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Aerial view of the marsh.

Introduction

The Arcata Marsh is the wastewater treatment plant, and a tourist destination, for the city of Arcata, Humboldt County, California.

Much of the written information is taken from the California Environmental Resources Evaluation System and needs to be updated and formatted better - please feel free to edit by clicking the edit tab above.

Wastewater Treatment

Primary Treatment

Tertiary Treatment

Effluent

History

History of the Land

Arcata's Wastewater Plant

Overview

Map

The following map is interactive, you can move around and zoom by clicking on the map and buttons. You can add pointer information by clicking edit and adding a location (see Help:Maps for help on editing the map).

The Arcata Marsh as provided by USGS data.


<googlemap lat="40.853959" lon="-124.090319" zoom="16" width="450" height="450" overview="yes"> 40.85602, -124.090249, Primary anerobic digestor 40.855679, -124.089793, Sludge drying beds 40.855878, -124.090598, Archimedes screw pumps - Raw sewage enters the treatment plant at this point. 40.855768, -124.090624, Headworks - Primary filtration 40.85548, -124.090415, Clarification 40.851581, -124.08519, Arcata Salt Marsh - In 1981, these marshes were re-opened to tidal action. These marshes are characteristic of the salt water habitat around Humboldt Bay. 40.852879, -124.091424, Wastewater Aquaculture Project - Fish hatchery and ponds where salmon, trout, and other fish are raised in and return to a mixture of wastewater and sea water. 40.850891, -124.089117, Oxidation Ponds - These 49 acres of ponds, built in the late 1950's, treat Arcata's wastewater with time, water, plants, bacteria, and fungi to secondary standards. 40.853179, -124.089503, Treatment Marshes - These three, two-acre marshes were completed between 1987-1990 40.855127, -124.09519, Franklin Klopp Lake - This brackish lake is now popular for shorebird observation and sports fishing. Originally it was a leachate (drainage) basin for the landfill. 40.858568, -124.093323, George Allen Marsh - Completed in 1981, this marsh was built on an abandoned log deck. 40.860077, -124.095318, Robert Gearheart Marsh - Completed in 1981, this marsh was pasture land. 40.858113, -124.090544, Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center - 600 S G St Arcata, CA 95521 - (707) 826-2359 40.858941, -124.089847, Parking 40.85589, -124.098258, Parking and Boat Ramp 40.857448, -124.097292, Dan Hauser Marsh - This is the final marsh irrigated with treated wastewater. From here the water is returned to the treatment plant. 40.856279, -124.097872, Final point of wastewater marshes, notice the high concentration of cattail and bulrush. 40.857058, -124.094589, Mount Trashmore - This grassy hill is a sealed sanitary landfill (garbage dump) that operated during the 1960's and 1970's. 40.862381, -124.090834, Butcher's Slough (lower end of Jolly Giant Creek) - This area was restored in 1985-6. The pilings once supported a plywood mill. 40.854904, -124.09056, Discharge to the bay - At low tides, the 24" bay discharge pipe is visible in the inlet west of the chlorination facility. 40.852709, -124.093151, Humboldt Bay - Produces more than half of the oysters grown in California and is home to a variety of other aquatic plants and animals. 40.854908, -124.090351, Chlorinating Facility - Chlorination and dechlorination (with sulfur dioxide) before discharge to public access and again to Humboldt Bay. 40.85395, -124.088184, Marsh Pilot Project - These ten 20' x 200' marshes were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of wetlands for treating wastewater. 40.854466, -124.088554, Composting </googlemap>

