Report on Water  Pollution
           in the
        n
I
         GiNAW RIVER
  UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION

        GREAT LAKES REGION
           NOVEMBER 1966

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                   REPORT ON

    WATER POLLUTION IN THE LAKE HURON BASIN
                 SAGINAW RIVER
                 NOVEMBER 1966
        U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
              Great Lakes Region
            Detroit Program Office
            U.S.  Naval Air Station
             Grosse lie,  Michigan

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                                PREFACE



     This document was assembled by the Detroit Program Office, Federal


Water Pollution Control Administration, with the intention that it be used


together with information from other sources to develop a comprehensive


plan for water pollution control in the tributaries of the Lake Huron Basin.


The intended purpose of the plan would be to restore the usefulness of these


water* for recreational purposes, provide a more suitable environment for

     V.
fish and aquatic life, and enhance the value of this resource.  It would


improve the quality of the area's waters for municipal and industrial purposes,


aesthetic enjoyment, and other beneficial uses.

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                                                        ONTARIO
        DETROIT  PROGRAM  OFFICE
GREAT LAKES-ILLINOIS RIVER  BASIN  PROJECT
  DRAINAGE   BASINS   OF  THE

          GREAT   LAKES
        U.S.  DEPARTMENT OF  THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL  WATER POLLUTION  CONTROL  ADMINISTRATION
 GREAT LAKES  REGION        GROSSE ILE, MICHIGAN
                SCALE IN MILES
                                                                                                  IOO
                                                                                                        ISO     200
                                                                                                 QUEBEC
MINNESOTA
                WISCONSIN  /
             N               /
                                                                                          PENNSYLVANIA

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I. SA6INAW  RIVER
2. CASS  RIVER
3. FLINT RIVER
4. SHIAWASSEE  RIVER
6. TITTABAWA33EE RIVER
6. MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES
   TO SAOINAW  BAY  .'
 7.  MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES
    TO LOWER  LAKE HURON
 0.  AU SABLE  RIVER
 9.  THUNDER  BAY RIVER
10.  CHEBOYGAN  RIVER
II.  ST. MARYS RIVER AND
    MICHIGAN  UPPER  PENINSULA
    TRIBUTARIES TO LAKE HURON
12. MISSISSAOI  RIVER
13. SPANISH RIVER
.14. WANAPITEI RIVER
13, FRENCH  RIVER
16. MAGANATAWAN RIVER
17. MUSKOKA  RIVER
18. SEVERN RIVER
10. SAU3EEN  RIVER
20. MAITLANO RIVER
21 . AU SABLE  RIVER
                            DETROIT   PROGRAM  OFFICE
                   GREAT  LAKES  ILLINOIS RIVER  BASIN PROJECT

                          LAKE   HURON   BASIN
                            U.S. DEPARTMENT OF  THE INTERIOR
                   FEDERAL  WATER POLLUTION  CONTROL  ADMINISTRATION
                    GREAT LAKES  REGION         GROSSE ILE, MICHIGAN

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        LAKE HURON PROGRAM OFFICE
 GREAT LAKES-ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN PROJECT

           DRAINAGE  BASIN

SAGINAW   RIVER AND  TRIBUTARIES
  FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION

   • HEAT LAKES RE610N      4H033E ILt. MICHIGAN

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                            TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                   Page No.

INTRODUCTION  ...» ..,..,,.,,,,,...		,,..,.,.«,	        1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
     Area Description                                                  5
     Hydrology                                                         6
     Climate                                                           7
WATER USE  ....,.,.,.....,,	, . ,	....,..,..,,..,.,.       13

     Municipal                                                        13
     Industrial                                                       13
     Recreational                                                     13
     Dredging and Commercial Shipping                                 14
SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTE  ,...,,.,,....,.,.....,,..       23

     Municipal                                                        23
     Industrial                                                       25
POPULATIONS AND WASTE LOAD PROJECTIONS  	,	       33
WATER QUALITY	..I,..,.,...,.*.,,..,.,...,,.,,	       39

     Physical and Chemical                                            39
     Microbiology                                                     46
     Biological                                                       48
DISSOLVED OXYGEN PROJECTIONS  	.,.,..,,.,	,        82

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                                LIST OF FIGURES


Figure Jfo.                                                         Page No.

     1.          Saginaw Basin Map                                     4

     2           Time of Passage                                      10

     3           Mean Monthly Flow - Saginaw River at Saginaw         11

     4           Mean Daily Flow - Saginaw River at Saginaw           12
                 and Rainfall - Saginaw Basin

     5           Industrial and Municipal Waste Outfalls              30

     6           Saginaw Basin Population and Water Use               35
                 Projection Areas

     7           Population and Flow Projections - Saginaw            36
                 River and Tributaries

     8           Loadings to the Saginaw River - Solids,              56
                 Chlorides and Phosphates

     9           Loadings to the Saginaw River - Phenol,              57
                 BOD and Nitrogen

    10           Dissolved Oxygen -  July 20-22, 1965 Survey           63

    11           5-Day BOD and Kjeldahl Nitrogen - July 20-22,        64
                 1965 Survey

    12           Dissolved Oxygen -  Oct. 26-28, 1965 Survey           65

    13           5-Day BOD and Kjeldahl Nitrogen - Oct.  26-28,        66
                 1965 Survey

    14           Average Seasonal Total Phytoplankton 1965            67

    15           Dissolved Oxygen Surveys -  May 25, 1965 and          68
                 June 1 and 7,  1966

    16           5-Day BOD and Kjeldahl Nitrogen - June  1 & 7,        69
                 1966

    17           Dissolved Oxygen and Monthly Flows -  Saginaw         70
                 River -  1963-1966

    18           Chloride -  July 20-22,  1965 Survey                   71
                                       11

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                                 LIST OF FIGURES
                                    (Cont'd)
Figure No.                                                         Page No.

    19           Chloride - Oct. 26-28, 1965 Survey                   72

    20           Total Coliform Densities - Summer and July           73
                 20-22, 1965

    21           Total Coliform Densities - Spring, Fall and          74
                 Oct. 26-28, 1965

    22           Total Coliforms - Dry and Wet Weather                75

    23           Mean Number of Benthic Animals per Square Meter      79

    24           Mean Phytoplankton Populations per Milliliter        81

    25           Dissolved Oxygen Projections for Saginaw River -     86
                 October 1965 Survey Conditions

    26           Dissolved Oxygen Projections for Saginaw River -     87
                 June 1966 Survey Conditions

    27           Dissolved Oxygen Profiles - October Conditions       88

    28           Dissolved Oxygen Profiles - October and June         89
                 Conditions

    29           Dissolved Oxygen Projections for Saginaw River -     95
                 June 1966 Survey Conditions
                                      iii

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                             LIST OF TABLES

Table No.                                                          Page No.

    1.           Municipal Water Supply Systems - Saginaw           16, 17
                 River Basin

                 Owner and Treatment Code (for Table 1)               18

    2.           Projected Water Use (MGD)                            19

    3.           Industrial Water Use - 1965                          20
                 Saginaw River Basin

    4.           Waterborne Commerce on the Saginaw River             21

                 Explanation of Terminology (for Table 4)             22

    5.           Saginaw River Municipal Wastes                       29

    6.           Saginaw River Industrial Waste Inventory - 1965      31

    7.           Industrial Waste Inventory                           32

    8.           Waste Flow Projections                               37

    9.           BOD5 Projections                                     38

   10.           Saginaw River and Tributaries - 1965 Average       52, 53
                 Concentrations

   11.           Annual Means for the Mouth of the Saginaw River      54

   12.           1965 Tributary Contributions to the Saginaw          55
                 River

   13.           Saginaw River - Comparison of 1965 Summer            58
                 Averages with July 20-22, 1965 Survey

   14.           Saginaw River Tributaries - Comparison of 1965       59
                 Summer Averages with July 20-22, 1965 Survey

   15.           Saginaw River - Comparison of 1965 Fall Averages     60
                 with October 26-28, 1965 Survey

   16.           Saginaw River Tributaries - Comparison of 1965       61
                 Fall Averages with October 26-28, 1965 Survey

   17.           Total Coliform Geometric Means                       62
                                   IV

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                                LIST OF TABLES
                                    (Cont'd)

Table No.                                                           Page  No^

   18.           Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Saginaw River,          76,  77
                 November 1964-September 1965

   19.           Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Saginaw River             78
                 Tributaries, April-September 1965

   20.           Phytoplankton, Saginaw River, Fall 1964-Fall   "       80
                 1965

   21.           Inputs - Saginaw River - July Survey - Match          90
                 Run

   22.           Inputs - Saginaw River - October Survey -             91
                 Match Run

   23.           Inputs - Saginaw River - June Survey - Match          92
                 Run

   24 <           Loadings for Projection Runs                          93

   25.           Summary of K-Rates and Velocities                     94

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                              INTRODUCTION


                                AUTHORITY

     Comprehensive water pollution control studies were authorized by

the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1956, as amended  (33 USC 466

et seq.).

          Sec. 3. (a)  "The Secretary  shall, after careful investi-
     gation, and  in cooperation with other Federal agencies, with
     State water  pollution control agencies and interstate agencies,
     and with the municipalities and industries involved, prepare
     or develop comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing
     the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries thereof and
     improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground
     waters.  In  the development of such comprehensive programs due
     regard shall be given to the improvements which are necessary
     to conserve  such waters for public water supplies, propagation
     of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, recreational purposes,
     and agricultural, industrial, and other legitimate uses.  For
     the purpose of this section, the Secretary is authorized to
     make joint investigations with any such agencies of the condi-
     tion of any waters in any State or States, and of the discharges
     of any sewage, industrial wastes, or substance which may adversely
     affect such waters."

          Sec. 5.(f)  "The Secretary shall conduct research and
     technical development work, and make studies, with respect
     to the quality of the waters of the Great Lakes, including
     an analysis of the present and projected future water quality
     of the Great Lakes under varying conditions of waste treat-
     ment and disposal, an evaluation of the water quality needs
     of those to be served by such waters, an evaluation of muni-
     cipal, industrial, and vessel waste treatment and disposal
     practices with respect to such waters, and a study of alternate
     means of solving water pollution problems (including additional
     waste treatment measures) with respect to such waters."

     Initiation of the Great Lakes-Illinois River Comprehensive Program

Activity followed an appropriation of funds by the 86th Congress late in

1960.   In accordance with the provisions of the Act,  the Secretary of

Health, Education, and Welfare delegated the responsibility for the study

to the Division of Water Supply and  Pollution Control of the Public Health

Service.  Passage of the "Water Quality Act of 1965"  gave the responsibility

                                    1

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for these studies to the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration




(FWPCA).  As a result of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1966, the FWPCA was




transferred from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to the




Department of the Interior effective May 10, 1966.






                                 PURPOSE




     This report presents the water quality of the Saginaw River, Michigan




as it exists today, and includes predictions of population, water use, and




waste load trends for future years.  Its purpose is to present information




that can be used as a basis for developing a basin wide water pollution




control program.




     The objectives of the FWPCA are to enhance the quality and value of




the Nation's water resources, and to prevent,control, and abate water




pollution through cooperative local, State, and Federal pollution control




plans.






                                  SCOPE




     The area covered by this report is the Saginaw River, Michigan,




a 22 mile reach between the mouth of the river at Saginaw Bay, and the




confluence of the Tittabawassee, Shiawassee, Flint, and Cass Rivers,




which form the Saginaw River.  These major tributaries will be described




in separate reports, and will become a part of a report on the Lake Huron




Basin.






                              ORGANIZATION




     The Detroit Program Office, located at the Naval Air Station, Grosse




lie, Michigan, began collecting water quality data on the Saginaw River




in 1965.   Its staff include specialists in several professional skills,




                                    2

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including sanitary engineers,  hydrologists, chemists, biologists, and

bacteriologists.   The resources of the Robert A.  Taft Sanitary Engineering

Center at Cincinnati, Ohio have been utilized, and assistance and guidance

have been obtained from the Great Lakes-Illinois  River Basins Project,

Chicago.


                            ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

     The Detroit  Program Office has received the  cooperation and assistance

of local, State,  and Federal agencies, as well as interested individuals.

The principal agencies taking an active part in providing assistance in the

preparation of the report are as follows:


     State Agencies  -
                        Michigan Water Resources  Commission
                        Michigan Department of Public Health

     Federal Agencies -
                        U.S. Department of Commerce
                          Weather Bureau
                          Office of Business Economics
                          Bureau of Census

                        U.S. Department of the Interior
                          Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
                          Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife
                          Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
                          Geological Survey

                        U.S. Department of Defense
                          Detroit District, Corps of Engineers
                          Lake Survey, Corps of Engineers

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        LAKE HURON PROGRAM OFFICE
 GREAT LAKES-ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN PROJECT


           DRAINAGE  BASIN

SAGINAW  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES
         U.S. DEPARTME


   GREAT LAKES REGION
THE INTERIOR
NTROL. ADMINISTRATION

 GR09SE ILE, MICHIGAN

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                          GENERAL DESCRIPTION






Area Description




     The Saginaw River Basin, in the center of the lower peninsula, is the




largest river basin in Michigan.  It comprises a drainage area of approxi-




mately 6,200 square miles, and includes all or parts of 21 counties.  The




major population centers in the basin are Flint, Saginaw, Midland, and Bay




City.  Manufacturing and agriculture are the main industries of the area.




     The Saginaw River Basin is characterized, hydrologically, by low




relief, low elevation above lake level, and poor natural drainage.




Geologically, the soils of the tributaries that form the Saginaw River are




composed of moraine, lake plain, outwash, and till plain.  In the upper




reaches of these rivers the predominant soil type is moraine, with smaller




sections of outwash and till plain.  As the rivers converge, the percentages




of moraine, outwash, and till plain are reduced, and the predominant soil




type changes to lake plain.




     The river is about 22 miles long, and is formed by the junction of




its 4 major tributaries:  the Tittabawassee, Shiawassee, Flint, and Cass




Rivers.  The Saginaw River flows in a northerly direction and empties into




Saginaw Bay downstream from Bay City.  Its width varies between 350 and 1,700




feet and averages about 500 feet.  There is a shipping channel dredged in the




river that extends from Saginaw Bay to the City of Saginaw.  It has a minimum




depth of 20 feet up to the Sixth Street bridge in Saginaw and 16 feet there-




after, and a width of 200 feet.  The river is crossed by 15 bridges along,




its length.  Generally, it is narrow at its upstream end and widens as it




moves downstream.

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     The slope of the Saginaw River is very flat, averaging a 2-foot drop




in 22 miles.  This causes the depth, velocity, and discharge of the river




to be greatly affected by the height of the water in Saginaw Bay.  A sustained




southwest wind will cause the level of Saginaw Bay to be lowered.  This. in;..;




turn will result in the decreasing of the depth of the river, and also  in




temporarily increasing its velocity and discharge.  A sustained northeast




wind causes the opposite result.  The bay rises, the river rises, and the




velocity and discharge of the river are lowered.  At times the flow of.  the




river reverses.




     The junction of the four tributaries to the Saginaw River occurs in an




area known as the Shiawassee Flats.  It is a swampy, level region with  poor




drainage and wetland vegetation.  The rivers flowing through this area  wind




and meander.  Water motion is very slow and not at all conducive to measure-




ment.  At the present time,.much of the area is set aside as a wild fowl




sanctuary, with water levels maintained at appropriate levels by means  of




dikes.  Other diked areas in private ownership are highly productive agri-




cultural developments.  This area also acts as a flow regulator, in the




sense that it greatly reduces flow peaks as they pass through, and also adds




water from bank storage in times of low flow.  In these respects, it greatly




modifies the expected hydrograph of the Saginaw River.






Hydrology




     The U.S. Geological Survey maintains a gaging station on the Saginaw




River in the City of Saginaw.  However, due to the hydrological conditions




of the river, there is only a definite stage-discharge relationship at  flows




greater than 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).  The greatest recorded

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discharge of the river at this location was 68,000 cfs on March 29,  1904.

Figures 3 and 4 show composite flows in the Saginaw River based on  the  flow-

area relationship in the four tributaries.

     Time of passage for various flows are shown on the..following": t#ble..and

Figure 2.


