Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Managing pollutant inputs from pastoral dairy farming to maintain water quality of a lake in a high-rainfall catchment

Robert J. Wilcock A J , Ross M. Monaghan B , Richard W. McDowell B , Piet Verburg A , Jonny Horrox C , Catherine Chagué-Goff D E , Maurice J. Duncan F , Alison Rutherford B , Gil Zemansky G , Mike R. Scarsbrook H , Aslan E. Wright-Stow A , Clive Howard-Williams F and Sue Cotton I
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, PO Box 1115, Hamilton, New Zealand.

B AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, PB 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand.

C West Coast Regional Council, PO Box 66, Greymouth, New Zealand.

D School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

E Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia.

F National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, PO Box 8602, Christchurch, New Zealand.

G Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand.

H DairyNZ Ltd, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand.

I 81 Lake Kaniere Road, Hokitika 7811, New Zealand.

J Corresponding author. Email: bob.wilcock@niwa.co.nz

Marine and Freshwater Research 64(5) 447-459 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12296
Submitted: 16 October 2012  Accepted: 10 January 2013   Published: 3 May 2013

Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2013 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

A study (2004–11) of a dairy catchment stream entering an oligotrophic lake in an area of very high rainfall (~5 m year–1) yielded median concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), suspended sediment (SS) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) of 0.584, 0.074 and 3.7 g m–3, and 405/100 mL (most probable number method), respectively. Trend analysis indicated significant (P < 0.01) decreases for TN (–0.08 ± 0.02 g m–3 year–1), TP (–0.01 ± 0.005 g m–3 year–1) and SS (–0.45 ± 0.14 g m–3 year–1) and were partly attributable to improved exclusion of cattle from the stream. Water balance calculations indicated that approximately one-half the rainfall left as deep drainage that by-passed catchment outlet flow recorders. Estimates of catchment yields for TN were improved by taking into account groundwater hydrology and concentrations from well samples. Storm-flow monitoring inflows exceeding the 97.5th percentile contributed ~40% of total loads leaving the catchment so that specific yields for SS, TN and TP augmented by groundwater inputs and storm flows were ~960, 45 and 7 kg ha–1 year–1, respectively. These compared well with modelled results for losses from dairy farms in the catchment of 40–60 kg N ha–1 year–1 and 5–6 kg P ha–1 year–1 and indicated that attenuation losses were relatively small.

Additional keywords: catchment yield, flood frequency, groundwater, nutrients, sediment.


References

Allan, G. P. S. (1972). West Coast hill-country soils – their potential for conversion of indigenous forest to exotic forest. New Zealand Journal of Forestry 17, 218–223.

APHA (1998). ‘Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.’ 20th edn. (American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation: Washington, DC.)

Chagué-Goff, C., Duncan, M., McDowell, R., and Cotton, S. (2009). Characterising soil nutrient accumulation and loss from dairy farm pastures on the West Coast: Project 06/064-EN069: Final year report 2007–2009. Available at http://maxa.maf.govt.nz/sff/about-projects/search/06-064/final-niwa-report.pdf [accessed 10 August 2011]

Clausen, B., and Biggs, B. J. F. (1997). Relationships between benthic biota and hydrological indices in New Zealand streams. Freshwater Biology 38, 327–342.
Relationships between benthic biota and hydrological indices in New Zealand streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Close, M. E., and Davies-Colley, R. J. (1990). Baseflow water chemistry in New Zealand rivers. 1. Characterisation. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 24, 319–341.
Baseflow water chemistry in New Zealand rivers. 1. Characterisation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXisFemt74%3D&md5=a57fc49b747065651c10823f32d6afa6CAS |

Close, M., Noonan, M., Hector, R., and Bright, J. (2010). Microbial transport from dairying under two spray irrigation systems in Canterbury, New Zealand. Journal of Environmental Quality 39, 824–833.
Microbial transport from dairying under two spray irrigation systems in Canterbury, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXls1amsr8%3D&md5=fbd2c6d7933b1a1af706583068dda0a6CAS | 20400578PubMed |

Collins, R., McLeod, M., Hedley, M., Donnison, A., Close, M., Hanly, J., Horne, D., Ross, C., Davies-Colley, R., Bagshaw, C., and Matthews, L. (2007). Best management practices to mitigate faecal contamination by livestock of New Zealand waters. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 267–278.
Best management practices to mitigate faecal contamination by livestock of New Zealand waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cooper, A. B. (1990). Nitrate depletion in the riparian zone and stream channel of a small headwater catchment. Hydrobiologia 202, 13–26.
| 1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXhsV2lsL0%3D&md5=7d0b3ab0f00e68b1dbf8948452051e78CAS |

