Tanyard Creek Monitoring

Tanyard Creek is a CSO stream in which the Tanyard Creek CSO wastewater facility often expels minimally treated water. Located in Northwest Atlanta, the creek eventually flows into Peachtree Creek.  The Tanyard Creek CSO facility is the smallest in Atlanta, yet it handles the largest volume of water.  The facility has been know to overflow with only 2.5 mm of precipitation.

Mosquito Larvae Collection:

 

Immature mosquitoes are collected by dippers, bagged and analyzed by instar in the laboratory.

 

The study sites include 8 small, standing water pools at various distances from the Tanyard Creek CSO facility.  Water quality tests in addition to adult and immature mosquito larvae collection are taken at least once a week and at various times after an overflow event. We have also set up water and air temperature data loggers at each sight to relate mosquito numbers to environmental conditions. Additionally blood-fed mosquitoes are sent to the University of Georgia, Athens, to test for the presence of West Nile Virus. 

This research will provide insights about the quality of the CSO water as an effective breeding ground for mosquitoes and understand how the overflows affect water quality and how this is related  to mosquito populations.  These results could eventually lead to more effective measures to control mosquito populations in the Atlanta area. We will also be able to give an accurate reading of the nutrients In the water and their potential effects on human health as they affect mosquito populations.

Adult Mosquito Collection:

Adult mosquitoes are collected by gravid traps, light traps and backpack aspirator.

Water Quality Tests:

Dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, nitrates, chlorine, phosphate, and ammonia.

Weather station at Bobby Jones Golf Course

 

Site Developed by Greg Decker.