Interactive Web-based Data Visualization for Discovery and ...

Interactive Web-based Data Visualization for Discovery and Decision Making: LakeSuperiorStreams.org R.Axler, G.Host, N.Will, C.Hagley, J.Schomberg, J.Henneck, E.Ruzycki, G.Sjerven, T.Carlson, J.Reed, and Marnie Lonsdale U. of Minnesota-Duluth (NRRI & Sea Grant), City of Duluth Stormwater Utility Making a Great Lake Superior Conference October 29, 2007 , Duluth, MN

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Our evolution goes back to 1997 The overall concept, website basics, remote data collection/telecommunication protocols and prototype data visualization animation tools were developed via 2 NSF and 3 major EPA grants (1997-2004; $2.8M) • need good science & monitoring well trained technicians informed general public informed decision-makers

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LakeSuperiorStreams “Rationale” • Hundreds of vulnerable trout

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streams on North and South Shores –some Impaired Sensitive to temp, flow, O2, sediment, turbidity, nutrients; flashy Lake Superior is the ultimate receiving body of water Many smaller communities now need stormwater plans and permits Increasing development pressure Stormwater pollution Protection message perhaps more critical than Restoration up north Developed by:

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Pigeon

2006 Degraded Waters (12) Northeast Minnesota

Mercury

MPCA 303(d) Listing Mercury

Brule Turbidity, Mercury

Poplar Turbidity, Mercury, PCBs

Beaver

Turbidity, Mercury, PCBs

Knife Turbidity Turbidity, Oxygen Turbidity, mercury Turbidity

Miller

Trout, Temperature

Turbidity

Nemadji

French Talmadge Lester

Amity

Hg, PCBs, fecals, Pesticides

St. Louis River/Bay

J.Schomberg (SeaGrant-UMD), G.Sjerven (NRRI-UMD), 6/07

Surface and stormwater quality As in many urban areas, northeastern MN streams face environmental threats related to stormwater

peak flows & flooding

salting & sanding Developed by:

Construction runoff

erosion Updated:

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Objectives: • Make stream data accessible

(web-based) and understandable to technical and non-technical audiences to improve environmental decision-making • Link stream health to land

management decisions and to people’s actions in the watershed

Focus: • Stormwater effects on Superior streams (UNDERSTANDING section) • Data visualization - web-based,

interactive, animations of real-time water quality; linked to mapping utilities and explanations (STREAMS section)

• Actions for citizens, agencies,

teachers, contractors, consultants, developers, elected officials (COMMUNITIES, CITIZENS & SCHOOLS and STORMWATER sections)

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- Strong watershed messages - interactive mapping tools

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Automated stream sampling • Instruments log data every 15-30 minutes for daily delivery

to web-site and data visualization tools • flow, temperature, specific electrical conductivity, turbidity

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South Shore (WI) streams and communities are part of the ecosystem also…

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Data visualization and animation tools: September - October 2005 gully washers

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Science based: good data knowledge good decisions Link: text book learning to real data to how you can help fix it

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Science based: good data knowledge good decisions Link: text book learning to real data to how you can help fix it

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Science based: good data knowledge good decisions Link: text book learning to real data to how you can help fix it

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Science based: good data knowledge good decisions Link: text book learning to real data to how you can help fix it

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DataViewer Vignettes (Story/Play Scenes)

Flow

Temperature

DataViewer showing how a big rainstorm can create excessive inputs of water to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District wastewater treatment plant LINK http://www.duluthstreams.org/streams/wlssd_storm.html

DataViewer showing how a summer rainstorm can actually raise a stream's water temperature high enough to stress trout LINK http://www.duluthstreams.org/understanding/impact_temp.html

Turbidity

DataViewer showing how storms affect stream turbidity (muddiness) LINK http://www.duluthstreams.org/streams/tischeranimation.html

Specific electrical conductivity

DataViewer showing how quickly roadsalt and other chemicals can be washed from roads and lots into streams LINK http://www.duluthstreams.org/understanding/param_ec.html#realdata

