
Pres., Urban Engrg. Group, Austin, TX

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share