                     TIME OF PASSAGE - SAGINAW RIVER
                     Cumulative Travel Times  (days)

Mile Point   350 cfs   525 cfs   700 cfs   875 cfs   2.000 cfs    2.300  cfs
22.25
21.14
14.44
10.44
6.52
4.99
0.00
0.00
0.81
7.86
12.62
18.14
20.65
29.40
0.00
0.53
5.25
8.53
12.30
14.04
20.05
0.00
0.40
3.96
6.44
9.30
10.62
15.20
0.00
0.33
3.18
5.20
7.52
8.59
12.34
0.00
0.14
1.39
2.31
3.38
3.88
5.62
0.00
0.12
1.21
2.01
2.94
3.37
4.89
Climate

     The Saginaw River Basin has a climate that is typical of the  lower Great

Lakes area.  This climate can be generalized as having a great  seasonal

temperature variation, many storms, and a relatively constant yearly precipi-

tation distribution.  The winter precipitation is usually in the form of

snow.  This climate is modified by the water masses that nearly surround  the

State, and is less extreme than that experienced to the west and southwest

of Michigan.

     The mean yearly temperature is about 45 F, while the mean  winter and

summer temperatures are about 20 F and 70 F, respectively.  There  is an

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average yearly precipitation of 30 inches on the basin.




     During the summer and fall of 1965 the rainfall was below normal in July




and October, and above normal in August and September.  The average of the




rainfall records at Flint, Saginaw, and Mt. Pleasant was assumed to be




indicative of the Saginaw Basin as a whole.  During the July and October




surveys on the river, and the two days preceding each survey, only traces of




rain were reported at Flint, Saginaw, and Mt. Pleasant.  From these rainfall




records it can be assumed that no unusual additions were made to the river




that could have been caused by rain.

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                                     FIGURE 2 ,
TIME OF PASSAGE OF  THE
     SAGINAW RIVER
     FLOW  AT SAGINAW
            (SAVQ) 39VSSVd JO 3Wli

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                    MEAN  DAILY FLOW
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                             AND
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                               WATER USE






Municipal




     Two cities, Saginaw and Bay City, constitute  the major water  use  in the




Saginav River area; however, the river is not used for municipal  supply.




     The Saginaw-Midland Water Authority furnishes water  to the City of Saginaw




through a pipeline from Whitestone Point in Saginaw Bay.   Saginaw  at one time




used the Saginaw River as a water supply, but poor water  quality forced them




to seek a new supply.




     Bay City has its own water supply system which has an intake  located in




Saginaw Bay approximately five miles northwest of  the mouth of the Saginaw




River.  Bay City is studying a site near Oak Point in Saginaw Bay  as a possible




new source of water.  Also under consideration is  the purchase of  water whole-




sale from the Saginaw-Midland Water Authority.




     Table 1 lists the water supply systems in the Saginaw River Basin,  and




gives some details on the source.  Present and projected  water supply  demands




are listed in Table 2.






Industrial
     The Saginaw River has numerous water-using industries along  its  banks.




The industries, as a rule, obtain their process and cooling water  from the




river, and their potable water from the municipal supply. ,




     Table 3 shows the industry, amount of water used, use, and the source




in 1965.  Projected:..water. use'is shewn in.Table 4.






Recreation
     Boating is the main recreational activity on the river, with over  13,000




boats registered in Bay and Saginaw Counties in 1965.  The population of




                                   .13

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these two counties is approximately 3.8 percent of the State total, and 3.3

percent of the State's boats are registered in these two counties.  There are

approximately 1,000 berthing sites at marinas and several boat launching ramps

along the river.  There is limited fishing and swimming in the river, with

some water skiing between Saginaw and Bay City.


Dredging and Commercial Shipping

     The length of the Saginaw River is about 22 miles; of this, approximately 20

miles has been dredged for shipping.  The channel extends from Saginaw Bay into

the City of Saginaw.  It has a minimum depth of 20 feet up to the Sixth Street

bridge in Saginaw and 16 feet thereafter, and a width of 200 feet.

     The following is a list of the past and contemplated improvements in the

Saginaw River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

     1.  1961 - During the summer season, approximately 1,500,000
         c.y. of sand and clay was dredged from the D&M Railroad
         Bridge in Bay City out into the New Bay Channel.  This was
         performed by contract for deepening the river and con-
         structing a new entrance channel.  The material was
         deposited on shore for the river portion and in the water
         adjacent to the channel for the new entrance channel in the
         lake.  Additionally, approximately 167,000 c.y. of sand and
         clay were dredged from Sixth Street to Court Street in    ••:.-...
         Saginaw.  This material was placed on shore.

     2.  1963 - In June, approximately 14,500 c.y. of sand, clay,
         and gravel was dredged from the D&M Railroad Bridge in Bay
         City to the Sixth Street Bridge in Saginaw.  Disposal of
         this material was on shore.  From July through November,
         approximately 444,000 c.y. of sand, clay, and silt was
         dredged from the D&M Railroad Bridge out into the Bay
         Channel.  Disposal was in diked shore areas and in the lake
         dump ground west of the Bay Channel.

     3.  1965 - In June and July, approximately 688,000 c.y. of sand
         and clay was dredged from the D&M Railroad Bridge out into
         the Bay Channel.  Disposal of this material was in the
         dumping ground west of the channel.

     4.  In the next few years several modifications will be made in
         the Saginaw River.  The river section from the D&M Railroad

-------
         Bridge lakeward to the Bay Channel will be deepened
         from one (1) to two(2) feet.   Two turning basins
         will be constructed,  one above the Sixth Street
         Bridge, and the other opposite the Hames Clement
         Airport.  Also, the Essexville Turning Basin will
         be enlarged.

     The Saginaw River handles domestic and foreign shipping.  Table 4 lists

a breakdown of this waterborne commerce.  All of the following information is

taken from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publication entitled "Waterborne

Commerce of the United States, Calendar Year 1964."  This date, therefore,

includes barge, ferry, and tugboat traffic during the navigation season from

March 26 to December 17.

     During 1964 a total of 5,051,511 tons of imports and 462,001 tons of

exports were handled by commercial shipping on the Saginaw River.  Approxi-

mately 80 percent of the import tonnage consisted of bituminous coal and

lignite, plus crushed limestone.
                                   15

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               TABLE 1.  MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
                              Saginaw River Basin
Town              1960 Pop.

Saginaw County

Saginaw             98,265
Zilwaukee


Carrollton

Buena Vista


Saginaw Twp.
 1,874


 6,718

11,610


15,619
           Owner**
             M
M


T

T
         Source
Lake Huron 10,000'
of 66" intake 51'
deep at Whitestone
Point in Arenac County
(LHSMP)

Wells in rock 105' to
171' deep

LHSMP

Water from City of
Saginaw

LHSMP
                        Treatment**
Bay County

Bay City            53,604       M




Essexville           4,590       M

Frankenlust Twp.

  Delta College                  D
  Bay County DPW                 C

Bangor Twp.*         1,600       T

Hampton Twp.*                    T

Metro District       3,600       T

Monitor Twp.*

  East Midland Water   180       P
  Asso.

 * Part in basin
** See Owner and Treatment Code Pag* L8*
                      Saginaw Bay 4,000' -
                      48" intake 10' deep,
                      18,800' - 48" intake
                      17' deep

                      Water from Bay City
                      LHSMP
                      Water from Bay City

                      Water from Bay City

                      Water from Bay City

                      LHSMP



                      LHSMP
                                    2, 6
                                   16

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                TABLE 1.  MUNICIPAL WATER  SUPPLY SYSTEMS (cont'd)
                               Saginaw River  Basin


Town              1960 Pop.    Owner**     Source                  Treatment**

  Goetz Water-
  line Asso.           380       P         LHSMP                       7

  Bay County DPW                 C         Water from Bay City

Portsmouth Twp.*

  Bay County DPW                 C         Water from Bay City
 * Part in Basin
** See Owner and Treatment Code Page 1.8'.
                                    17

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                        OWNER AND TREATMENT CODE
Owner Code

     M = City or Village

     T = Township

     P = Private

     D = District

     C = County

     S = State

  U.S. = Federal



Treatment Code
     1.  Std. Filtration*

     2.  Lime Softening**

     3.  Zeolite Softening

     4.  Iron Removal

     5.  Chlorination

     6.  Fluoridation

     7.  Diatomite Filtration
 * Implies at least chlorination, chemical coagulation, and rapid
   sand filtration.
** Lime softening v ' includes filtration.

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                      TABLE 2.  PROJECTED WATER USE
                                  (MGD)
User                      1965               1990               2020

Municipal*                   60                120               :-210

Industrial**                600              1.320              2.270


      Total                 660              1,440              2,480
 * includes industries which presently purchase water from the municipal
   system.

** these volumes of water are returned to the river after use.
                                    19

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              TABLE 3.,  INDUSTRIAL WATER  USE  -  1965
                            Saginaw River  Basin
Industry

Bay Refining Co.
  Div. of Dow
Quantity
 (HGD)

 13.9
Source
Saginaw River
Use

Process
Consumers Power
  Saginaw Bay Div.
  Dow Chemical  Co.
CMC-Chevrolet Div.
500

 66
  0.1
Saginaw River

Saginaw River


City of Saginaw
Cool ing

Mainly process
and cooling

Process
CMC-Chevrolet Grey
  Iron Div.
 12
Saginaw River
For waste
sand handling
and cooling
Monitor Sugar Co.
               Saginaw River
                        Process and
                        washing
Michigan Sugar Co.
               Saginaw River
                        Process and
                        washino
* seasonal use
                              20

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            TABLE 4.    WATER BORNE COMMERCE ON THE SAGINAW RIVER
                     Comparative Statement of Traffic
Year
            Tons
Passengers
            Year
Tons
Passenaers
1955,-
1957
1958
1959.
         -4,51C
         -4,607,686
         -4,810,845
         -4,309,886
893
                           •5,041,897
                                                        ,886
            1,
            1,
            1,
     Total Passages

          Inbound
          Outbound
Tonnage Breakdown *

     Overseas Imports
     Overseas Exports
     Canadian Imports
     Canadian Exports
     Coastwise Receipts
     Lakewise Receipts
     Lakewise Shipments
     Internal Receipts
     Local
                                    142,266
                                    222,396
                                    193,915
                                     15,068
                                  4,809,9^7
                                    125,820
                                      4,578
                                    356,796
                                   Tonnage Summary          1964

                                        Inbound    .      5,051,511
                                        Outbound           462,001
                                        Internal  & Local    361,374

                                                   Tdtal  5,874,886
                    Passenger Traffic

                         Inbound       393
                         Outbound      376
     *See  following  explanation of  terminology.
                                  .21

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                       EXPLANATION OF TERMINOLOGY
Overseas Exports and Imports refers to tonnage shipped in and out the
   Saginaw River by the United States to and from foreign ports, including
   the Canal Zone.
Canadian Exports and Imports refers to the shipping trade between the
   United States and Canada.
Coastwise Shipping refers to domestic traffic involving transportation
   over the ocean, e.g. Chicago to Boston.
Lakewise Shipping refers to traffic between U.S. ports on the Great Lakes
   System.
Internal Shipping refers to traffic involving carriage on both inland
   waterways and the waters of the Great Lakes System.
Local commerce includes movement of freight within the confines of a
   single arm or channel of a port, or within the limits of a port having
   only one project, arm, or channel,  except ferries.  The term is also
   applied to marine products, sand, and gravel taken from the Great Lakes.
                                    22

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                  SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTES






Municipal




     The treatment plant effluents along the Saginaw River were sampled on




July 19, 20, and 21, 1965.  This survey, set up by the Michigan Department




of Public Health, consisted of three 24-hour composite samples taken by




plant personnel.  Samples for bacterial content were taken every four hours.




The results from this survey were compared with yearly average results of




treatment plant testing, as listed in Table 5.  Locations of plants and outfalls




are shown on Figure 5.




     All of these plants chlorinate their effluent from May 15 through




September 15, which is a minimum requirement of the State of Michigan for all




sewage treatment plants.  (Note:  beginning January 1, 1967 the Michigan




Department of Public Health requires year round disinfection by all municipal




plants.)






                Essexville Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965




     The plant is a primary unit serving about 4,500 people, with combined




sewers at a flow of approximately one-half million gallons per day (MGD).




The flow during the July survey was in the range of 0.2 MGD, which is less




than half the yearly average.  Effluent 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)




for 1965 ranged from 44 milligrams per liter (mg/1) to 260 mg/1; the latter




occurring at a flow of approximately 0.2 MGD.  Total coliform averages ranged




from 40 to 260 organisms/100 ml of sample.






               Buena Vista Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965




     The Buena Vista plant is located about a mile from the Saginaw River,






                                   23

-------
but has a direct outfall to the river.  The treated waste flow of 0.5 MGD has




a BOD population equivalent of 2,600 people.  The plant is a standard primary




unit, and is served by combined sewers.  Average coliform densities during




the chlorination period varied from 30 to 2,100 org/100 ml.  BOD values for 1965




ranged from 53 mg/1 to 188 mg/1.  Plant operation during the survey seemed




normal.






                Carrollton Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965




     This plant has no laboratory facilities, and therefore no plant records




are on file with the Michigan Department of Public Health.  The Public Health




Department made a survey of this plant in early July 1965 for one week, and




there are the only data available from the plant other than the July survey.




Carrollton has separate sewers which serve about 6,000 people plus the




Merritt Packing Company.  The BOD from the plant varied from 78 mg/1 to 245




mg/1, with the flow around 0.2 MGD as shown on records available.  Merritt




contributes a heavy BOD and chlorine demand load on this plant.  Generally,




the chlorination of the waste is effective enough to keep the coliform density




below 300 org/100 ml.  Plant efficiency will vary with load and operation




technique, but operation seemed normal during the July survey.






                  Saginaw Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965




     By far the largest on the river, the Saginaw plant has an average flow




of approximately 23 MGD.  This plant serves over 100,000 people and numerous




industries.  BOD values for 1965 varied from 56 mg/1 to 129 mg/1, and




typical results were obtained on July 19, 20, and 21, 1965.  From May 15 to




September 15, 1965 the median coliform density was below 1,500 org/100 ml,
                                   24

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but during the July survey coliform values varied from 30 to 2,000,000 org/100 ml.






                 Bay City Sewage Treatment Plant g 1965




     Bay City treats a combined sewer flow of approximately 10 MGD with primary




treatment.  Over 50,000 people are served by this plant, along with several




large industries.  The industrial wastes cause some intermittent problems,




but plant operators have kept the effects minimal.  Effluent BOD values for




1965 varied from 41 mg/1 to 110 mg/1, with 70 mg/1 to 103 mg/1 during the




survey.  Plant operation during the survey seemed to be typical, with good




bacteria control.  Average counts ranged from 9 to 460 org/100 ml during the




July survey.






                            Zilwaukee - 1965




     The Township of Zilwaukee has a newly completed sewage treatment plant




which will add a small load to the stream.  This primary plant is planned to




be in operation by early 1967.






Industrial - 1965
     The major industrial water users on the Saginaw River are Consumers




Power, Saginaw Bay Division of Dow Chemical Company, Bay Refining Company,




Michigan Sugar Company, General Motors Corporation - Chevrolet Division,




Saginaw Chevrolet - Grey Iron Division, and Monitor Sugar Company.  It  should




be noted that the waste flows listed in Tables 6 and 7 have not taken into




consideration any contaminants in the intake water.  Figure 5 shows where the




industrial wastes enter the river.




     The Michigan Water Resources Commission sampled and tested the industrial




wastes listed in this section of the report.





                                   25

-------
     Although the aforementioned industries are the major industrial water




users, there are other industries along the river that could be a threat to




clean water.  One of these is the oil storage tanks near the mouth of the




Saginaw River.  An accidental oil spill while loading one of the many tankers




on the river could have far reaching effects.  Also, along the river are




numerous stockpiles of aggregates for construction purposes, which could




add solids to the river during heavy rains.  These industries are but two of




the varieties of potential pollution loads along the Saginaw River.






               Saginaw Bay Division - Dow Chemical Company




     This plant is known as the Petro-chemical Unit which provides "BIO-OX"




(biological-oxidation) treatment to .4 MGD of contaminated waste flow.  This




process is preceded by an oil separation unit, and the final effluent is chlor-




inated.  Approximately 66 MGD of cooling and condensing water is also discharged.




     This plant's effluent was surveyed on July 26, 27, and 28, 1965 by the




Michigan Water Resources Commission, and their results are listed in Table 7.






                             Consumers Power




     This power-generating plant is located near the mouth of the Saginaw River.