Amity Creek 2006 Spring storm: flow & turbidity 303(d) Impaired for turbidity

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Storm Flushing & Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) I/I: Inflow & Infiltration Sewage plant swamped with “clean” stormwater infiltration; jumps from 30 mgd to 80 mgd

It rains ~ 1 inch all over the city May 9, 2003 Developed by: R. Axler

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When it rains hard in Duluth… July 2003 Stream flashiness Flow and turbidity (sediment)

Sewage plant flashiness Inflow & Infiltration (I&I)

NOTE: These are animated gifs from the ppt presentation. Go to 7/06/03 for Tischer & WLSSD using the Dataviewer to animate the storm event. Developed Updated: and WLSSD discharge Look for increased rain by: , muddy brown water

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DuluthStreams & the new (2003) L. Superior Beach Monitoring Program FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2003

FOUR WATERFRONT AREAS OFF-LIMITS Developed by: Updated: This might be a teachable moment …

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New bacteria dataviewer and map utility www.lakesuperiorstreams.org/bacteria www.mnbeaches.org

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Snowmelt 2007: Which creeks are Impaired?

Tischer

NOTE: These are animated gifs from the ppt file. Go to 4/22/07 for each creek using the Dataviewer

Amity

Chester

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Kingsbury

Poplar

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2006 sure was a pleasant summer for sunbathing and swimming

But what if you were a brook trout ? How do they do in an unusually warm summer ? • Brook trout need very cool water, cooler even than most other trout species • They prefer temperatures between about 52° F (11° C) and 61° F (16° C) • They can’t live for long when temperature exceeds ~ 75° F (24° C) • The cooler water is needed for spawning and embryo survival • In southern Minnesota, streams are generally too warm for trout unless spring fed • Warm water also creates O2 problems (warm water holds less gas than cold when saturated; warm beer goes flat).

Middle of the night spikes of 5-11oF from stormwater road/lot runoff Stream temperature is a major stressor of Duluth trout. See how roads and lots warm the water by >5 oF Lesson – even moderate rain can cause a 5-11 oF jump as water moves across warm asphalt. Trout in more developed watersheds are already near the upper range of their temperature tolerance in the Developed by:

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Brook trout stress – Summer 2006 Mid-summer 30d periods for 2 urban trout streams in 2006 Scale:

upper optimal = 61oF ORANGE

Major Stress = 75oF RED

Are we near the edge?

Kingsbury Creek 2006 (below) Tischer Creek 2006 (above)

What happens if it gets warmer ? Developed by:

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Tischer Creek

2003

2004

2005

2006

You need long-term data sets to know what is “normal” and if things are changing

Kingsbury Creek

2002

It’s already warm for trout in our urban trout streams and also in some of our less developed streams

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Salt loading & dissolved pollutants

Tischer Creek

Kingsbury Creek

Higher salt level = higher electrical conductivity Look for darker blue to magenta changes Updated: = Chronic toxicity to brook trout

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Spring runoff 2004 – 3 weeks of salt exceeding chronic adult brook trout criterion

= chronic toxicity to brook trout Developed by:

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Winter-Spring 2006 …

The warmest January in >150 yrs Developed by:

The main snowmelt in early March Updated:

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OUTCOMES

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RSPT activities: A tiered approach The Superior Regional Stormwater Protection Team functions on 2 levels: 1. Remove the AWARENESS barrier via broad multi-media education campaign and use of real data from our locale • Convince public of the need for protection 2. Reinforce these messages with action-oriented public involvement projects • Value–added bonuses come from communities working together

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Lake Superior Streams: Focus on education and data Poster children for controlling pet wastes

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Western Lake Superior Regional Stormwater Protection Team (co-evolved with LSS.org ; now >25 organizations)

• “..protect and enhance the region's

shared water resources through stormwater pollution prevention by providing coordinated educational programs and technical assistance” • Initiate watershed and stormwater projects • Share information, ideas, resources, workshops, grant writing, technical expertise and more.

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