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GROUNDWATER AND SEDIMENT ANALYSES OF A MANGROVE SWAMP NEAR BOVONI LANDFILL, ST THOMAS, USVI Jess Keller Mangroves and Ecosystem Services •  Mangroves buffer the interaction between terrestrial and oceanic environments –  protecting land and human development from storm surges (Zhang et al. 2012; Kathiresan and Rajendran 2005; Mazda et al. 1997) –  trapping terrestrial pollutants (Tam and Wong 1999; Clark et al. 1998; Harbison 1986). http://dairylandshrimp.com/destructive-effect-of-mangrove-shrimp-farming/ •  Largest intact stand of mangroves on St. Thomas is between Bovoni Landfill and Mangrove Lagoon, a protected marine reserve. •  Pait et al. (2014) found heavy metal concentrations (Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg and Zn) in Mangrove Lagoon sediments –  Bovoni Landfill possible source? ? Mangroves in St Thomas, USVI Mangroves in St Thomas •  No published papers on the mangroves themselves •  Little known about impacts from the landfill •  The EPA observed violations of waste management at Bovoni Landfill: –  improper disposal of medical and septic waste, used oil, lead-acid batteries, and migration of leachate into the adjacent mangroves (Complaint at 16, USA v. The Government of the Virgin Islands et al. 2006)). JRK KW 2002 2014 Mangroves in St Thomas •  The Nature Conservancy (TNC) expressed concern about the health of these mangroves (Anne-Marie Hoffman,pers. comm.). •  Natural or man-made causes? What influences mangrove health? Seasonal Variation in Standing Water Dry Season December – July* Wet Season July – November* Photos A, C, and D were taken by JAK, photo B was taken by KW •  Standing water levels in the mangroves varies throughout the year. –  No strict wet and dry season in the Virgin Islands, it is generally drier from December to July (Crossmand and Palada 2003). •  How does this variability affect the mangrove swamp? Research Questions •  Does groundwater flow from the landfill toward Mangrove Lagoon? •  Does groundwater flow change throughout the year? •  Are heavy metals found in groundwater and sediments? •  What are implications for management decisions? Methods – An Integrated Approach •  Groundwater wells –  Vertical and horizontal flow, influences on groundwater levels –  Groundwater chemistry •  Sediment cores –  Stratigraphy, dry bulk density, percent water content, percent organic content, shear strength –  Heavy metal presence in sediment particles •  Rainfall more influential in the upland area. •  Tides more influential near the lagoon •  Daily tidal signal after rise in mean sea-level and two large rain events Precipitation and Sea-Level Influences Groundwater Contour Maps •  Groundwater flow direction changed seasonally •  During the dry season, groundwater flows into the mangroves •  During the wet season, groundwater flows into the lagoon Shallow Wells Deep Wells Heavy Metals in Groundwater TDN Cr Ni Sn Zn Sample ID mg/L µg/L µg/L µg/L µg/L Reporting Limit 0.1 20 40 100 40 Site 1 Shallow 6.21 35.5 -- -- -- Site 1 Deep 4.45 39.2 -- -- -- Site 2 Shallow 14.1 47.1 -- -- -- Site 2 Deep 4.71 41.7 -- -- -- Site 4 Shallow 4.94 23.4 -- -- -- Site 4 Deep 5.14 30.9 -- -- -- Site 5 Surface 20.9 37.3 130 -- 67.7 Site 5 Shallow -- 33.5 82.2 -- -- Site 5 Deep 15.0 51.7 -- -- -- Site 11 Shallow 15.2 47.1 -- -- -- Site 11 Deep 9.75 35.4 -- -- -- Surface Ditch 120 74.5 99 105 -- •  Surface and shallow groundwater is a more important conduit •  Only one round of water chemistry tests was performed and not all sites were tested. Sediment Cores •  Environmental interpretations (mangrove peat and mud flat or pool) were based on stratigraphy. •  Dry bulk density (g/cm3), percent water content, percent organic content, and shear strength (kPa) were compared between these interpretations •  At least two samples from each site were tested (more from sites 4 and 5) •  Titanium and Bismuth were found in samples from site 4 •  Titanium, Bismuth, Iron, Tin, and Zinc were found in samples from site 5. •  Stratigraphy from sediment cores help explain the distribution of metals in the area Heavy Metals Found in Sediment Particles Site Depth Site Depth 1 1 5 87 1 43 5 112 1 168 5 132 2 0 6 23 2 162 6 52 4 2 7 2 4 7 7 32 4 12 10 23 4 22 10 147 4 42 11 3 5 3 11 63 5 7 11 123 5 12 13 12 5 19 13 131 •  Clay rich sediments closer to the landfill are likely slowing groundwater flow and trapping particles containing heavy metals Sediment Cores – Cross-sections Conclusions •  Groundwater flow direction changed based on precipitation and sea-level •  Chemical constituents from terrestrial sources would be transported into the Mangrove Lagoon during the wet season •  Groundwater was more responsive to precipitation than tides near the landfill, vice versa Changes in the hydrologic regime or increased sediment input could be causing patches of dead mangroves AS Conclusions •  Diurnal tide signals were only present when groundwater levels were above a certain point (~45 cm) –  presence of some sort of barrier? •  Metals are entering the mangroves via physical transport in the sediment and via chemical transport in the surface water and groundwater •  The mangroves swamp is trapping heavy metals, protecting the lagoon from terrestrial-based pollutants • This system should be preserved and protected but may be in jeopardize AS Thanks to… •  Kristin Wilson (Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve) and Andrew Reeve (University of Maine) for continuous guidance and support both in the field and in the lab. JK University of Maine •  Renata Platenberg for field assistance and moral support •  Anne Marie Hoffman (The Nature Conservancy) for project support and aid in well installation •  Marty Yates (University of Maine) for aid with the SEM/EDX work •  Interns at Wells NERR for lab assistance: Amelie Jensen, Emily Harris, Emma Swartz, Dana Cohen-Kaplan, and Florence MacGregor •  Jen Kisabeth, Jon Jossart, and Joe Sellers and for braving scrap metal, sink holes, and chikungunya infected mosquitos during field work More thanks to… o  Funding Sources o  DPNR o  USGS Water Resources Research Institute at UVI o  VI-EPSCoR (conference travel)