Estimating the nutrient thresholds of a typical tributary in the Liao River basin, Northeast China

Estimating regional nutrient criteria for streams and rivers is a key step toward protecting river water quality and restoring the health of aquatic ecosystems. Using a multivariable statistical analysis technique, nutrients were identified as the main factor influencing the degradation of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. Three chemical methods (the reference stream distribution approach, all-streams distribution approach and Y-intercept approach) and one biological method (the stress-response approach) were applied to evaluate the nutrient thresholds in the Qing River basin. The reference stream distribution approach and all-streams distribution approach were based on calculating a predetermined percentile of reference streams and all-streams water quality data set, respectively. The Y-intercept approach was based on determining the influence of human activity on water quality by linear regression models. The biological method was based on the response of the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure to changes in water quality. The chemical thresholds were 0.750–1.288 mg/L for total nitrogen (TN) and 0.035–0.046 mg/L for total phosphorus (TP); the biological thresholds were 1.050–1.655 for TN and 0.052–0.101 for TP. The results from the chemical approaches were verified using the biological method, resulting in preliminarily recommended thresholds of 1.000 mg/L TN and 0.040 mg/L TP in the Qing River system.