Crabill, C., Donald, R., Snelling, J., Foust, R., and Southam, G. (1999). The impact of sediment fecal coliform reservoirs on seasonal water quality in Oak Creek, Arizona. Water Research 33, 2163–2171.
The impact of sediment fecal coliform reservoirs on seasonal water quality in Oak Creek, Arizona.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjslGjsLw%3D&md5=8aa7776eb4c305af87eb451921901767CAS |

Davies-Colley, R. J., and Smith, D. G. (2001). Turbidity, suspended sediment, and water clarity: a review. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 37, 1085–1101.
Turbidity, suspended sediment, and water clarity: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Davies-Colley, R. J., Lydiard, E., and Nagels, J. W. (2008). Stormflow-dominated loads of faecal pollution from an intensively dairy-farmed catchment. Water Science and Technology 57, 1519–1523.
Stormflow-dominated loads of faecal pollution from an intensively dairy-farmed catchment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Donnison, A., and Ross, C. (2009). Survival and retention of Eschenchia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter in contrasting soils from the Toenepi catchment. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 133–144.
Survival and retention of Eschenchia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter in contrasting soils from the Toenepi catchment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtFOju73P&md5=4a77b10b66734f2f806ae032539b1ee4CAS |

Elliott, A. H., Alexander, R. B., Schwarz, G. E., Shankar, U., Sukias, J. P. S., and McBride, G. B. (2005). Estimation of nutrient sources and transport for New Zealand using the hybrid mechanistic–statistical model SPARROW. Journal of Hydrology. New Zealand 44, 1–27.

Ferguson, R. I. (1987). Accuracy and precision of methods for estimating river loads. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 12, 95–104.
Accuracy and precision of methods for estimating river loads.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hirsch, R. M., and Slack, J. R. (1984). A nonparametric trend test for seasonal data with serial dependence. Water Resources Research 20, 727–732.
A nonparametric trend test for seasonal data with serial dependence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hirsch, R. M., Slack, J. R., and Smith, R. A. (1982). Techniques of trend analysis for monthly water quality data. Water Resources Research 18, 107–121.
Techniques of trend analysis for monthly water quality data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Holz, G. K. (2010). Sources and processes of contaminant loss from an intensively grazed catchment inferred from patterns in discharge and concentration of thirteen analytes using high intensity sampling. Journal of Hydrology 383, 194–208.
Sources and processes of contaminant loss from an intensively grazed catchment inferred from patterns in discharge and concentration of thirteen analytes using high intensity sampling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXjtFSisbc%3D&md5=f416dee703e9f6225bc5bb010b2fc8bcCAS |

Larned, S. T., Scarsbrook, M. R., Snelder, T. H., Norton, N. J., and Biggs, B. J. F. (2004). Water quality in low-elevation streams and rivers of New Zealand: recent state and trends in contrasting land-cover classes. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38, 347–366.
Water quality in low-elevation streams and rivers of New Zealand: recent state and trends in contrasting land-cover classes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXms1aktL8%3D&md5=669e0da5bfec50ca05a246da69c8dbc8CAS |

Maasdam, R., and Smith, D. G. (1994). New Zealand’s national river water quality network. 2. Relationships between physico-chemical data and environmental factors. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 28, 37–54.
New Zealand’s national river water quality network. 2. Relationships between physico-chemical data and environmental factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXlsVSqtrc%3D&md5=de4611c548206442a15093ced6d10ae5CAS |

Macpherson, C. N. L. (2005). Human behaviour and the epidemiology of parasitic zoonoses. International Journal for Parasitology 35, 1319–1331.
Human behaviour and the epidemiology of parasitic zoonoses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McDowell, R. W. (2008a). Phosphorus in humped and hollowed soils of the Inchbonnie catchment, West Coast, New Zealand: II Accounting for losses by different pathways. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 307–316.
Phosphorus in humped and hollowed soils of the Inchbonnie catchment, West Coast, New Zealand: II Accounting for losses by different pathways.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhsFCrsr3F&md5=7c4ac6cfef25b8598c6d886c37f4d885CAS |

McDowell, R. W. (2008b). Phosphorus in humped and hollowed soils of the Inchbonnie catchment, West Coast, New Zealand: I Variation with age and distribution. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 299–306.
Phosphorus in humped and hollowed soils of the Inchbonnie catchment, West Coast, New Zealand: I Variation with age and distribution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhsFCrsr3E&md5=b2da5a2891014256739cf6ad008b78b0CAS |

McDowell, R. W. (2010). Evaluation of two management options to improve the water quality of Lake Brunner, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 59–69.
Evaluation of two management options to improve the water quality of Lake Brunner, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktlCitLY%3D&md5=4beeaf731f16f9627680fdadc2f3986eCAS |

Miller, J. C., and Miller, J. N. (1988). ‘Statistics for Analytical Chemistry.’ 2nd edn. (Ellis Horwood Limited: Chichester, England.)