The intake is from the river, but the outfall flow goes to Saginaw Bay.  The




plant uses 500 MGD for cooling only.  This large use at times causes water to




be drawn in from the bay when not enough water comes downstream to satisfy the




demand.  No samples were taken from its outfall as it did not affect the Saginaw




River water quality.






        Bay Refining Company - Division of Dow Chemical Company




     Refining of crude oil into such products as kerosene, gasoline, and a




variety of distillates is the job of the crude unit (outfall No. 2).  The



                                    26

-------
cracking unit (outfall No. 1) produces ethylene, which is used by the Saginaw

Bay Division.

     Disposal of waste from these two units does not present any great

problem as they are relatively free from contaminants.  A standard API oil

separator is used for treatment of most of the waste.  Several thousand gallons

a day of caustic waste, plus some diluted cuprous ammonium acetate, are

pumped into a deep well for disposal.  In-plant controls, in connection with

other facilities at the plant, upgrade effluent quality.  The Michigan Water

Resources Commission rates the facilities as "A".

     This plant was surveyed by the Michigan Water Resources Commission at

the same time they surveyed the Saginaw Bay Division on July 26, 27, and 28,

1965.


                       General Motors Corporation
                           Chevrolet Division

     This industry gets its water supply from the City of Saginaw.  About 0.1

MGD is used and returned to the city sewers for primary treatment at the

Saginaw sewage treatment plant.  The wastes are typical of general manufacturing

wastes.


                  Michigan and Monitor Sugar Companies

     These two companies are a seasonal operation that produce sugar from

sugar beets grown in the area.  The period of operation usually extends from

October, when the beets are harvested, to January or February when the

processing is completed.  These plants were surveyed by the Michigan Water  ;;. =  :

Resources Commission on October 25, 26, and 27, 1965.  Michigan Sugar Company

provides screens and lagoons with controlled discharge for treating 4 MGD when


                                   27

-------
in operation.  Monitor Sugar has a primary treatment system with chemical

precipitation for 6 MGD flow when operating.  The waste flow from both of

these plants is high in BOD and solids.  Process water is taken from and

returned to the Saginaw River.  At the time of the survey, both treatment

facilities were rated "A" by the Michigan Water Resources Commission.


                           Saginaw Chevrolet -
                           Grey Iron Division

     The Michigan Water Resources Commission studied the waste from this plant

on September 13 to 16, 1965.  The plant, which employs about 7,700 people,

produces various castings used in automobile production.  They produce engine

blocks, heads, and other parts by pouring molten iron into preformed sand

molds.  The sand is then discarded via a 12 MGD water carriage system to

settling lagoons.  The sand, plus some oil which is burned off, are the main

waste products.  Sand is reclaimed from the lagoons .to prevent solids buildup.

There is a large demand for this sand as it is a good road building material.

The potable water is bought from the city and is returned to the city for

treatment.  The 12 MGD process water supply comes from the Saginaw River and

is returned to the river, and in some cases, cleaner than it was originally.

The plant is in an expansion phase and its process water use should double

within the next year or so.
                                    28

-------
                TABLE 5.  SAGINAW RIVER MUNICIPAL WASTES
        (Yearly averages for 1965 in mg/1 unless otherwise noted)
                          All plants are primary
Plant
Essexville
Bay Gity
Buena Vista
Saginaw
Carrollton
Temp.
Flow °C
MGD (Raw)
0.47
9.91
0.57
23.20
0.20**
13
15
12
16
_
5- Day Susp.
BOD Solids
147
58
101
93
210**
72
76
93
146
_
Susp.
Vol.
Solids
54
60
72
109
_
pH #/day Res.
7.3 45 1.5
708 0.5
7.4 58 1.0
7.3 1,700
_ _ _
Total
Coliforms
ger 100ml
-
-
1,650
-
_
 * During chlorination period, usually from May 15 through September 15.
** Limited records available.
                                    29

-------
                                                                                              DOW  CHEMICAL 00.-

                                                                                            BAY REFINING OIV.
                                                                                            DOW  CHEMICAL CO.-
                                                                                                                            SAGINAW      BAY
-CONSUMERS
                                                                                                                            -ESSEXVILLE  STP
                                                                                                                                                             INDUSTRIAL  8 MUNCIPAL WASTE OUTFALLS
                                                                                                                                                                           SAGINAW RIVER
                                                                         MONITOR 3UGAR-
                                                                                                                    -BAY CITY STP
                           SAGINAW COUNTY"
*     ""•"•
                                                                                                                            I               	  BAY COUNTY  	|>

                                                                                                                            	SAGINAW~~COUNfV |o
                                                                     CARROLLTON STP-

                                                                   MICHIGAN SUGAR  CO.-
                                                                                                      -BUENA VISTA STP
                                                                                                        -SAGINAW  STP
                                                                                                     •CHEVROLET-SAGINAW
                                                                                                     GREY IRON DIVISION
                                                                                                     GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
                                   !    JREESE


                                   I	I

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                                  TABLE 6.  SAGINAW RIVER INDUSTRIAL  WASTE  INVENTORY
                                                        1965
Industry
Bay Refining Co.
Div. of Dow Chemical
Consumers Power
Dow-Sag. Bay Division
Petro-Chemical
GMC-Chev. Div.
GMC-Grey Iron Fdry.
#1
#2
Monitor Sugar Co.
Michigan Sugar
4->
C C
T- 0
O "-
0. +J
m
V 0
r- O
aE *~
#1-1.70
#2-2.80
0.25
0.75
15.60
16.77
17.56
8.32
16.93
Receiving
Stream
Sag.
Sag.
Bay
Sag.
Sag.
Sag.
Sag.
Dutch
Cr.to
Sag'.
Sag.
i
0> t-
•M *J W
in in 4->
10 C C
> 0 4)
03
4-»
Oil, phenols
Heat
BOD, Chem.
Gen. Mfg.
Solids(sand)
Sol ids(sand)
BOD>Susp.So1 .,
Susp.Vol .Sol .
BOD,Susp.So1 .,
Susp.Vol .Sol .
0
IZ 0
0
V X
+•» ^*
Vt
10
•*
13.9
500
66
0.1
2.3
9.7
2.5
2.8
4->
c -o
V O
E X)
•M T-
n >
tt) O
L. U
•-0- 1
Oil separation,
deep wel 1 in-
jection
:
none
Conv. Secondary
& well disposal
Primary
Lagoons
Lagoons
Primary & Chem.
Precipitation
Screening Lagoons
31
£*
IDlTi
1-vO
O>
0 —
cc
t
A
A
A
-
A
A
A
A
ro cr
C 4)
0 »-
*^ .
4-> 4->
r- «D
tJ 0)
•o i.

-------
                                                  TABLE 7
u>
Plant
Monitor
Sugar
Michigan
Sugar #1
Michigan
Suoar'n
8ay Refin.
OutFall *l
Bay ReFin.
Outfall #2


Oo« - Saq.
Bay Olv.
Ch«v.-Gr«y
Iron Fdry.
N. OutfallffI

Chev.-Grey
S. QutfalllK
A.,.
Oatni of Flow T«ntp.

10/26/65 2.4*.
10/27/65 2.6
10/26/65 0.5
10/27/65
10/26/65 2.J
10/27/65
7/26-27/65 lo.l
7/27-28/65 10.7 ffl
7/26-27/65 3.6
7/27-28/65 3.5 17
6/24/65 1.4
3/15/62 1.6
7/26-27/65 66.1
7/27-2B/6S 65. 6 30
9/15/65 2.3 23
9/16/65 2.36 18


9/14/65 9.7 24

S-o«y
DO eoo
Wl M/l
330
247
820
1100
2SO
214
B.O
7.4 8.0
7.3
7.4 6.0
8.0

6.4
7.4 7.6
6.4 5.0
7.1 3.1


4.8 2.6


K|r»to coo Solids

0.22 420 996
944
1400

0.15 380 1016
1150
0.06 47 890
50 746
0.06 60 1108
71 1084
42
34
51 360
54 620
34 750
.03 25 984


21 776


Solids Solids
mg/1 mg/l
332 136
345 1 32
216
156
160 86
495 88
208 30
274 4!
240 40
294 38


222 64
296 51
10
12

20
19

pH Chlorides

6.2 220
6.7
6.4
5.7
6.8 *" 205
7.0
7.7 300
7.9 255
7.8 400
7.7 400
7.6
7.3
7.8 285
B.O 275
7.9 185
8.1 260

7.6 210
7.9 175

Sol. M02 Org. HOj Org. c«'j Susp.Vol. Total
Phonols POi H ' PO, » ' Iron Cr° CN Pn S04 Cu » *H3 ""3 Extract Solids Oil CollFon-
tng/l tag/I mg/1 mq/l rag/1 mq/l mo/I mq/| mq/l mq/l mo/1 mq/l rag/I rao/1 mg/l rag/1 mg/l 1000/IOOs!
0.02 0.0 3.7 2.0 9.5 5.0 240 70
76
,04
1 00
0.02 0.0 1.0 2.0 9-fl fc-0 -50 78
70
0.015 0.3 0.18 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.3 - 4.0 IS 100**
0.015 0.2 0.10 0.6 0.9 0.0 0-0 67 0.0 135 1.2 20
0.008 1.0 0.26 1.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 3.5 1.1 2.4 16 „
0.010 0.7 0.23 1.2 0.8 0.0 0.0 97 0.3 170 3.6 21 II
0.04 15 1.6
3.22 14 4.6
0.004 0.6 0.16 0.8 1.2 0.0 0.0 3.5 0.4 2.8 26 e*
0.004 0.2 0.14 1.2 0.7 0.0 0.0 73 0.0 145 2.6 20 16
0.00 0.2 0.21 3.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 78 0.0 0.0 170 j. X '.': _
0.00 0.0 0.23 3.0 0.0 80 0.0 0.2 175 2.8 In 1.5 '

0.00 0.0 0.17 2.6 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 74 0.2 i$5 7.8 2
0.00 0.0 0.20 2.9 2.0 0.0 0.0 7o 0.2 152 5.6 ,',

* Seasonal Flow
**ArithmBtlc Avarag*

-------
                  POPULATION AND WASTE LOAD PROJECTIONS






     Demographic studies were conducted by the Great Lakes-Illinois River




Basins Project, Chicago for the Lake Huron Basin.  Population trends on a




national, regional, and county basis were analyzed, and population projections




were developed for the various areas of the Lake Huron Basin.  In 1960,




approximately 1.2 million persons lived in the Lake Huron Watershed - about




double the 1920 population.  By the year 2020, it is estimated that the




population of the watershed will be approximately 3.2 million.




     The two major cities on the Saginaw River are Saginaw (98,265), and Bay




City (53,604), according to the 1960 census figures.  For this report the




Saginaw-Bay City area and surrounding communities were analyzed as a unit,




assuming that by 2020 the entire area will be urbanized and served by water and




sewer systems.  For this area the 1965 population served by sewerage systems




was estimated to be 180,000, and projected to be 340,000 by 1990 and 570,000




by the year 2020.




     Table 8 shows the estimated waste flow in MGD for the Saginaw-Bay City




area.




     BOD projections were based on present day inventory information obtained




from the Michigan Water Resources Commission, the Michigan Department of Public




Health, and the U.S. Public Health Service Publication "Municipal Water




Facilities - Communities of 25,000 Population or Over."  Municipal and indus-




trial water use growth rates and BOD production in terms of population equiva-




lents were determined from studies on the Lake Michigan Basin and applied  to




the inventory data obtained for the Saginaw-Bay City area.




     The results of these projections are shown on Table 9.  For example,  .





                                   33

-------
in 1965 a total of 53,620 pounds per day of BOD are produced in the area of




which 30 percent are removed by treatment, leaving 34,000 pounds of BOD being




discharged to the river.  By the year 2020, with the same.:percentage of treat-




ment, 128,400 pounds would reach the river.  In order to show an improvement




over present water quality, 90 percent or more removal will be necessary at




that time.
                                   34

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      LAKE HURON  PROGRAM OFFICE

GREAT LAKES-ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN PROJECT


          SAGINAW BASIN

  POPULATION AND WATER  USE

       PROJECTION AREAS
                                      o
                                      c
       U.S. DEPARTME

 FEDERAL WATER POLLU1


  GREAT LAKES REGION
                     OHOSSE ILE, MICHIGAN

-------
                                                                                                                                                                                            LAKE HURON PROGRAM OFFICE
                                                                                                                                                                                     GREAT  LAKES-ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN PROJECT
                                                                                                                                             SAGINAW      BAY
                                                                                                                                                                                  POPULATION  AND FLOW  PROJECTIONS

                                                                                                                                                                                       SAGINAW RIVER AND  TRIBUTARIES
                                                                                                                                                                    BAY COUNTY  _J>
                                                                                                                                                                 SAGINAW"COUNTY~|n

                                                                                                                                                                          00.0
                                                                                                                                                 YEAR
                                                                                                                                          CASS RIVER  BASIN
980   IftTO   I960   1990  2000  2010  2O2O   2030
                    YEAR
        TITTABAWASSEE  RIVER  BASIN
I9«0   1070   1980   IB90  2000  2O10   2020   2030
                    YEAR
          SHIAWASSEE RIVER  BASIN
                                                                                                                                                               I960   I»TO   I960   I99O   2OOO   ZOIO   2O2O  2O5O
                                                                                                                                                                                   YEAR
                                                                                                                                                                            FLINT  RIVER BASIN

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                    TABLE 8.   WASTE FLOW PROJECTIONS


                               1965                1990                  2020

Municipal (MGD)

   Residential                 23.2                55.7                 101

   Industrial                  11.5                25.3                  43.5

       Total                   34.7                81.0                 144.5
Industrial                    100                 220                   378
  (direct..to river)
Total to River                134.7               301                   522
                                   37

-------
                     TABLE  9 .   BOO. PROJECTIONS
                            1965                1990                2020
                            #/day               #/day               #/day
Municipal
  Residential              31,300             61,200             111*, 000
  Industrial                7,320             16,100              27,700
  Total Municipal           37,620             77,300             1M.700
    Present 35% removal     24,260             50,250              92,100
    With 90% removal         3,760               7,730              14,170
    With 95% removal         1,880               3,865               7,085
Industrial                 16,000             35,200             60,500
  (direct to river)
  present 40% removal        9,770             21,100             36,300
  With 90% removal           1,600              3,520              6,050
  With 95% removal             800              1,760              3,025
Total to River (Raw)       53,620            112,500            202,200
  Present 30% removal      3M30             71,350            128,400
  With 90% removal          5,362             11,250             20,220
  With 95% removal          2,681              5,625             10,110
                                 38

-------
                              WATER QUALITY






Physical and Chemical




     Of the many water quality measurements made during 1965, those presented




in this report are:  dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand  (BOD),




nitrogens (ammonia, organic, nitrate, and nitrite), phosphates (total and




total soluble), solids (total, total suspended, and volatile suspended),




chlorides, and phenols.  Average results from these measurements are presented




in Table 10 for locations on the Saginaw River at mile points 3.69, 14.44,




and 20.56.  Also shown are results from the four main tributaries to the




Saginaw River - Tittabawassee, Shiawassee, Flint, and Cass Rivers.




     The mouth of the Saginaw River as it enters Saginaw Bay has been sampled




by the Michigan Water Resources Commission since 1963.  Average results are




shown in Table 11.




     The four tributaries entering the Saginaw River have a wide variance in




water quality along with some seasonal changes.




     The Flint and Tittabawassee Rivers which contribute the largest flows - 65




percent of the total to the Saginaw River - are also the most significant in




water quality differences.




     Total phosphates were markedly higher in the Flint River, 3 to 10 times




that found in the Cass or Shiawassee Rivers, and 3 to 30 times that found in




the Tittabawassee River.  Also, total phosphates in the Flint River increased




from spring to fall during the 1965 sampling season.  Soluble phosphate as




a percent of total phosphate in all tributaries was generally 68 to 87 percent.




     In the case of the Tittabawassee River, total solids and chlorides were




significantly high, with seasonal averages of 1,093, 966, and 1,212 mg/1 for





                                   39

-------
solids, which was generally two times that found in the other tributaries, and

in some instances almost three times.  Chloride levels made up 33 to 43 percent

of the total solids,  whereas it was 11 to 18 percent for the other tributaries.

Chlorides and solids  were found to be high on certain days of the week -

Tuesdays being the highest, and Mondays being higher than Wednesdays.

