Plankton Analysis Component of the Piney Run Reservoir Water Quality Monitoring Program

Piney Run Reservoir, located in southeast Carroll County, Maryland, was constructed in 1975 for the purposes of water supply, recreation, and flood control. It has a surface area of 298 acres and drains a 10.6 square mile watershed containing about 33% forested land. The reservoir is the focal point of Piney Run Park, an 800-acre park surrounding the reservoir. Agriculture is the dominant land use (about 50%), while low and medium density residential land uses comprise about 15% of this watershed. A comprehensive water quality monitoring program for the Piney Run Reservoir was implemented in 1993. The purpose of this program is to develop a better understanding of the reservoir’s water quality and its role in the design and operation of a potential future water treatment plant. Plankton sampling and analysis have been conducted as part of this effort since 2000. The goal of plankton sampling and analysis is to characterize the biological community in the reservoir. The monitoring program consists primarily of routine sampling events in the reservoir whereby six samples are collected from four stations at various depths; physical and chemical samples are also collected at each location. Phytoplankton samples are collected from four of the locations and a zooplankton sample is collected via Wisconsin sampler at one station. Routine plankton samples are collected quadri-weekly during the period of April through August and bi-weekly during the period of September through November. Random samples will also be collected throughout the year.