Monaghan, R. M., Rutherford, A., McDowell, R. W., and Smith, L. C. (2007). Linkages between land management practices and potential impacts on soil and water quality within the Inchbonnie catchment. AgResearch Client Report to the MAF Sustainable Farming Fund and the Inchbonnie Catchment Group. Available at http://www.maf.govt.nz/sff/about-projects/search/05-047/linkages.pdf

Monaghan, R. M., de Klein, C. A. M., and Muirhead, R. W. (2008). Prioritisation of farm scale remediation efforts for reducing losses of nutrients and faecal indicator organisms to waterways: a case study of New Zealand dairy farming. Journal of Environmental Management 87, 609–622.
Prioritisation of farm scale remediation efforts for reducing losses of nutrients and faecal indicator organisms to waterways: a case study of New Zealand dairy farming.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXotFCqsLg%3D&md5=9abe908e19f0e56cdbdd8bb9b3618b88CAS | 18164122PubMed |

Olsen, S. R., and Watanabe, F. S. (1957). A method to determine a phosphorus adsorption maximum of soils as measured by the Langmuir isotherm. Soil Science Society of America Journal 21, 144–149.
A method to determine a phosphorus adsorption maximum of soils as measured by the Langmuir isotherm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaG2sXntlKltA%3D%3D&md5=5db19c5a5b7ed6f6b1bfd05949d08a3bCAS |

Penman, H. L. (1948). Natural evaporation from open water, bare soil and grass. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A 193, 120–145.
Natural evaporation from open water, bare soil and grass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaH1c%2FgvFGltg%3D%3D&md5=9c9e4d4a6f3852d97a85d06acabbf99fCAS |

Quinn, J. M., Wilcock, R. J., Monaghan, R. M., McDowell, R. W., and Journeaux, P. (2009). Grassland farming and water quality in New Zealand. Tearmann: Irish Journal of Agricultural–Environmental Research 7, 1–14.

Robertson, D. M., and Roerish, E. D. (1999). Influence of various water quality sampling strategies on load estimates for small streams. Water Resources Research 35, 3747–3759.
Influence of various water quality sampling strategies on load estimates for small streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXit1yrtQ%3D%3D&md5=b8e20be2acc71b854f1e52664a4c124fCAS |

Rutherford, K., Chagué-Goff, C., and McKerchar, A. (2008). Nutrient load estimates for Lake Brunner. NIWA Client Report 2008-060 prepared for West Coast Regional Council, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd, Hamilton. Available at www.envirolink.govt.nz/Envirolink-reports/1-NLCC1/157-WCRC17/

Schaller, J. L., Royer, T. V., David, M. B., and Tank, J. L. (2004). Denitrification associated with plants and sediments in an agricultural stream. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 23, 667–676.
Denitrification associated with plants and sediments in an agricultural stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Smith, D. G., Davies-Colley, R. J., Knoeff, J., and Slot, G. W. J. (1997). Optical characteristics of New Zealand rivers in relation to flow. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 33, 301–312.
Optical characteristics of New Zealand rivers in relation to flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjtVyqs7o%3D&md5=ea5f899ffcbd1fd29b3b7ac44accd139CAS |

Verburg, P., Horrox, J., Chaney, E., Rutherford, J. C., Quinn, J. M., Wilcock, R. J., and Howard-Williams, C. W. (2013). Effects of nutrient loading on the trophic state of Lake Brunner. Marine and Freshwater Research 64, 436–446.
Effects of nutrient loading on the trophic state of Lake Brunner.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wheeler, D. M., Ledgard, S. F., de Klein, C. A. M., Monaghan, M., Carey, P. L., McDowell, R. W., and Johns, K. L. (2003). OVERSEER™ nutrient budgets – moving towards on-farm resource accounting. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 65, 191–194.

Wilcock, R. J., Monaghan, R. M., Quinn, J. M., Campbell, A. M., Duncan, M. J., McGowan, A. W., and Betteridge, K. (2006). Land use impacts and water quality targets in the intensive dairying catchment of the Toenepi Stream, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 40, 123–140.
Land use impacts and water quality targets in the intensive dairying catchment of the Toenepi Stream, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xls1Squrg%3D&md5=37a53d1a8c99a33ce320cbb91f4d62baCAS |

Wilcock, R.J., Monaghan, R.M., Thorrold, B.S., Meredith, A.S., Betteridge, K., and Duncan, M.J. (2007). Land–water interactions in five contrasting dairying watersheds: issues and solutions. Land Use and Water Resources Research 7, 2.1–2.10.

Zemansky, G., and Horrox, J. (2007). Groundwater nutrient movement: Inchbonnie catchment. GNS Science Report 2007/35. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd. Taupo.