     Phenol concentrations in the Tittabawassee River were also higher than the

other tfibutaries by  as much as five times in the spring to slightly higher in

the fall.  In taking  averages by days sampled, phenols were identical to solids

and chlorides - highest on Tuesdays, with Mondays higher than Wednesdays.

     The following table summarizes these daily averages.


                   TITTABAWASSEE RIVER DAILY AVERAGES
                           M-46 Bridge (X410)

                                   Mon.       Tues.      Wed.

           Chlorides  - mg/1          405        510      350

           Total Solids - mg/1     1,020      1,240      775

           Phenols -  ug/1             12         17       11


     The Flint River  generally had higher total nitrogen averages by two to

three times that found in other tributaries, particularly in the summer and

fall.  As organic nitrogen was the same for the tributaries, the higher total

nitrogen was due to ammonia and nitrate nitrogens.

     As all the previous description and discussion was related to qualitative

water quality, the magnitude of tributary volume contributions are better

appreciated by stream loadings (average pounds per day) presented in Figures 8

and 9.  Table 12 briefly summarizes tributary loadings as percent of volumes

that each tributary contributes to the Saginaw River.


                                   40

-------
      From the preceding, percents of  volume distributions,  it is quite clear




 the major contributions to the  Saginaw River  are  the  Tittabawassee and Flint




 Rivers.




      The Tittabawassee River, which  contributes 41  percent of the flow, accounts




 for 93 to 98 percent of the chlorides, 77 to  93 percent  of solids, and 71 to 87




 percent of phenols*




      Contributions by the Tittabawassee  River of  phosphates and nitrogen in




 percents are not as high as solids,  chlorides, and  phenols,  but are still




 significant.  The Flint and Tittabawassee Rivers  together  make up 65 percent




 of the inflow to the Saginaw River.   These two rivers contribute 72 to 91




 percent of the pounds of phosphates,  and 66 to 88 percent  of the total pounds




 of nitrogen found in the Saginaw River.  High percentages  are predominate




 during the summer and fall.




      BOD contributed by these two  tributaries accounts for 80 to 90 percent




 of the total.




      Sampling in the Saginaw River at mile points 20.56, 14.44, and 3.69




 during 1965 provided average seasonal conditions.   These stations gave valid




 measurements for non-degradable constituents  such as  solids and chlorides,




 but degradable constituents, BOD and  Kjeldahl nitrogen,  as they affect




 dissolved oxygen were not adequately  measured.  Additional:: field,: informa&jUaaiwas




- bbia1tftedciid.ua;iag:..^cooperative' surveys  with the Michigan Water Resources




 Commission during July and October.   Data collected during these surveys are




 summarized in Tables 13, 14, 15, and  16  except biological  measurements, which




 are in the Biology Section of this report.




      During the July survey, water quality was much different from that




 indicated by summer averages at the regular three sampling stations.   The



                                     41

-------
difference was in dissolved oxygen and BOD, and occurred most noticeably  at




mile point 20.56, just downstream where the tributaries enter, and at mile




_point 8.0, upstream of Middle Ground Island.  These two locations exhibited




very high dissolved oxygen, with 48-hour averages between  12 and 13 mg/1, and




associated saturations of 145 to 158 percent.




     Maximums at these two locations from samples collected every four hours




were 18  to 20 mg/1 for dissolved oxygen, and  saturations of 220 to 235 percent.




Also, at .these two locations, minimum dissolved oxygen saturation did not drop




below 100 percent over the 48-hour survey.




     The lowest dissolved oxygen levels were  recorded at mile point 14.44,




downstream from Carrollton, Saginaw, and Buena Vista sewage treatment plant




effluents.   The 48-hour average was 4.2 mg/1, with respective maximum and




minimum  values of 11.5 and 2.0 mg/1.  Dissolved oxygen saturation average was




low, 50  percent, and maximum  to minimum ranges of 127 and  25 percent.  Excluding




the 127  percent high value, the saturation never exceeded  100 percent during




the survey at this point.  A  similar condition was measured just downstream




from the Bay City sewage treatment plant effluent, with a  survey average




of 6.2 mg/1  for dissolved oxygen, and 72 percent saturation.  Maximum and




minimums were in the same range as the low point at mile point 14.44 - 4.0




to 9.0 mg/1  for dissolved oxygen, and 46 to 107 percent saturation.  Five-




day BOD  results of grab samples every four hours had high  levels, 4 to 18 mg/1,




at the same  mile point locations as the extreme dissolved  oxygen.  The range




of BOD results were less,  5  to  9  mg/1, where the low dissolved oxygen was




found.




     These high and low dissolved oxygen and  BOD levels coincided with high   ^




and low  phytoplankton populations.  This is readily  seen by comparing Figures  10



                                    42

-------
and 14.  (See Biology Section for a complete description of biology conditions.)


Such high phytoplankton populations - maximums from samples collected every


four hours were 32,000 to 97,000 numbers/ml - produce excessive amounts of


oxygen by photosynthesis.  Almost 100 percent of the possible sunlight was


available during the survey, and over 75 percent of possible sunlight was


available preceding the survey.  These large numbers of phytoplankton also


interfere with the BOD analysis by adding BOD to that already in the sample


attributable to the river wastes.  Filtered BOD analysis was: made by the


Michigan Water Resources Commission on the first day of the survey.  This


analysis better reflects waste BOD's in the river, but are lower than what
                                                                       V

actually was in the river.  See Figure 11.


     Kjeldahl nitrogen levels, another oxygen demanding constituent (4.5 mg/1


of oxygen demand per 1*0 mg/1 of Kjeldahl nitrogen), were similar to those


found during regular summer sampling.


     As a result of the complicating phytoplankton - dissolved oxygen - BOD


condition found during the July survey, additional surveys were made on


June 1 and 7, 1966.  These findings are presented in Figures 15 and 16.  From


these results and those found on May 25, 1965 (dissolved oxygen profile only,


Figure 15), it is concluded there are two oxygen resource conditions in the


Saginaw River - absence of excessive phytoplankton populations, and presence of


excessive populations.  Dissolved oxygen, BOD, and Kjeldahl nitrogen computed

                                     V
profiles for the June condition are shown in Figures 15 and 16.


     The survey conducted in October to evaluate added effects on dissolved


oxygen from sugar beet wastes is summarized in Figures 12 and 13.  These


results are much like those found during fall regular sampling for all measure-


ments, except in the Shiawassee River where dissolved oxygen was depressed,


                                    43

-------
and BOD was twice as high as fall conditions.  Since the Shiawassee River is




not a major contributor in the makeup of the Saginaw River water quality, this




was not considered significant.




     Probably the more important factors in October were:  1) no significant




effect on dissolved oxygen from excessive phytoplankton populations as found




in July; and 2) additional 5-day BOD wastes of 11,300 pounds/day from sugar




beet wastes.  With the stream flow almost three times greater than that in




July, and river temperature 10 C lower, dissolved oxygen at the low points




found during the July survey were at the same location and level as that found




in October.  With reduced phytoplankton populations, no dissolved oxygen peaks




occurred.  Instead, the average dissolved oxygen at the upstream station,




mile point 21.2, was 9 mg/1 (78 percent saturation).  Farther downstream the




dissolved oxygen decreased to 6.2 mg/1, and saturation to 55 percent at




mile point 10.98 and remaining at this level for the next eight miles downstream.




At the mouth of the river, the dissolved oxygen increased to 8.7 mg/1, which




was due to mixing with Saginaw Bay water.




     As previously discussed,  it is felt there are generally two dissolved




oxygen conditions - absence and presence of significant phytoplankton popu-




lations, and/or photosynthetic production in the Saginaw River.  This is




further supported by reviewing all data collected by the Federal Water Pollution




Control Administration during 1965, and the Michigan Water Resources Commission




monitoring station from March 1963 to May 1966.




     Measurements made from May to September 1965, at mile points 20.56




and 3.69, revealed no supersaturation.
                                   44

-------
Supersaturated dissolved oxygen (150 to 250 percent) was found at these two




locations during the July survey.   During three years of operation of the




Michigan Water Resources Commission bi-weekly sampling at the mouth of the




Saginaw River, not one supersaturated dissolved oxygen was found.  In fact,




during the summer months dissolved oxygen was usually below 75 percent satura-




tion.  See Figure 17.




     The July and October surveys which were primarily for evaluating oxygen




resources also provided additional information.  Figures 18 and 19 show




varying levels of chlorides for July and October which define slugs moving: in




the river.  These slugs have large volumes, as demonstrated by both July and




October data.  The July 20 to 22 chloride slug  (Figure 18), with a high point




at mile point 13 and a length of 8 miles, has a loading rate of 1,840,000




pounds/day at the high point and 1,440,000 pounds/day at the low point, or a




difference of 440,000 pounds/day for a flow of  730 cfs.  The October conditions




are moie distinct (Figure 19) and have a maximum loading rate of 2,900,000




pounds/day and 2,200,000 pounds/day at the preceding low point - a difference




of 700,000 pounds/day for a flow of 1,700 cfs.  This extreme difference is




certainly not attributed to waste sources on the Saginaw River, as their




combined chloride effluents are 73,000 pounds/day.




     Occurrence of high and low peaks, and locations showing displacements




indicating waste slugs, are identical for solids and phenols.




     Phosphates have slugs moving in the river, and these slugs tend to follow




the chloride pattern during October primarily in shape with a slight shift




in displacement.  Of interest is the difference between the peaks of each day.




The difference in the Saginaw area shows an increase of more than 1,100
                                   45

-------
pounds/day soluble phosphates, compared with sewage treatment plant effluents
of 1,600 pounds/day, and the Bay City area shows an increase of 2,200 pounds/day
compared with effluents of 960 pounds/day.  Total phosphates were not run both
days so comparisons could not be made.
     July phosphates seemed to have slugs, but they tended to be masked by
phosphate losses due to phytoplankton uptake and settling.  This is suggested
by the seasonal phosphate tributary loadings.  When adding up the loadings, the
spring and fall average combined tributary loads show phosphates equal to
slightly higher than that found at mile point 20.56 in the Saginaw River.  But
during the summer there was an average loss of 1,900 pounds of total phosphates
between the tributaries and mile point 20.56, or 20 percent.  Soluble phosphates
showed a larger loss of 40 percent, or 3,500 pounds/day.
     Other quantities measured balanced out between the four tributaries and
mile point 20.56 for all three seasons.

Microbiology
     These bacterial results of sampling in 1965 were separated into three inter-
vals - January 11 to May 15; between May 15 and September 15; and September 15
to November 30 - to coincide with municipal waste chlorination beginning May 15
and ending September 15.  Average results of the surveys are reported in Table 17.
Figure 20 shows the profile of the Saginaw River during the summer months, and
Figure 21 shows this for the spring and fall months.  Also shown on these
figures are the results of the two-day surveys which were conducted during July
and October.  During these surveys, bacteriological samples were collected
every 8 hours.
     Total coliform levels were as expected during the spring and fall when
municipal waste treatment effluents were not chlorinated.
     During the chlorination period, May 15 to September 15, total coliform
                                   46

-------
organisms were unexpectedly high downstream from the Saginaw waste treatment


plant.  These high concentrations were influenced by the Saginaw effluent


which was not receiving the same degree of chlorination as the other four Saginaw


effluents, as seen in the summary of the July 19 to 21 survey results reported


in the following table.
                       TOTAL COLIFORM JULY 19-21

                   Municipal Waste Treatment Surveys
Plant
No. of Samples    Geometric Mean*
Maximum*
Minimum*
Essexville
Bay City
Buena Vista
Saginaw
Carrollton
18
18
19
19
15
45
66
35
5,900
22
1,400
1,100
1,900
20,000,000
<100
2, which is the



                                   47

-------
estimated average.  From sampling results, total coliforms have been measured

as high as 1,100,000 organisms/100 ml after a storm in the Saginaw area,

and 240,000 organisms/100 ml at the mouth of the river, which are much higher

than the levels shown in Figure 22.

     In 1965, from May 15 to September 15, rainfall records indicate that

wet-weather conditions can be expected to affect the Saginaw River 70 days,

or 58 percent of the time..  Also, in comparing Figures 20 and 21, high levels

can be expected much like the wet-weather condition when the degree of waste
   /
effluent treatment by chlorination decreases.

     Therefore, it is concluded that total coliform average levels throughout

the Saginaw River exceed 5,000 organisms/100 ml over 58 percent of the summer

recreation period.  Also, during the summer, under dry-weather conditions.

and existing chlorination practices, the level of average total coliforms

will exceed 1,000 organisms/100 ml.



Biological

                             Aquatic Biology

     Biological investigations of the Saginaw River were conducted from

November 1964 through September 1965.

     Three elements of the biota were sampled:  benthic fauna, planktonic

algae, and attached algae.  Weather conditions, water and bottom sediment

temperatures, transparency as measured with a secchi disc, bottom type, and

conditions of the water surface and stream bottom were routinely recorded.




                              Benthic Fauna

     Tables 18 and 19, and Figure 23, present the average number of bottom-


                                   48

-------
dwelling animals found in samples collected in the Saginaw River and  its

tributaries.

     Sludgeworms comprised over 99 percent of the total benthic population

in the Saginaw River.  The average number of these organisms per station

was 4,600 per square meter.  Over 25,000 sludgeworms per  square meter were

collected at Station X101 near the mouth.

     Benthic populations generally increased toward the river's mouth.  This

was apparently a reflection of the bottom condition, an ooze type bottom being

found more frequently in the downstream reaches.  Averages showed an  increase

from 500 per square meter at X180, the upstream end, to over 7,500 per square

meter at X105, near the mouth of the river.

     Degradation of the water quality in the Saginaw River was shown by the

condition of the benthic fauna.  The bottom-dwelling animals never comprised

less than 99 percent pollution-tolerant forms at any station.  The principal

forms were sludgeworms and bloodworms.  Fingernail clams  and leeches occurred

less frequently.  No pollution-sensitive animals were collected from the

Saginaw River in November 1964 and July 1965.  A few sensitive crayfish,

caddis flies, and snails were collected from Station X114 upstream to

Station X170 in April, and a few scuds were found at Station X114 upstream

to X180 in November.  (Sampling stations are shown on Figure 23.)


                              Phytoplankton

     The Saginaw River algal populations were predominated by the diatoms

Cyclotella-Stephanodiscus* and by green flagellated forms.  The same forms

were predominant at stations in the Flint, Cass, Shiawassee, and Tittabawassee
* Because of the difficulty in distinguishing between Cyclotella and
  Stephenodiscus at the magnification at which the phytoplankton samples
  were analyzed, the two genera were counted as one.

                                   49

-------
Rivers.  These algae are the common forms in many nutrient-enriched midwestern
streams.  Certain pennate diatoms typical of clear, clean swift-flowing streams
were not present.
     Total phytoplankton populations are presented in Table 20, and are
illustrated in Figure 24.  The predominant genera are listed in Table 20.
     Phytoplankton populations over 25,000 per milliliter (/ml), and in many
instances reaching 57,000/ml at Station X185, were typical of the findings during
the warm summer months.  Populations in the cooler seasons of the year were gen-
erally less than 5,000/ml.  The average concentration for all stations in the
Saginaw River for the entire sampling period was 10,000/ml, with a range of 925
to over 57,000.
     Sawyer, in his Madison, Wisconsin Lake Studies, found that concentration of
inorganic nitrogen and soluble phosphorus in excess of .3 ppm (as N) and .01
ppm (as P), respectively, can result in nuisance algal blooms.
     Nutrient data from Saginaw River Stations X110, X160, and X180 revealed that
these critical concentrations of soluble phosphate and inorganic nitrogen were
exceeded throughout the year, partially accounting for the nuisance blooms of
algae found.

                             Attached Algae
     The nutrients that support planktonic algae also promote the development
of attached algae.  Those forms will cling to suitable substrata whenever
sufficient light can penetrate.
     Abundant growths of attached filamentous algae were found in the Saginaw
River in the summer and fall, most frequently attached to navigation buoys.
The predominant forms were the green alga Cladophora, and the blue-green
Oscillatoria and Lyngbya.  Large amounts of Oscillatoria were found on the
                                  50

-------
east shore of the^Saginaw River just upstream from Cheboyganing Creek in




the fall.  These algal forms are generally considered pollution-tolerant and




typical of -enriched waters.  Filamentous green algae, mostly Cladophora




and Spirogyra. were frequently collected from the bottom at the tributary




stations.






