Human development is linked to multiple water body impairments along the California coast |
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| Authors: | Nicholas B Handler Adina Paytan Christopher P Higgins Richard G Luthy Alexandria B Boehm |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, 94305-2115, Stanford, California
2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Stanford University, 94305-4020, Stanford, California
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| Abstract: | To elucidate relationships between land cover and water quality along the central California coast, we collected monthly samples
from 14 coastal waterway outlets representing various degrees of human development. Sites were distributed between three salinity
categories, freshwater, estuarine, and marine, to better understand land cover-water quality relationships across a range
of coastal aquatic ecosystems. Samples were analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), dissolved nutrients, stable nitrogen
isotopes in particulate organic matter, and chlorophylla (chla). Sediment samples from 11 sites were analyzed for the concentration of the anthropogenic organic contaminant perfluorooctane
sulfonate and its precursors (ΣPFOS). While the data indicated impairment by nutrient, microbial, and organic contaminants
at both agricultural and urban sites, the percentage of agricultural land cover was the most robust indicator of impairment,
showing significant correlations (p<0.05) to FIB, nutrient, chla, and ΣPFOS levels. FIB densities were strongly influenced by salinity and were highest at sites dominated by agriculture
and urbanization. Nutrient levels and chla correlated to both agricultural and urban land use metrics as well. Positive correlations among FIB, nutrients, chla, and ΣPFOS suggest a synergy between microbial, nutrient, and organic pollution. The results emphasize the importance of
land management in protecting coastal water bodies and human health, and identify nutrient, microbial, and organic pollution
as prevalent problems in coastal California water bodies. |
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