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Non-Point-Source Impacts on Stream Nutrient Concentrations Along a Forest to Urban Gradient

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Abstract

We conducted statistical analyses of a 10-year record of stream nutrient and sediment concentrations for 17 streams in the greater Seattle region to determine the impact of urban non-point-source pollutants on stream water quality. These catchments are dominated by either urban (22–87%) or forest (6–73%) land cover, with no major nutrient point sources. Stream water phosphorus concentrations were moderately strongly (r2 = 0.58) correlated with catchment land-cover type, whereas nitrogen concentrations were weakly (r2 = 0.19) and nonsignificantly (at α < 0.05) correlated with land cover. The most urban streams had, on average, 95% higher total phosphorus (TP) and 122% higher soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and 71% higher turbidity than the most forested streams. Nitrate (NO3), ammonium (NH4), and total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations did not vary significantly with land cover. These results suggest that urbanization markedly increased stream phosphorus concentrations and modestly increased nitrogen concentrations. However, nutrient concentrations in Seattle region urban streams are significantly less than those previously reported for agricultural area streams.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from King County, Washington State. Funding was also provided the University of Washington, Center for Water and Watershed Studies. Important technical support was provided by the University of Washington Puget Sound Regional Synthesis Model (PRISM) project. We thank D. L. Tufford and two anonymous reviewers for very helpful comments to this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil & Environmental EngineeringBox 352700, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Michael T. Brett, George B. Arhonditsis & Sara E. Mueller

  2. King County Water and Land Resources, 201 South JacksonSuite 600, Seattle, Washington, 98104-3854, USA

    David M. Hartley, Jonathan D. Frodge & David E. Funke

Authors
  1. Michael T. Brett
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  2. George B. Arhonditsis
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  3. Sara E. Mueller
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  4. David M. Hartley
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  5. Jonathan D. Frodge
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Correspondence to Michael T. Brett.

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Brett, M.T., Arhonditsis, G.B., Mueller, S.E. et al. Non-Point-Source Impacts on Stream Nutrient Concentrations Along a Forest to Urban Gradient. Environmental Management 35, 330–342 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-0311-z

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