1. Cory White  ENPH  University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire River Recreational Activity Risk
Background
Results
Recommendations
References
• Chippewa River used for many different
recreational activities
• Kayaking
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Tubing: common activity in summer months
• Consumption of beverages takes place on
river
• Eau Claire River is the largest water tributary of the
Chippewa River in the Eau Claire area
• Lake Altoona, East of Eau Claire, has been known
for pollution and high phosphorus and other trace
metal levels due to septic systems
• Lake Altoona is a dammed upstream part of the
Eau Claire River
• Residential houses with ageing septic systems
around the lake
• Determine runoff from farms
• Determine runoff from golf course
• Determine if houses around the river are
polluting
• Effects of high phosphorus levels on public
• Effects of trace metal levels on the public
• Determine the risk an individual has when using
the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers for
recreation
• Amount of water swallowed
• Chemicals
• Pathogens
• Carcinogens
• Topographic maps show that the Eau Claire
River receives the runoff from many farms and
a golf course in the Eau Claire area
• Consumption of river water is likely
• Swimmers consume 10ml of water on
average [3]
• Kayakers consume 3.8ml of water on
average [3]
• Fishers consume 3.6ml of water on average
[3]
• Eutrophication or high levels of cyanobacteria
have been reported in Lake Altoona
• Blue-Green algae blooms have been
reported
• Increased trace metal levels were found in
Altoona lake and the ground water springs
around it
• Such as lead, chlorine, iron, zinc and
manganese
• Increased metal levels indicates that septic
systems around the lake are leaking into
groundwater springs [4]
Impact on Public
• Septic Inspections around the Eau Claire River,
Chippewa River and Lake Altoona
• Nose plugs for swimming and recreational use on
the river
• Prevent the consumption of alcohol on the river
• Alcohol leads to poor decisions and unnecessary
river water consumption
• Require a cover for beverages
• Proper inspection of pesticide and fertilizer use on
golf courses and farms
• Prevention plan for runoff into the Eau Claire River
• Monitor children lead blood levels in the areas
around the river
• Conduct surveys to discover most at risk
population
• Lead Levels from Altoona Lake
• Lead has negative effects on children even in
very low doses [7]
• No acceptable dose of lead for public
• Lead Exposure Effects: developmental,
mental, and behavior effects
• High levels of phosphorus
• Loss of species such as fish
• Ecosystem instability can lead to loss of
species in local waters
• High intake levels can lead to kidney damage
• The use of pesticides introduces carcinogens into
our waterway
• Carcinogens are cancer causing agents
• More costly to remove pesticides from drinking
water
1. Perez, J., Basaguren, A., Descals, E., Larranaga, A., & Pozo, J.
(2013). Leaf-litter processing in headwater streams of northern
Iberian Peninsula: moderate levels of eutrophication do not explain
breakdown rates. Hydrobiologia, 718(1), 41-57. doi: 10.1007/s10750-
013-1610-x
2. Sirhan, A., & Hamidi, M. (2013). Detection of soil and groundwater
domestic pollution by the electrical resistivity method in the West
Bank, Palestine. Near Surface Geophysics, 11(4), 371-380. doi:
10.3997/1873-0604.2013012
3. Dorevitch, S., Panthi, S., Huang, Y., Li, H., Michalek, A. M., Pratap, P.,
Wroblewski, M., & Liu, L. (2010). Water ingestion during water
recreation. ScienceDirect, 45(2011), 2020-2028.
4. Fairbairn, D., Pedersen, B., & Teige, E. (2009, January). Using trace
metal analysis to determine pollution sources impacting Lake Altoona,
West-Central, Wisconsin. Poster represents research conducted by
the Department of Geology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
5. Google Maps. (2013). [Eau Claire and Chippewa River Junction, Eau
Claire, Wisconsin.] Retrieved from
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
6. Swanson, A.F., (2013, July). What is farm runoff doing to the water?
Scientist wade in. Harvest Public Media.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/07/09/199095108/Whats-In-
The-Water-Searching-Midwest-Streams-For-Crop-Runoff.
7. Information for risk assessors. (2013, July 13). Retrieved from
http://epa.gov/superfund/lead/pbrisk.htm
Objectives