                           Physical Conditions




     Transparency, as measured with the secchi disc, was always low  in the




Saginaw River.  The highest values, only 1.5 meters, were observed at




Stations X110 and X114 in the fall of 1964.  The values were lowest  in July  1965,




averaging  .33 meters for all stations.  This corresponds to the high phyto-




plankton counts which occurred during this period.  The water had a  murkish




appearance at each station.  No rooted aquatic plants were observed, their




existence most likely being inhibited by the depth and high turbidities which




would prevent light from penetrating to the bottom.




     The bottom muds at the upstream and downstream reaches of the river




consisted of a soft, black non-granular slimy material  (ooze).  Between




these reaches, clay, sand, and smaller amounts of ooze were found.   Sewage




odors in the bottom materials were present at almost every station.  Petroleum




odors were detected .at iStationis:'X110:i.,.X1^0V.'and:.XI85.
                                    51

-------
Ui
NJ
                                     TABLE  10.    SAGINAW RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES
                                                   1965 AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS

                                                      January-April 1965
   River
Dissolved Oxygen
Avg   Max   Mi n
Saginaw
Bay City
N. of Saginaw
S. of Saginaw
Ti ttabawassee
Shi awassee
Flint
Cass
Saginaw
Bay City
N. of Saginaw
S. of Saginaw
Ti ttabawassee
Shi awassee
Flint
Cass

9
10
10
11
12
10
10

5
5
8
6
6
8
5

.9
.1*
.6
.2
.2
.2
.5

.6
.9
.7
.5
.2
.9
.2

11
11
11
12
13
12
12

13
11
19
9
11*
13
21

.0
.0
.3
.0
.2
.9
.6

.0
.3
.4
.<*
.6
.6
.7

8
9
9
10
10
5
5

3
2
It
5
3
3
3

.5
.5
.2
.0
.5
.2
.1*

.0
.1
.7
.2
.1*
.7
.3

; Sat
87
77
77
83
89
77
76


BOD








_
-

.
_
-
Org
N
.31*
'.28
.21
.29
.20
.23
.22
Kjel
N
•H
1
1
1
1

1
1

.1*1
.26
.08
.1*1*
.85
.80
.80
Tot
N
3
2
2
2
2
3
3

.02
.83
.69
.68
.1*5
.21*
.26
Tot
PO
•M
1.
.
1.

,
2.
•
May-September
63
63
97
73
68
90
53
5
5
1*
3
1*
6
3
.1*
.2
.8
.1
.8
.1
.2
.28
.29
.29
.18
.38
.36
.30
1
1
1




.20
.61
.11*
.91*
.92
.86
.80
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
.83
.26
.93
.38
.38
.95
.26
1.
1.
1.

i!
i*.
.
1*
08
81*
08
71*
88
20 1
1*3
1965
1*3 1
38
05
1*6
68 1
1*6 3
81
Sol
POj,
.65
.60
.68
.50
.61*
.77
.30

.18
.96
.65
.31*
.1*6
.26
.62
Vol
S.S.
9
11
11
6
8
11
12

11
7
9
7
11
1*
7
S.S.   Sol   C1   Phenols
                                                                    1*2     760    205
                                                                    1*5     692    182
                                                                    50     639
28
31
37.
51 b
33
22
27
23
33
18
23
1093
391
1*61*
392
951
866
1131
966
516
533
581*
1.67
28
77
26
292
301*
31*0
370
58
83
72
                                                                                                            13
                                                                                                            11
                                                                                                            8

                                                                                                            16
                                                                                                            3
                                                                                                            5
                                                                                                            5
                                                                                                            6
                                                                                                            1*
                                                                                                            9

                                                                                                            8
                                                                                                            3
                                                                                                            1*
                                                                                                            2
  •x
    Suspended Solids

  Extreme value of 12l* mg/1, adjusted average would be 37

-------
   River

   Saginaw
     Bay City
     N. of Saginaw
     S. of Saginaw

  Ti ttabawassee
  Shiawassee
  Flint
tSCass
  Saginaw
    Bay City
    N. of Saginaw
    S. of Saginaw

  Ti ttabawassee
  Shiawassee
  Flint
  Cass
                                      TABLE 10.   SAGINAW  RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES
                                                   1965  AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS
                                                        (continued)

                                                    October-December  1965
                   Dissolved Oxygen
                   Avg   Max   Hin   % Sat
7.6
8.1
9.4
9.8
9.6
9.1
10.5
7.1
7.8
9.4
8.8
9.1
9.4
8.5
10...5
11.1
11.3
11.5
12J
11.2
12..1
13.0
11.3
19.4
12..0
14..6
13.6
21, .7
6.0
5.0
8.4
8.7
3.4
5.6
7.6
3.0
2.1
4.7
5.2
3.4
3.7
3.3
65
68
80
83
77
75
85
69
69
87
78
77
81
70


BOO
3
4
3
3
4
5
**
.9
.7
.4
.8
.7
.0
.0
Org
N
.28
.27
;i4
.17
..30
.24
.32
Kjel
N





1

^VM^ ,
.80**
.83
.53
.54
.59
.21
.73
Tot
N
1
2
2
1
2
4
1
Tot
POjj
.98**1
.45
.19
.84
.09
.31
.66
January-December
4
5
4
3
it
5
3
.7
.0
.1
.4
.8
.7
.5
.30
.28
.21
.22
.28
.27
.27
1
1

1

1

.24**2
.26
.94
.03
.82
.37
.83
2
2
2
2
3
1
1
1

1
9

»
•
07
07
.62
•
•
•
•
32
33
23
40
Sol
PO/j
.67
.78
.83
.19
1.06
6.90
.33
Vo
S.!
MBH
8
10
7
8
15
6
5
1965
.41**!
.53
.31
.00
.08
.36
.82
1
1

1
4

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
20
08
20
54
24
36
56
.83
.77
.71
.36
1.00
3.29
.42
9
9
9
7
9
7
8
bt
S *
• o »
««••
23
2it
2it
25
79a
9
17
34
31
35
26
itl
25
34
Tot
Sol
1067
985
985
1212
504
55^
479
893
817
862
1083
455
505
479

C1
206
277
311
itOO
55
100
58
243
248
255
417
itl
83
46
Phenols
                                                                                                             4
                                                                                                             7
                                                                                                             8

                                                                                                            10
                                                                                                             7
                                                                                                             8
                                                                                                             4
                                                                                                             8
                                                                                                             7
                                                                                                             8

                                                                                                            12
                                                                                                             4
                                                                                                             5
                                                                                                             4
  Note:  All results in mg/1 except % saturation of dissolved oxygen  and  phenols (ug/1).
        Phosphates (PO^) reported as'PO/,.
        Nitrogens reported as nitrogen.
        Flint River sampling station is located 17 miles downstream  from Flint sewage treatment plant and 28 miles
          upstream from Shiawassee River.
* Suspended solids
**Extrcrne value of 3.10
                               of NH, omitted in calculation of mean
§    Extreme value of 194 mg/1,  adjusted average would be  22
    Extreme value of 124 mg/1,  adjusted average would be  37

-------
         TABLE  11.  ANNUAL MEANS FOR THE MOUTH OF THE SAGINAW RIVER
JU
Michigan Water Resources Commission Station
. 1963-
Parameter 1963 1964 1965 1965
D.O. mg/1 6.5 6.7 7.2 6.7
0.0. % Sat.
BOO mg/1
NOo-N mg/1
Cl mg/1
T-PO^ as PO^ mg/1
S-PO^ as PO^ mg/1
NH-j-N mg/1
Phenols ug/1
Col iform-MPNb/1 00ml
64
3.7
0.5
229
-
0.5
0.8
8
5200
59
4.9
0.6
214
-
0.7
0.8
-
3000
64 62
5.4 4.5
1.3 0.7
197 216
- .
0.5 0.6
0.6 0.8
8
12000 5300
1965 **
LHPO Station
7.1
69
4.7
1.1
243
1.20
0.83
1.0
8
25000***
    Michigan Water Resources Commission Water  Quality Monitoring Program -
    Station located at Essexville,  water intake at Weadock Plant, Consumers
    Power Company, Mile Point 0.45.

    Lake Huron Program Office station - located on Patterson Street bridge,
    Bay City, Mile Point 3.69.
*** Coliform organisms (MF)/100ml

  b Geometric means
                                    54

-------
             TABLE  I2"i   1965 TRIBUTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAGINAW RIVER
Tributary

  Spring
Total
Solids
Shiawassee      6
Tittabawassee  77
Cass            9
Flint          _8

Saginaw River
  mile point
     20.56    100%
Chlorides   Phenols
              1
             95
              1
              3
            100%
                6
               71
               12
               11
              100%
          Total
        Phosphates
            38
           100%
           Soluble
          Phosphates
              12
              38
              13
              37
             100%
           Total
          Nitrogen
              13
              51
              21
              15
             100%
        BOD
  Summer

Shiawassee     10
Tittabawassee  78
Cass            5
Flint           7
Saginaw River
  mile point
     20.56
  100%
              1
             93
              1
              5
   100%
               8k
                3
                9
100%
            35
             8
100%
              16
              29
               8
100%
               8
              65
               7
              20
         11
         52
          9
         28
100%    100%
  Fall
Shiawassee      2
Tittabawassee  93
Cass            2
Flint           3
Saginaw River
  mile point
     20.56
  100%
              1
             98
              1
              1
   100%
               87
                1
                7
100%
            26
             2
            65
100%
               7
              21
               2
              70
100%
               7
              68
               5
              20
          6
         79
          k
         11
100%    100%
                                      55

-------
                                                                                                                                         LOADINGS  TO THE  SAGINAW RIVER
                                                                                                                                      SOLIDS,  CHLORIDES   AND PHOSPHATES
.SOLIDS   CL.     P04
 ANNl'AL LOADINGS
  TO SAGINAW BAT
FROM SAGINAW RIVER
   SOLIDS   CL.    P04  I
I      DUTCH CREEK
                                                                                        T.SOLtDS   CL11.    P04  I
                                                                                                      •STJ_«T_PJ   __   ^COUNTY    IE
                                                                                                                 ""    SAGINAW COUNTY^n         	
                                                                                                                                       1         0>—	••
                                                                                                                                       H         • M	SOLUBLE PNOaPHATCg
                                                                                                                             s d  ;       1  i n s
                                                                                                                             1=  !       H; !
                                                                                                                          TOTAL SOLIDS      CKLOflCDES      PHOSPHATES
                                                                                                                                     CASS RIVER X6IO


-------
                                                                                                                                          LOADINGS TO THE SAGINAW RIVER

                                                                                                                                             PHENOL, BOD AND NITROGEN
51	ill I  ."'I lr.-»»l I

 PHENOL  BOO  NITROGEN!
                                                                                                        [ESSEXVILLESTP   I
                                                                                                    ENOL  BOO NITROGEN! I
                                                                                                                          PHENOL      600      NITROGEN

                                                                                                                     AVERAGE MUNICIPAL ft INDUSTRIAL LOADINGS

                                                                                                                          ON_£2 MILES OF SABINAW RIVER    J
                                                                                                     l-jL—°£J l-V-J I  "By
                                                                                                     I PHENOL' -BOD NITROGEN!
                                                                                                     I   BUENA VISTA  STP  I     BAY COUNTY
                                                                                                                          SAGINAW "COUNTY
s I i s      111     5 5 i 3
» a •- «      3 .. «     «. 5 2 S
                                                                                                         I £ f     E I < I     ! I : 5    aot-*-;	U oo i  • « • I  pjfl  .   i


                                                                                                        PHENOL        BOO       NITROGEN   1     I 2 i a      X«z      "5^3
  !IM     Ml      (Ml
  PHENOL        BOD       NITROGEN
                                                                                            "H      Ml      MM
                                                                                             PHENOL

-------
                           TABLE 1,3 .  SAGINAW RIVER
                    Comparison of 1965 Summer Averages with
                            July 20-22, 1965 Survey
X180
a
Above Saginaw
Parameter
DO
% Saturation
BOD- 5 Day
Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Total Nitrogen
Total P04 (as P04>
Soluble PO^ (as P04>
Total Solids
Total Suspended Solids
Volatile Suspended Solids
Chlorides
Phenols*
Survey
10-12
120-160
8-3
1.6-1.7
.5-2.2
1.4-2.0
.9-1.6
-
21-33
10-12
305-445
0-23
Summer
Mile Pt.
20.56
8.7
97
5
1.14
1.9
L-..I;.
.7.
1,131
27
9
340
9
X160
g,
Below Saginaw
Survey
4-13
50-150
13-4
.3-1.8
.6-2.2
1.3-2.0
.8-1.0
-
21-32
10-16
425-470
0-9
Summer
Mile Pt.
14.44
5.9
63
5
1.61
2.3
1.3
1.0
866
22
7
304
4
XllO
Bay City Area3
Survey
5-10
65-110
6-8
.3-1.1
.5-1.4
.9-1.2
.2-. 8
-
20-31
11-17
260-445
0-16
Summer
Mile Pt.
3.69
5.6
63
5
1.20
1.8
1.4
1.2
951
33
11
292
6
a = Survey Stations:
* = Phenols
          Above Saginaw - Mile Point 15 to Mile Point 21
          Below Saginaw - Mile Point 7 to Mile Point 14
          Bay City Area - Mile Point 0 to Mile Point 6
          (Survey results shown are the averages of results
           obtained from the analysis of composite samples.
           Each sample was a composite of samples collected
           at 4-hour intervals over a 24-hour period.)

reported in^g/1; other parameters in mg/1 except Saturation as %.
                                      58

-------
                                                    TABLE  U4"

                                           . SAGINAW RIVER TRIBUTARIES

                                        Comparison of  1965 Summer Averages
                                                       wi th
                                             July 20-22,  1965 Survey
Parameter
Ti ttabawassee River
Survey (Summer Avg
Shiawassee River
Survey (Summer Avg
Flint River
Survey I Summer Avg
Cass River
Survey |Summer Avg
Ui
VD
DO
% Saturation
BOD-5 Day
Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Total Nitrogen
Total PO^ (as PO.)
Soluble PO^ (as PO.)
Total Solids
Total Suspended Solids
Volatile Suspended Solids
Chlorides
«L , *
Phenols
7
80
2
}.k
1.5
.5
.2
-
}k
7
500
12
6.5
73
3
.9*
1.4
5
.3
966
23
7
370
8
lit
"7
k
.3
.9
1.1
1.0
-
65
18
75
3
6.2
68
5
.92
1.4
1.7
1.5
516
33
11
58
3
10
110
3
1.2
3.8
13.2
12.6
-
2k
10
106
2
8.9
90
6
.86
3
k.5
3.3
533
18
k
83 .
k
}k
165
11
-
- •
2.3
.8
-.
to
13
110
3
5.2
53
3
.80
1.3
.8
.6
58*t
: 23
; 7
72
2
      Phenols reported as ug/1.  All others reported as mg/1 except saturation  as %.

-------
                                TABLE  1&

                               SAGINAW RIVER

                     Comparison of 1965 Fall Averages
                                   wi th
                        October 26-28, 1965 Survey
Parameter
Above Saginaw3
Survey
Fall
M;P.20.56
Below Saginaw3 !
Survey
Fall
.M.P.14.^
Bay City Area8
I
Survey
M.P. 3.69
 DO

 % Saturation

BOO-5 Day

Kjeldahl Nitrogen

Total Nitrogen

Total PO^ (as

Soluble PO^ (as

Total Solids

Total Suspended Solids

Volatile Suspended Solids

Chlorides

Phenols
8.7-9.0
75-78
2.9-3.2
.52-.60
1.3-1.6
.9-1.0
.6-. 9
830-960
7-17
5-8
260-285
6-8
9.4
80
3.**
.53
2.2
1.6
.8
985
2k
7
311
8
6.2-7.0
55-62
3.3-5.**
.52-1.07
1.1-2.0
.7-1.5
.6-1.3
760-1070
12-18
6-10
215-270
5-7
8.1
68
4.7
.83
2 »5
1.1
.8
985
2k
10
277
7
6.3-8.7
56-77
3.1-3.6
.31-.87
.6-1.4
.8-1.3
.3-.7
630-830
11-13
6-10
167-230
4-6
7.6
65
3.9
.80
2.0
1.1
•7-
1067
23
8
206
k
a - Survey Stations - Above Saginaw, Mile Point 15 to Mile Point 21
                      Below Saginaw, Mile Point 7 to Mile Point 14
                      Bay City Area, Mile Point .0 to Mile Point 6

*Pheno1s reported in ug/1.  Other parameters in mg/1 except saturation as %.
                                   60

-------
                                            TABLE  16.

