Characterization of suspensoid water quality in Onondaga Creek, New York through remote robotic monitoring

A remote robotic monitoring station is used to resolve patterns of turbidity (Tn) and total suspended solids (TSS) in suspensoid rich Onondaga Creek, NY. Interrelationships between Tn and TSS and stream flow (Q) are evaluated and used to support estimates of TSS loading (TSSL). Turbidity is demonstrated to be a better predictor of TSS than Q, supporting the use of frequent in situ Tn measurements, in combination with a TSS-Tn relationship and matched Q observations, to estimate TSSL, rather than by a TSS-Q relationship. Sixty-five percent of the TSSL for the 1 y study period is estimated to have been delivered during the six largest runoff events that represented 18% of the annual flow. The high Tn and TSS levels in the creek are shown to have important implications to downstream Onondaga Lake by causing conspicuous short-term changes in Tn patterns following a runoff event and being a major contributor to sedimentation.