                                     SAGINAW RIVER TRIBUTARIES

                                 Comparison of 1965 Fall Averages
                                               wi th
                                    October 26-28, 1965 Survey
Parameter
Tittabawassee River
Survey \~ Fal V Avg
Shiawassee River
Survey j Fal 1 Avq
Flint River
Survey |"F.eM.-Avg -
Cass River
Survey [Fall Avg
DO
% Saturation
BOD-5 Day
Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Total Nitrogen
Total PO^ (as PO/,)
Soluble PO^as PO^)
Total Solids
Total Suspended Solids
Volatile Suspended Solids
Chlorides
Phenols*
9.2
81
3.9
.5
1.1
.4 '
.3
920
16
10
280
5
9.8
83
3.8
.54
1.84
.32
.19
1212
25
8
400
10
4.7
39
8.1
.6
.9
1.3
.8
570
30
13
60
6
9.6
77
4.7
.59
2.09
1.33
1.06
504
22
15
55
7
10.1
84
2.1
.9
3.9
10.8
8.9
590
5
3
105
4
9.1
75
5.0
1.21
4.31
9.23
6.90
554
9
6
100
8
8.5
70
3.8
.6
.9
.8
.5
560
27
10
90
5
10.5
85
4.0
.73
1.66
.40
.33
479
\7
5
58
4
Phenols reported as ug/1
All others reported as mg/1 except saturation as %.

-------
                                      TABLE  17.   TOTAL COLIFORM GEOMETRIC MEANS
                                                 (Organisms/100 ml
r-o
River
Saginaw
Saginaw
Saginaw
Cass
Flint
Shiawassee
Location
Bay City -
mile point 3.69
Saginaw -
mile point 14.44
Saginaw -
mile point 20.56
8 miles upstream
25 miles upstream
12 miles upstream
No. of
Samples
8
8
8
9
10
9
Jan 11-
May 15
50,000
74,000
21,000
86,000
94,000
43,000
No. of
Samples
6
6
6
4
5
5
May 15-
Sept 15
5,700
41,000
2,300
16,000
2,300
40,000
No. of
Samples
4
4
4
2
2
2
Sept 15-
Dec.
58,000
350,000
16,000
76,000
2,400
20,000

-------
                                                        FIGURE 10
 '•OIX
  diS
0»IX>
    129IX
     dlS
                  DISSOLVED  OXYGEN

                JULY  20-22,1965 SURVEY















r'
MAXIMUM —







MATCH CONDITIO
FLOW= TOOefs
TEMP.= 23°C



















/
/






/
\
-






^'


X




o ^
/
/











\s-
-S
•







k1






DO SATURATION
r




«v



'


(



i
CO

' I

1 OMITTED
6
10
u.
o
UJ
3
% EXTREME
_J

ul
_j
u.
o
ce.
a.
Y
—COMPUTED
r


VI
NOJ
33S6VM
jjoir

IOIX •
90IX dO.S_
ni/vx3S53«
80(X <11.S~
OIIX •

' VIIX.
9IIX
8IIX •
OtlX*


09IX •
29IX diS-
>IA WN3HB •
1-9IX diS .
MVNIOVS
551 X -
i9IX diS *•
motiBto
Oiix •
Siix .
08IX.
ceix •
»8VJ.ill«
ssvo.
3 J.NI-.J.
OI£X •
«•
0
w
2 26 24 1 20 16 1
SHIAWASSEE SAGINAW „.,.-„ ... ^^
RIVER 1 RIVEK RIVER MILES
       o
       N
                        I/6W-N39AXO Q3A10SSIQ

-------
                                   FIGURE II
       5-DAY  BOD  a
  KJELDAHL  NITROGEN
JULY 20-22, 1965  SURVEY
           I/6UJ -G09 AVQ S
       so |/6iu-N390ailN IH

-------
                                DISSOLVED   OXYGEN
                              OCT.  26-28,   1965   SURVEY
                                                                                       FIGURE  12
   n,,v ^y *•»'*
   OMX^S-^   a^s

        801 X
         9IX dlS
                                                                                         . MVNISffS
                                                                                            OilX

                                                                                            sxix
                                                                                            08IX '

                                                                                            E8IX
                                                                                  33GSVWV8V11I1«
                                                                                                    LJ
                                                                                                    CC
                                                                                                    UJ
                                                                                                    CC
                                                                                                   2°=
                                      I/61U-N39AXO  Q3ATOSSIQ

-------
                                       FIGURE .13
       5-DAY  BOD  a
 KJELDAHL  NITROGEN
OCT. 26-28,  1965 SUR.VEY
    I/6UJ -009  AVd S
so  |/6uj-N390HllN THVQT
                             3PX

-------
A. va m v ms> rs
                   AVERAGE  SEASONAL
                 TOTAL PHYTOPLANKTON
                              1965
                                                     FIGURE 14
                    i«Vsy

-------
                                            FIGURE 15
DISSOLVED  OXYGEN  SURVEYS
MAY 25,  1965  a  JUNE I  87, 1966
                                             Z9IX diS _|
                                            V1SIA VN30S •
                                             f3IX dlS •
                                             YVfJISVS
                        >. 03;ATQSS.ia. '

-------
                                       .FIGURE  16
      5-DAY  BOD a
KJELDAHL  NITROGEN
    JUNE  I  &  7,  1966
           |/6iu -QO.a AVQ 2
     N so I/6W-N390H1IN

-------
                                                     FIGURE 17
      DISSOLVED  OXYGEN* a  MONTHLY  FLOWS
                      SAG1NAW  RIVER
                          1963-1966
100
                                                I I I 1  I I I I  I I I
                                  FROM MWRC WATER
                                  D AT ESSEXVILLE,
                              QUALITY RECORDS
                              MILE POIN T O.45
                  MEAN YEARLY FLOW
  JTMAMJJASOND
        1963
JFMAMJJASOND
      1964
JFMAMJJASONO
      1965
JFMAMJJASOND
      1966
                         YEAR AND MONTH

-------
                                       FIGURE  18
        CHLORIDE
JULY  20-22,1965 SURVEY
   l/5ui_3aiyoiHD-31ISOdWOO

-------
                                 FIGURE  19
       CHLORIDE
OCT. 26-28,  1965 SURVEY

-------
TOTAL  COLIFORM  DENSITIES
   SUMMER  a JULY  20-22, 1965
                                        FIGURE  20
       oiai3wo39)  iwooi/'oyo (jw) waojnoo ivioi

-------
TOTAL  COLIFORM  DENSITIES
SPRING, FALL  a  OCT. 26-28,  1965
                                         FIGURE 21
       oiai3W039)  Twooi/'syo (jw) wyojnoo nvioi

-------
  TOTAL COLIFORMS
 DRY  a WET WEATHER
AVERAGE* CONDITIONS
                                  FIGURE 22
   nwooi/swsiNvoyo-waodnoo

-------
                                                        TABLE  18
                       BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES,  SAGINAW  RIVER,  NOVEMBER  196^-SEPTEMBER  1965
Ch
STATION
AND
DATE
X101
11/64
X105
V65
7/65
9/65
X110
11/64
V65
7/65
9/65
X1 11/64
4/65
7/65
9/65
X160
11/64
4/65
7/65
9/65

TUBIFICIOAE
(Sludgeworms)

27,700

13,100
4,750
5,680

14,400
5,970
4,270
10,100
6,920
180
290
2,640

160
3,240
620
770
MEAN NUMBERS BENTHIC ANIMALS PER SQUARE METER
TENOIPEDIOAE SPHAERIIOAE . HIRUOINEA PULMONATA PROSOBRANCHIA
(Bloodworms) (Fingernail (Leeches) (Lung-breath- (Gill-breath-
clams) ing Snails) ing Snails)

10



20

5 20

5

10

5
10 5 20


5

10

OTHER TOTAL*

(a) 5 27,700

13,100
4,750
5,700

(a)20 14,400
5,970
4,270
10,100
6,930
(b) 5 185
(a) 5 300
(c) 5 2,680
'»
. 160
(d) 5 3,260
620
l(c)lO 790

-------
X185
                                               TABLE IS(continued)
                   BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES,  SAGINAW RIVER,  NOVEMBER  196^-SEPTEMBER 1965

.STATION
AND
DATE
X170
11/64
V65
7/65
9/65
X180
V65
7/65
9/65

JUBIFICIDAE
(SI udge worms )



310
.;' 440
U110

20
330
2,140
MEAN NUMBERS BENTHIC ANIMALS PER SQUARE METER
JENDIPEDIDAE SPHAERIIDAE HIRUDINEA .PULMONATA PROSOBRANCHIA
(Bloodworms) (Fingernail (Leeches) (Lung-breath- (Gill-breath-
clams) ing Snails) ing Snails)

20
10
5
40 40


190
20

OTHER TOTAL*



20
320
445
1,190

20
520
(c) 5 2,170
               1,700
70
1,770
Others:
  a.  Diptera (Phantom midges)
  b.  Decapoda (Crayfish)
  c.  Amphipoda (Scuds)
  d.  Trichoptera (Caddis flies)
  e.  Diptera (Crane flies)
  f.  Hemiptera (Bugs)

*Three significant figures

-------
                                                       TABLE  19
                     BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES,  SAGINAW RIVER TRIBUTARIES, APRIL-SEPTEMBER 1965
                                MEAN NUMBERS BENTHIC  ANIMALS  PER  SQUARE  METER
STATION
and
DATE
                TUBIFICIDAE
               (Sludgeworms)
                          TENDIPEOIOAE
                          (Bloodworms)
                       SPHAERIIDAE
                       (Fingernail
                          clams)
                       HIRUDINEA
                       (Leeches)
PULMONATA
(Lung-breath
 ing snails)
PROSOBRANCHIA
(Gil 1-breath-
 ing snails)
OTHER   TOTAL**
oo
Tittabawassee
River X*MO

  M65*  "
  7/65*
  9/65*

Cass River
X610
  V65.
  7/65*
  9/65

Flint R jv
290
 60
130
360
 70
7/65*
9/65
Shiawassee
River X330
V65
7/65^
9/65*
40
560


1,770
60
260
                                    130
720
320
 90
                              8,610
                                 20
                                    2*»0
                                    170
                                    100
                                                               20
                                                                (a)10
                                                                (b)20
                                                                (c)20
                                                                                                    (d)lO
                                                                                                (c)10
                                                                                                (e)30
                                          290
                                          210
                                          300
                                       1,090
                                         390
                                         530
                                                                                       8,650
                                                                                         600
                                                                                       2,020
                                                                                         260
                                                                                         360
    Others:  a.
             b.
             c.
             d.
             e.
             Trichoptera (Caddis flies)
             Emphemeroptera (May flies)
             Zygoptera (Damsel flies)
             Diptera (Biting midges)
             Diptera (Soldier flies)
                                   * Results of non-quantitative  samples collected at same time:
                                     XMO 7/65  Pulmonata (Lung-breathing Snails)
                                          9/65  Pulmonata (lung-breathing Snails)
                                     X610 7/65  Decapoda  (Crayfish); Coleopter (Beetles);
                                                Hempitera (Water-boatmen)
                                     X240 7/65  Anisoptora (Dragon  flies); Zygoptera (Damsel fli-
                                                Coleoptera (Beetles); Hemiptera (Water-boatmen)
                                     X330 9/65  Ephemeroptera  (May  flies); Zygoptera (Damsel fli
                                                Hemiptera (Water-boatmen)
                                  ** Three significant  figures

-------
                                                                                                                                                         LAKt HURON PROQRAy OFFICE
                                                                                                                                                   ORIAT lAKU-llllNOIS RtVIM BASIN  FROJECf
                                                                                                           SAGIMAW      BAY
                                                                                                                                                 MEAN NUMBER OF BENTHIC ANIMALS
                                                                                                                                                          PER  SQUARE  METER
                                                                                                                                                     SAOINAW RIVER AND  TRIBUTARIES
                                                                                                                                                         U.I. DEPARTMENT Or THE INTERIOR
                                                                                                                                                   PEOCRAt VATPR POLLUTION CONmot ADMINISTIIATIOII
                                                                                                                                                                             LC, MfCHKAN
c- SA'CINAW COUNTY
                                                                                                                                                      LCOENO

                                                                                                                                                         B   Perc«nl Pollution-Tdleronl Form*
                                                                                                           I                	  BAY  COUNTY   J>
                                                                                                           	SAGINAW" COUNfV'lo

-------
                                                      TABLE 20

                                 PHYTOPLANKTON, SAGINAW RIVER, FALL-196fr-FALL  1965
oo
o
Nl
STATION SEASON*
S)
X105
X110



xm


X160




X170


XI 86


XI 85

Spring-65
Winter -65
Spring-65
Summer-65
Fall -65
Fall-6**
Spring-65
Summer-65
Fall -61*
Winter-65
Spring-65
Summer-65
Fall-65
Fa11-6l*
Spring-65
Summer-65
Spring-65
Summer-65
Fall-65
Fall -61*
Summer-65
JMBER
OF
\MPLES
1
1
1
5
2
3





2
1
k
1
1
1
*t
2
*
1
1

DIATOMS
2,100
700
270
1,790
Il*,200
3,570
750
2,860
32,300
1,^70
170
1,000
13,700
3,760
1,520
900
5,180
210
1*,060
2,610
800
6,720
*Seasons:




Winter = 12,
Spring = 3,
Summer = 6,
Fall = 9,
1, 2
**, 5
7, 8
10, 11




ALGAL
PtNNAIt
DIATOMS
270
950
190
500
1,2to
310
WO
too
630
i*to
80
230
1,120
too
1,280
380
1,610
300
800
750
Ufrio
1,260
**Three si




TYPES PER MILLILITER
GREENS
150
200
20
120
6,530
670
200
130
12,000
330
to
50
8,680
670
200
60
9,030
30
7,210
1,1*70
220
17,900
gnificant




BLUt-
GREENS
20
10
280
50

80
520
180
to


50
20
20

20



110
figures




UKthN
FLAGELLATES
570
220
too
too
2, 2 to
1,070
310
590
310
20
1,280
900
1*,130
700
220
610
16,200
5,670
6,300
1,790
590
31,600






BKUWN
FLAGELLATES TOTAL**
3,090
2,070
920
2,910
21*, 500
5,670
i,7to
1*,080
1*5,800
2,i*to
1,610
10 2,190
27,600
5,580
3,2to
1,970
32,000
6,230
18,370
50 6,670
3,020
57,600





HKtUUMltoMNT
GENERA
(10% or more)
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
a,
xa,
a,
*.'





k
e
k
d,
b,
k
e,
k
g»
e
k
k
e,
e,
e
k
g,
c,
g,
d,
d,
f,






k
g, k

k

k



k
g, k


k
k
k
g, k
e, k
k






-------
                                                                                                                              SASINAW      BtY
MIDLAND    !
                          BAY COUNTY
                       SAGINAW COUNTY"
                                                                                                            BAY   J
                                                                                                                                      30.0OO

                                                                                                                                      45,000
I3.00O

20,000 •

13,000

IO.OOO
      L*KI HWON  M
0REAT LAKE8-ILUNOII
                                                      M OfFICC
                                                       i*»tM PHOJCCT
                                                                                                                                                                    MEAN  PHYTOPLANKTON  POPULATIONS
                                                                                                                                                                              PER  HILLILITEM
                                                                                                                                                                       3A6INAW RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES
                                                                                                                                                                           «1». MPMTMVT OP THt INTtRIO*
                                                                                                                                                                      FEDCRAL WATCH POLLUTtOM COWTHOU AOVUnflTIATIOH
                                                                                                                                                                       •MAT LAKH MCCtON    flMOHI ILC.HtCHIMH
                                                                                                                              j                 _   BAY COUNTY  	IS
                                                                                                                               	SAGINAW""COUNtV  |0
                                                                                                                                                                   o*
                                                                                                                                                                   !c

                                                                                                                                                     .            -I,

-------
                      DISSOLVED OXYGEN PROJECTIONS




     The water quality data described in previous sections of this report




were submitted to analyses in a mathematical model depicting oxygen balance




in streams.  This particular model is a modification of the classical




Streeter-Phelps formulation for oxygen balance in a stream.  This equation




includes an additional non-conservative oxygen demand (Kjeldahl nitrogen),




which acts in a similar fashion to the BOD factor in the original formulation.




     Long-term oxygen demand and nitrogen balance determinations were made




on stream and waste source samples to determine a laboratory K-rate in order




to calculate the ultimate carbonaceous oxygen demand.  The ultimate carbonaceous




demand stream profile was constructed, and the stream BOD decay rate determined.




A similar profile of the Kjeldahl nitrogen yielded the nitrogenous demand




decay rate.  These profiles were checked by a wastes loadings profile.  All




values were converted from stream temperature to 20 C.  The BOD and Kjeldahl




nitrogen profiles for July were affected by the high concentrations of algae in




certain areas of the river.




     Reaeration rates were initially calculated based on the O'Connor-Dobbins




formulation for natural streams using computed reach velocities and depths.




These gross calculated values did not in many reaches provide sufficient




reaeration to match observed DO profiles.  These values were increased to




match the observed profiles.  This increase of reaeration may be due to the




nature of the stream, with additional turbulence induced by vessel traffic




and channel configuration not accounted for in the average velocity and




depth.  The rates for the July survey were extensively influenced by algal




production in certain reaches as evidenced by biological sampling.




     Both the deoxygenation and reoxygenation rates were small, and the



                                   82

-------
ratio of reaeration to decay was often less than one.  These rates are




suggestive of backwaters, impoundments,  and sluggish streams.  The results




of the match computer profiles are shown in Figures 10 through 16.




     The parameters determined for the June and October conditions were used




to project the expected DO profiles at a number of flow and loading conditions.




Graphical summaries of these data are shown in Figures 10 to 16.




     Figures 25a through 25f are projections for the minimum DO expected




below the Saginaw area under October conditions of assimilation.  Figures 25a,




25c, and 25e show expected DO for various flows, temperature, and percent




treatment.  These values are for the effect of municipal wastes only.  The 1965




waste loading is assumed to be 40 percent removal.  The 90 and 95 percent




removal refers to only the carbonaceous fraction of the waste; that is, the




nitrogenous concentration remains constant for all three percents.




     Figure 25b shows the effect of the 1965 sugar wastes added to the 90




percent removal of municipal wastes (Figure 25c).  Figure 25d shows the




effect of removal of a percentage of the total sugar oxygen demand (carbon-




aceous and nitrogenous).  Figure 25f shows the effect at a single temperature




of various percent removal of the municipal wastes.




     Figures 26a through 26d are similar projections for the municipal loads




only under the June conditions of assimilation.  These graphs would indicate




that better assimilative conditions exist in June than in October




(Figures 25a, 25c, and 25e).  However, a comparison of Figures 25f and 26d




indicates that the assimilative capacities are similar at the expected




temperatures for June (23°C) and October (13°C).




     Figure 26e .is a DO profile for the June conditions at a minimum flow




of 350 cfs, a temperature of 23 C, and municipal loads only.  The effect




                                   83

-------
of the municipal loads in the Saginaw and Bay City areas are apparent.  The




effect of additional treatment on the total stream is seen.




     Figures 27a through 27c are DO profiles for October conditions.  Figure 27a




is a profile for 90 percent removal of municipal wastes at 13 C for various




flows.  The anomaly of better conditions downstream at a lower flow is due




in part to the much longer time of passage, and consequently time for




recovery at the lower flow.




     Figure 27b for 350 cfs at 13°C is similar to Figure 26e and shows the




effect of additional treatment for the municipal wastes on the stream profile




under October conditions.




     Figure 27c is a profile for 90 percent removal of municipal wastes at 350




cfs, and shows the effect of various temperatures on the profile.




     Figure 28a shows the effect of varying sugar loads on the base October




profile of 90 percent removal at 350 cfs and 13°C.




     Figure 28b shows the effect of the upstream loading of carbonaceous




and nitrogenous oxygen demand on the base June profile of 90 percent removal




of municipal wastes at 350 cfs and 23 C.  The effect of higher loadings on




the profile above and immediately below the Saginaw area is apparent, although




the effect is minimal in the vicinity of Bay City.




     Although this steady state model does not project a problem downstream




of the Bay City.area, water quality measurements show there are periods of




low dissolved oxygen levels.  From the Michigan Water Resources Commission




sampling from 1963 to 1966, dissolved oxygen for June, July, and August




averaged 4.3 mg/1, 30 percent of the time dissolved oxygen was equal to less




than 3.4 mg/1, 10 percent of the time it was equal to less than 1.6 mg/1.
                                   84

-------
     Tables 21, 22, and 23 list the values for the various parameters used


in the match runs.  These parameters are shown both as concentration and as


loading.  The ultimate nitrogenous demand is equivalent to 4.5 times the


nitrogen value.  Total ultimate oxygen demand is equivalent to the ultimate


carbonaceous demand (BOD (U)) plus the ultimate nitrogenous demand.


     Table 24 lists the waste and tributary inputs used in the projection


runs.  For model simplicity, the municipal wastes of Buena Vista and Carrollton


were combined with Saginaw, and the Essexville wastes were combined with Bay


City.  Various combinations of these wastes and other percents removal were


also"used and are detailed on the graphs (Figure 29).


     Table 25 is a summary of K-rates and velocities used or determined in


the match runs.  The velocities at projection flows were proportional to


the match velocity.  The various K-rates as matched were used in the projection
                                                                           «.

runs.
                                   85

-------
                                                           FIGURE 25
            OCTOBER  1965  SURVEY  CONDITIONS
           DISSOLVED  OXYGEN   PROJECTIONS
                   FOR  SAGINAW  RIVER
      BELOW   SAGINAW,  CARROLLTON  8  BUENA  VISTA
 1965  MUNICIPAL  WASTES EQUIVALENT  TO -40%  REMOVAL
 IB6S MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY
6
o
E 4
1
O
O
2
0







/
''

^
•^x-;:


^
„-*
360 ' 526 . .• ~ 875
FLOW-cfs .
                                   (b)e
                                       90% REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES
                                       WITH I960 SUOAR WASTES
                                   •01

                                   f
                                   O
                                   O
                                                350   526

                                                FLOW-cfs
                                                               875
90% REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY
                                      90% REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES
                                      WITH VARYING SUOAR WASTES AT I3°C
\v| o
6
X
o>
E 4
1
O
a

0







.
•




^^

„
XV
^


. » o C 	
-~ —
,-* — '
\ 8° ^ — ••
-'
^23^£-






—



g
V.
Ol

i
O
O


o






,
>
,




**
^o|ox^
'^vS
X'



e \jG'
O F —
^o^C^-O"*--
^*J^- '
^




R

^




350 S25 ~ 875 ', • 360 523 875
FLOW-cfs FLOW-cfs
95% REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY
                                       MUNICIPAL WASTES  ONLY
                                       VARIOUS REMOVALS AT 13°
>-» o
Q

cn
E 4
|
o
o
0






/




^^^
^^



\^ J^-

r *
^?l*--~"
z*^->








. ^
9>
6 e.

O
O
a





•\





.^*',
'
/


r* f? 't"± I
U^^"^"^^
90°/°
t*2^'
*v







330 526 / ' 875 ' ; . 350 525 875
FLOW-cfs •• FLOW-.cfs

-------
                                                               FIGURE 26
          1         JUNE  1966  SURVEY  CONDITIONS
               DISSOLVED  OXYGEN  PROJECTIONS
                       FOR  SAGINAW  RIVER
          BELOW  SAGINAW,  CARROLLTON a BUENA VISTA
     1965  MUNICIPAL 'WASTES  EQUIVALENT  TO. 40% REMOVAL
     1969  MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY
                                             90% REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLV
6
o>
E 4
1
O
O
. 2
_ 0


.'
'


4
S
/

vj^^— — '
i»t£--~
-^

•^
^


350 525 . 875
F L 0 W - C f S
(c) e
6
o>
E 4
O
O
2
0
96% REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY
•
^
«



^-*


. 	 '
.j»y 	
-




                                                     350   526		 876

                                                      FLOW-CfS

                                             MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY
                                             VARIOUS  REMOVALS AT 23°C
            350  525        875         •             _350   525
            • FLOW -cts                                FLOW-cfs
               •DISSOLVED   OXYGEN  PROFILES
                            JUNE  CONDITIONS
                                                                    875
  10
                  MUNICIPAL
                  350 c f i  23
                  VARYING  P
            WASTES ONLY
            C
           ERCENT REMOVAL
o>
E
    INCOMING LOAD
    AT MILEPOINT
    BOO 5 = 4.0
    KJ-N = 1.0
    00   • 6.8
2U

   24
              20
                          16           12          8

                         MILES  ABOVE  SAGINAW BAY

-------
                                                                       FIGURE  27
                    DISSOLVED  OXYGEN  PROFILES
                              OCTOBER  CONDITIONS
(o)
   10
                      MUNICIPAL
                      I3°C  9O%
                      VARYIN 0
 LOADS ONLY
 REMOVAL
FLOWS
                                                              c<*.
                                                      • s
                                                      s -
                 20
                              16
                                          • 12
                                LOADS ONLY
                                C
                              PERCENT REMOVAL
(C)
   10
                       MUNICIPAL
                       390 ct *
                       VARY ING
 LOADS ONLY
 90% REMOVAL
 TEMPERATURE
                        I3a
 £
 I
 O
 O
                 20
                              16           12            8

                              ii ES ABOVE  SAGINAW  BAY

-------
                                                              FIGURE  28
                DISSOLVED  OXYGEN  PROFILES
                         OCTOBER  CONDITIONS
  10
90% REMOVAL
330ef« I3°C
VARYING SUGAR
                           OF MUNICIPAL

                            LOADS
                                      WASTES ONLY
o>
E-
I
O
   24  •
              20
                          16     ••     12    -       8

                        MILES ABOVE  SAGINAW BAY
                 DISSOLVED  OXYGEN  PROFILES
                           JUNE  -C-ONDITIONS
E
i
O
O



£



4


2


0



^
\ 'V
\
\\
\
\

\



1 1 I
90% REMOVAL
35O of« 23°C
VAR.YING INIT.I

. ^^
^"»> ^^^^^^

^_ <•
"" "*• — •• **""



\

r^-*-" i
OF 'MUNICIPAL
, .
\\. BOO 8 NIT
.
""I
1
\
V
\ \^

\ 1 ^
*"~ _ _--•*
-
K -^
\-»*-\ 1
WASTES ONLY



^
• ^^^t
J/S/'
^^^ / f
^^ s' /

'' /
'
r

1 1 1



^^^
^S x^
^ ^
X^







i i i



£3
— -»-.«u



BOO NIT
mg/l mg/l
1 - 3.4 0.6
2- 6.0 1.0
3-10.0 2.0


1 1 1
24 20 16 - . 12 8 4 0
                        MILES ABOVE SAGINAW BAY

-------
           TABLE 21. INPUTS . -  SAGINAW RIVER - JULY SURVEY - MATcH KJN
Concentration Load
Initial Flow
F low mgd and cf s
BOO (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
K1 and factor
Cheboyqaninq Creek
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOO (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
K1 and factor
Dutch Creek
Flow mqd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
MIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
(mg/1) •
1*52.5
10
6.8
2
8.7
23
.10

3.9
12
8.2
2
8.7
23
.10

1.3
26
18
3
7
23
.10
(#/day)
700
37,700
25,700
7,550
32,800

1.46

6
390
267
65
283

1.46

2
282
195
33
76

1.46
Concentration Load
Carroll ton STP (mg/1 )
.2
250
170
48
-
19
.10
Saqinaw STP
20.8
175
111
23
_
23
.085
Buena Vista STP
.3
212
145
33

19
.10
(#/dsy)
.3
417
284
80
.

1.46-

32
30,400
19,260
3,990


1.6

.5
530
363
83


1.46
 CSGI
 Flow  mgd  and  cfs       12
 BOD (U)                 9.7
 BOD (5)                 2.9
 NIT                     1.0
 DO
 TEMP                   23
 Kl and factor            .03
 19
971
290
100
          Bay City STP
  8.6
175
 97
 26
                              22
                                .07
 BDOW
 Flow mgd and cfs       80           124
 BOD (U)                16        10,680
 BOD (5)                 8       .  5,340
 NIT                     2         1,334
 DO
 TEMP                   30
 Kl and factor            .06
          Essexvil1e STP
  2.0
                             225
                             154
                              30
                                •
                              19
                                .3
    13
12,550
 6,960
 1,865
               1.8
             563
             385
              75
                .5
   .10
     1.46
*  Inputs indicate the concentrations and loadings of the effluent discharged
   by the individual industry or community.  No consideration is given to
^   influent concentrations and loadings.
                                     90

-------
          TABLE 22.  INPUTS  - .SAGINAW  RIVER  -  OCTOBER  SURVEY - MATCH «UN
Concentration Load Concentration Load
Initial Flow
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
Cheboyqsning Creek
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
K1 and factor
Dutch Creek
Flow mqd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
HIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
C-SGI
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOO (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
BDOW
Flow mgd and cfs
BOO (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
MICH
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
(mg/1) >
1292.8
4
3.6
0.7
8.7
10
.2

3.9
4
3.6
1
6.8
10
.20

1.3
10
6.8
3
•
13
.20

12
9.7
2.9
1.0
'
23
,03

80 -
16
8
2
-
30
.06

3.3
420
345
14
_
45
.15
(#/day) Carroll ton STP
2,000
43,100
38,800
7,550
93,800

1.11
Saginaw STP
6
130
117
33
221
'..''•
1.11
Buena Vista STP
2
108
74
33
-

1.11
Bay City STP
19
971 .
290
100
.
-
3.4
Essexville STP
124
10,680
5,340
1,334
-

2.0
MONI
. 5
11,560
9,500
385
_

1.22..
(mg/1)
.2
250
170
48
• .
15
.10

21.5
175
111
23

19 -
.085

.3
212
145
33
_
14
.10

9.6
175
97
26
_
18
.07

.3
225
154
30
_
17
.10

2.5
356
330
14
—
38
.22
(///dsy)
.3
417
284
80
-

1.46

33
31,400
19,900
6,280
_

1.6

.5
530
363
83
_

1.46

15
14,010
7,770
3,200
_

1.8

.5
563
335
75
_

1.46

4
7,420
6,880
292
—

• 1.09
* see explanation page SO.
                                    91

-------
          TABLE 23. INPUTS/-. SAGINAW RIVER - JUNE SURVEY - MATCH RUN
Concentration Load ;
Initial Flow \
F 1 ow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
Cheboyqsninq Creek
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
Dutch Creek
Flow mqd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
CSGI
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U).
BOO (5) .
NIT
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
BDOW
Flow mgd and cfs
BOD (U)
BOD (5)
NIT
(mg/1)
905
6.2
4.2 .
1.2
6.9
20
.10

3.9
12
8.2
2
8.7
23
.10

1.3
26
18
3
7
23
.10

12
9.7
2.9
1.0
-'
23
.03

80
16
8
2
(#/day)
1,400
46,800
31,700 .
9,060
52,100

1.46

6
390
267
65
283

1.46

2
282
195
33
76

1.46

19
971
1290
100
•

3.4
• A 1
124
10,680
5,340
1,334
Carrol 1 ton STP
i

.


\
Saginaw STP







Buena Vista STP

.





Bay City STP
• .


.



Essexville STP




ncentrati
(mg/1 )
.2
250
170
48
19
.10
20.8
175
111
23
23
.085
.3
212
145
33
19
.10
8.6
175
97
26
22
.07
.3
225
154
30
on Load
(#/dav)
. 3
417
284
80

1.46
32
30,400
19,260
3,990

1.6
.5
530
363
83

1.46
13
12,550
6,960
1,865

1.8
.5
563
385
75
DO
TEMP
Kl and factor
                      30
                         19
                         06
2.0
.10
1.46
* see explanation page 90.
                                    92

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                                        JABLE 24. LOADINGS FOR PROJECTION RUNS

                                        .Saginaw Area                         Bay City Area.
VO
u>
Municipal Wastes

     Flow - MGD
     Ultimate BOD - mg/1
     5-Day BOD - mg/1
     Kjeldahl Nit. - mg/1
     Temperature - °C

Industrial Wastes

     Flow - MGD
     Ultimate BOD - mg/1
     5-Day BOD - mg/1
     Kjeldahl Nit. - mg/1
     Temperature - °C

Sugar Wastes

     Flow - MGD
     Ultimate BOD - mg/1
     5-Day BOD - mg/1
     Kjel'dahl Nit. - mg/1
     Temperature - °C

Tributaries

     Flow - MGD
     Ultimate BOD - mg/1
     5-Day BOD - mg/1
     Kjeldahl Nit. - mg/1
     Temperature -  C
J965 ,1990
23.2 5^.2
175 187
111 117
25
20
12 26 J*
9
3
1
23
3.3 7.3
A20
3^5
20
*5
Initial
.
6.0
*t.O
1.0 •
2020 1965
91.7 11.5
191* 175
121 97
25
20
1*5 80
16
8
2
30
12. k 2.5
356
330
20
..:.:- 38
Cheboyganing Creek
3.9
12
8
2
1990 2020
26.8 ^7.8
187 19**
10^ 108
— _
-
176 300
_ _ •
.
.
~ —
5.5 9.A
-
- -
_ _
-
Dutch Creek
1.3
26
18
3
         Municipal  wastes assume *tO% removal  of Raw Load and Raw BOD concentration increase of 7% for  1990
         and  11% for  2020.                                          \

-------
                             TABLE 25.  SUMMARY OF K-RAIt.S AND VELOCITILS
                    June 1**00 cfs 20°C
July 700 cfs 23°b
October 1^00 cfs 10°C
  Reach
  10. It- 6.5
   6.5- 5.0
   5.0- 0.0
  10.*t- 6.5
   6.5- 5.0
   5.0- 0.0
Vel
.23
.19
.16
.13
.12
May
Vel
.33
.27
.22
.19
.18
KD
.08
.Ok
.03
.02
.02
2000
KD
.03
.02
.02
.02
.02
KN
.15
.08
.07
.06
.06
cfs 20°C
KN
.06
.O^f
.01*
.0/1
.0*f
K2
.1
.1
.1
.08
.08

K2
**
**
**
**
**
Vel
.12
.10
.08
.07
.07
July
Vel
.38
.31
.26
.22
.20
KD
.07
.03
.03
.02
.02
2300
KO
.26
.13
.11
.08
.07
KN
.12
.65
.05
.05
.05
cfs
KN
.37
.19
.16
.16
.15
K2
*
.15
.8
.15
.02
23°C
K2
*->v
**
•>«.-
**
**
Vel
.23
.19
.16
.3
.12
KD
.10
.11
.09
.08
.07
October
Vel
.33
.27
.22
.19
.18
KD
.15
.16
.13
.11
.11
KN
.28 .
.27
.23
.19
.17
2000 cfs
KN
,M>
.39
.32
.27
.26
K2
.1**
.}k
.]k
.1
.1
10°C
K2
.2
.2
.2
.1*f
.14
  Reach - mile points above Saginaw Bay  (second  reach  begins  at  HP  15.2  in  model)
  Vel - Velocity in feet per second determined by  time of  passage
  KD - rate per day base 10
  KN - rate per day base 10
  K2 - rate per day base 10
* K2 - 21.1-19.** = 0.8, I8.lf-15.6 = 0.2,  15.6-15.2 =  .18
* K2s not finalized; match at  these conditions not used

-------
                                                                    FIGURE  29
   JUNE  1966  SURVEY
DISSOLVED   OXYGEN
         FOR   SAGINAW
                                              CONDITIONS
                                              PROJECTIONS
                                              RIVER
            BELOW  SAGINAW,  CARROLLTON  8 BUENA VISTA'
       1965  MUNICIPAL  WASTES   EQUIVALENT  TO  40% REMOVAL
     90% REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY •          MUNICIPAL WASTES ONLY
     VARIOUS NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS
                                               VARIOUS NI.TR06EN CONCE NTRATIONS AT 23«C
O
o
              °C
                                               9O% REMOVAL
              $50   325
               FLOW-cfs
                              879
                                       350   525
                                         FLOW-cfs
875,
                  DISSOLVED   OXYGEN   PROFILES
                            OCTOBER CONDITIONS  .
               20
  10
                            16           12           8

                              JUNE CONDITIONS
                    MUNICIPAL
                    350 cf • 23
                    VARYING
            WASTES ONLY
            »C
          PERCENT REMOVAL
                                         OF NITROGEN 8
                                                     BOO
o>
•E
I
     INCOMING LOAD
     AT MILE POINT
     BOD 5 = 4.0
     KJ-N =1.0
     DO  • 6.6

   24
               20
                            16           12           8
                          MLLES ABOVE  SAGINAW  BAY

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                  SUMMARY AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS







     Water quality of the Saginaw River is poor.  Dissolved oxygen depressions




have been observed below the cities of Saginaw and Bay City.  Excessive




levels of coliform organisms have also been observed  in the river below  the




municipalities.  These high levels occur even during  the disinfection  season




below the City of Saginaw.  Average chloride levels are approximately  those




recommended as the maximum level in the U.S. Public Health Service drinking




water standards  (1962).  Nutrient levels, both phosphate and nitrate,  are  far




in excess of those required for phytoplankton growth.  There is a high sus-




pended sediment  load in the river, and also numerous  areas with deposited




sludge.  Almost  all bottom-growing forms found in the river bed are pollution




tolerant.  Sludge worms composed over 99 percent of the total benthic  popula-




tion in the Saginaw River.  Phytoplankton and attached algae types are pollu-




tion tolerant and typical of those found in enriched  streams.




     The drainage of the Saginaw River above Saginaw  is composed of the




Tittabawassee River Basin (15 percent), Shiawassee River Basin  (23 percent),




Flint River Basin (20 percent), and Cass River Basin  (42 percent).  Within




the immediate drainage basin (246 square miles), there are two major popula-




tion centers and four minor municipal areas which have waste treatment plants.




Saginaw, the largest, had a 1960 population of 98,265, and Bay City had  a 1960




population of 53,604.  The remaining communities are Carrollton (6,718),




Zilwaukee (1,874), and Buena Vista (11,160) - all located in the Saginaw area.




Essexville (4,590) is located near Bay City.  The City of Zilwaukee recently




(1966) put into operation a primary treatment plant.




     There are seven industrial sources located along the Saginaw River




which discharge effluent directly to the river.  Consumers Power Company,







                                   96

-------
located near the outlet of Saginaw River into Saginaw Bay, uses the river




water only for cooling, and discharges the heated effluent directly to




Saginaw Bay.  Monitor Sugar Company near Bay City discharges to Dutch Creek,




a tributary to the west channel of the Saginaw River.  Michigan Sugar Company




near Saginaw discharges through Carrollton sewage treatment plant outfall;




also, the sugar plant has seasonal operations and discharges during the late




fall and winter months.  The Grey Iron Division, Chevrolet Division - General




Motors Corporation, discharges its wastes to the Saginaw River near the City




of Saginaw.  Chevrolet Division - General Motors Corporation discharges a




small amount of waste effluent to Saginaw City's sewer for treatment at the




municipal waste treatment plant.  The Bay Refining Company, Division of Dow




Chemical Company, discharges wastes from crude oil processing, and also from




the cracking unit, to Saginaw River near Essexville.  The Saginaw Bay




Division - Dow Chemical Company discharges petro-chemical waste effluent to




the Saginaw River near its outlet to Saginaw Bay.




     Three locations on the Saginaw River were sampled routinely by FWPCA




in 1965.  These were above the City of Saginaw, below the City of Saginaw, and




below Bay City.  The results of the year's sampling are listed on the following




table, pages 101 and 102.




     The data collected at these three stations indicate that there is no




significant difference in the water quality in the Saginaw River, with the




exception of oxidizable nitrogen levels, DO levels, and bacteriological




quality.  There is a significant increase in the coliform concentrations below




Saginaw and, although the level is reduced below Bay City, the level is still




higher than that found above Saginaw.  The Bay City location is upstream of




the effluent of the Bay City sewage treatment plant.  The levels of all
                                   97

-------
parameters are indicative of moderately high municipal and  industrial




pollution.  The high level of pollution indicated above the main waste  sources




of the Saginaw River indicate that much of the pollution comes  from the




tributaries to the Saginaw River.




     The impact of the Saginaw River may be clearly observed by an analysis




of data collected in Saginaw Bay at the mouth of the Saginaw River.  Samples




were collected on a monthly basis by the FWPCA from May through November  1965.




The results of these analyses are listed on the following table, pages  103 and  104.




     Although this station is approximately 2,000 feet out  in the bay,  the




effect of predominate river flow may be noticed in the various  parameters,




particularly in the chlorides, nutrients, and DO level.  The annual variation




in the data corresponds in general to the variation in the  flow of the  Saginaw




River.




     The Michigan Water Resources Commission has maintained a sampling  loca-




tion at the Consumers Power Company water intake at Essexville  since 1957.




This location has become part of their water quality monitoring program.




Temperature at this location has ranged from a minimum of 0 C to maximum




observed temperature of 29 C.  Maximum monthly average temperatures are




about 24 C found during the months of July and August.  DO has  varied from




the maximum of 15.5 mg/1 to a minimum of 1.0 mg/1.  Minimum monthly average




DO .•is.£4:14cmg/l.G?-aF.ive-day BOD concentrations have ranged from a maximum 9.4




mg/1 to a minimum of 0.6 mg/1, with a maximum monthly average of 6.2 mg/1.




The maximum temperature, minimum DO, and maximum BOD during the period of




record occurred in the summer months - June, July, and August.  The following




table lists the summary of the 1965 water quality monitoring program results




at this station.  These analyses were performed by the Michigan Water




Resources Commission.




                                   98

-------
     The phosphate is soluble orthophosphate,  and is not exactly comparable to




the total or soluble phosphates reported by the FWPCA.  Nitrate was originally




reported by the Michigan Water Resources Commission as NCL and ammonia as NH_.




These were converted by appropriate factors to nitrate and ammonia as nitrogen,




as reported by the FWPCA.  The bacterial densities are reported as most




probable numbers, using the multitube technique, and are more generally




comparable to the membrane filter results reported by the FWPCA.




     Approximately two-thirds of the present municipal load comes from the




four plants in the Saginaw area - Saginaw, Carrollton, Buena Vista, and




Zilwaukee - with the remainder from the two plants in the Bay City area -




Bay City and Essexville.  During the seasonal operation of the sugar plants,




the added load amounts to about 25 percent increase of the municipal loads.




The major upstream tributary organic loads are flow and season dependent,




but account for a substantial percentage of the total load in the river.




     At one time, the Saginaw River was used as a water supply by the City




of Saginaw.  Poor quality of the river eventually forced the abandonment of




this convenient source as a municipal supply.   Numerous industries, however,




continue to use the river as a source of both process and cooling waters.




Of particular importance is the use by the two sugar companies of the river




water for washing and processing the sugar beets.  The river is an active




recreation area with numerous marinas and parks.  Extensive use of the river




is made for water skiing with limited swimming activity.  The cities of




Essexville and Bay City were once the ports of a large commercial fishery




which has long abandoned the Saginaw River.  Sport fishing still occurs in




the river both from boats and from shore.  There are a number of shoreline




parks.
                                   99

-------
     A prime consideration for the Saginaw River is its impact on the uses




of Saginaw Bay.  These uses include the municipal water supplies of the




Saginaw-Midland pipeline of Bay City, and of numerous other communities on




Saginaw Bay.  The bay is used extensively for recreational boating, including




water skiing activity.  There are numerous beaches along the shore of the




bay which are used for swimming.




     Saginaw Bay, with its shallow water, bountiful food supply, and low




marshy shorelines is a most important waterfowl production and migration




stopping point in Michigan.  This area is also an important hunting area.




The bay is a productive, accessible, and suitable area for both the commercial




and sports fishermen.
                                   100

-------
Water Quality
SAGINA.W RIVER
    1965
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
5 -day BOD
KH3-N
Org-N
N03~N
N02-N
Total P04
Total Sol. PO^
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
cr
Phenol
PH
Xl80 above Saginav
NS |Avg Low High
12
7
12
12
14
10
14
14
14
14
13
16
15
16
8.9 . 4.7 11.3
4 35
0.67 0.15 1.22
0.23 0.12 0.44
1.5 0.6 2.8
0.03 0.009 0.07
. 1.2 0.2 4.2
0.7 0.06 1.8
856 46l . 1700
40 5 132
10 2 . . 25
236 56 424
9 1 16
7.7 7.2 8.1
Xl60 below Saginaw
NS
11
7
13
13
14
10
14
.14
14
14
13
16
13
16
Avg Low High
8.5 5.1 li.l
537
0.98 0.38 2.30
0.27 0.06 0.72
1.4 0.6 2.4
0.03 o.oi . 0.06
0.9 0.4 1.5
0.7 0.3 1.5
799 561 1236
36 11 149
9 2 20
218 88 439
8 0 23
7.7 7.1 8.0
X110 at Bav Citv
NS
14'
7
12
12
14
10
14
14
14
14
13
18
15
19
Avjr Low Hirfi
7.3 3.0 11.0
43 6
1.15 0.36 3.10
0.32 o.io 1.25
1.3 0.5 1.9
0.04 0.02 . 0.07
1.2 0.5 3-4
0.9 0.1 . 3-4
901 495 2159
37 10 197
, 10 3 23
223 •' 35 ^02
9 V<2, . 26
7.6 7.1--" 8.0

-------
               Water Quality
SAGINAW RIVER

    1965
Parameters
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness .
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Strep
Total Plate Count 20°(
Total Plate Count 35°C
X180 above Saginaw
NS
It
12
12
lt-
It
13
15
16
Ik
>
i
It
0
0
Avg Low High
2,100 100 8,300
87 18 252
18 8 38
100 38 182
26 10 tl
81 in 125
353 210 572
1,050 510 2,OtO
it,50o 1,500 73,000
660 130 7,200
105 25 9,800
_

Xl60 below Saginaw
NS
It
12
12
It
It
It
15
'16
It
It
It
0
0
Avg Low High
2,200 100 10,800
90 2t 258
16 ^-1 3T
102 72 162
26 16 36
81 tl 122
3t2 258 t92
1,020 6tO 1,660
183,000 t,900 290,000
7,500 /^ioo 58,000
1,250 Z. 20 7,200
- . -

X110 at Bay City
NS
It
12
12
It
& .
It
v:
20
13
13
12
0
0
Avg Low High
2,000 /- 100 12,60
91 2t . 25
17 t 3
103 7t 13
28 13 1*
85 39 12
337 19t t7
1,010 t6o 1,80
to,ooo 3,300 110,00
5,500 tOO 2t,OC
820 ^ 10 -A 6,00
•• , •• •#
V
•• •« i ' •»
o
N3

-------
                Water Quality
SAGIKAW RIVER

    1965
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
5 -day BOD
NH3-N
Org-N
N03-N
N02-N
Total P04
Total Sol. POjj.
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. Solids
cr
Phenol
PH
X100 bay near mouth
KS |Avg Low High
10
5
5
6
6
*.
6
6
6
6
6
9
6
10
8.0 5.5 9.7
4 37
0.55 0.10 0..91
0.23 o.oo 0.50
0.7 0.1 1.2
0.0k 0.01 0.06
.0.6 0.05 1.4
0.5 o.o4 i.o
694 35^ 912
27 14 47
9 .0 17
169 73 330
2 0 5
7.7 7A 8.2
MV7RC-SAG at mouth
NS
10
.8
9
0
9
0
0
0
0
8
7
9
0
10
Avg Low High
7.3 3.8 11.4
5 3 9
0.6l 0.16 2.10
N '
1.3 0.1 2.7
. - . _
-
- . -
.
43 8 l4l
10 5 16
198 122 360
. -
7.9 7-6 8.1

NS













Avg Low Hifih













o
OJ

-------
Water Quality
SAGINAW RIVER
    1965
Parameters
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Strep
Total Plate Count 20°(
Total Plate Count 35°C
X100 bay near mouth
NS
5
*
1*
" 6-
6
6
6
10
5
5
5
*'
6
Avg Low High
980 100 3,100
52 20 -S100
11* 8 16
87 1*9 103
26 17 37
72 1*1* 100
296 178 352
820 1*50 1,350
1,700 ^2 87,000
^100' ^i 3,too
4. 10 1 1*00
5,550 .730 , • 22,000
8,850 2,000 1*8,000
MWRC-SAG at mouth
NS
0
2
2
2
2
2
2
8
7
0
0
0
0
Avg Low High
-
86 79 92
1* 1* 1*
92 86 98
20 19 21
69 68 70
308 300 315
1,060 810 1,600
23,000 730 21*0,000
...
- . - -
.- -


NS













Avg Low High




•









-------