Headworks

Clarifier

Digesters

Compost

Oxidation Ponds

The Oxidation ponds in the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Marsh span about 55 acres. They are the secondary treatment phase in the treatment marsh system. The ponds are about five feet deep and their slow moving current makes them excellent for settling out solids. One of the main purposes of the oxidation ponds is to lower the BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) of the wastewater. The ponds are large and open allowing for large amounts of algae growth. This algae produces oxygen which allows the bacteria in the water to break down the organic matter within the wastewater.The bacteria in upper parts of the oxidation ponds have acess to readily available oxygen so the majority of the bacteria there are aerobic bacteria and use the oxygen produced by the algae.However,near the bottom of the ponds the oxygen levels taiper off and it becomes an anerobic enviorment so the bacteria growing on the bottom reflect this.Aerobic bacteria are more effiecent at metabolizing BOD than anerobic bacteria. The algae also removes large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. Although this method is much less efficient then modern methods of wastewater treatment, the oxidation ponds (along with the rest of the Wastewater Marsh system) allows Arcata to treat it's own wastewater. These ponds have other benefits such as being havens for wild birds such as Canada Geese and other migratory birds.

References

http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/Biotech-Environ/FUNDAMNT/streem/methods.htm http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/sustainable-resource-use/resource-management/dairy-shed-wastewater/dairyef4.htm\ http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/projects/arcata_map.html

Treatment Wetlands

Appropriateness

With a population of 17,294[1], funding for Wastewater treatment is limited. A cost restriction made Treatment Wetlands an appealing solution to Arcata's Wastewater problems.

Cattails in Arcata's Treatment Wetlands

The costs of Treatment Wetlands are largely based on the price and availability of land[2]. Otherwise, treatment wetlands are a low-cost alternative to activated sludge systems because constructed wetlands utilize natural processes as opposed to buying chemicals (especially oxygen) to treat wastewater[3].

Treatment Wetlands are unable to function in freezing climates[4]. Also, high levels of rainfall in the area can increase the amount of effluent created by the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This effect is exaggerated by the surface area of the oxidation ponds. An increase in effluent can increase the need for a larger capacity in further treatment during disinfection[5].


In order to utilize natural processes, plants were chosen carefully in order to account for large changes in flow rate. The changes in flow rate in Arcata, CA are caused by a seasonal change in population that nearly doubles between August and May (due to Humboldt State University's school sessions) as well as an aging sewer system built in the 1880s which is victim to heavy rainfall that leaks into the sewers. These drastic changes limited the selection of plants availible for use in the Treatment Marsh. There were three groups of plants that were used: Submergent, Emergent, and Floating Plants. Preference was given to native plants; Hardstem Bulrush is an example of a native plant to the Arcata area. The most prominent plants in use are listed in Figure 17.1


Figure 17.1
Plants used in the Treatment Wetlands
Common Name Latin name Picture
Submergent Sago Pondweed Potamogeton pectinatus
Emergent Hardstem Bullrush scirpus acutus
Water Dropwort Oenanthe
Arcata-7133 Water Dropwort reduced.jpg
Cattail typha
Arcata-7120 reduced.jpg
Floating Duckweed Lemna
Hydrocotyle Hydrocotyle
Arcata-7021 Hydrocotyle reduced.jpg

[6]

References

  1. California State Statistical Abstract
  2. Homer, Denise. Interview. 27 Mar. 2008. - Interpretive Naturalist.
  3. Poppendieck, Dustin. Interview. 28 Mar. 2008.
  4. Poppendieck, Dustin.Interview. 28 Mar. 2008.
  5. Couch, David. Interview. 7 March 2008.
  6. Shrader, Jesse. 2008.

Enhanced Marsh

Appropriateness

Chlorination

Dechlorination

Ancillary Benefits

Salt Water Marshes

Aquaculture

What is the Arcata Marsh Marsh Image:greywater.jpg TheArcata Marshis a fusion between waste water treatment and an outdoor [http://www.humboldt.edu/~ere_dept/marsh/rec.html recreational location Why would you want to hang out at a Waste Treatment Plant The abundance of birds, the view of the bay, or to watch the fish. What is Aquaculture Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic animals and plants, esp. fish, shellfish, and seaweed, in natural or controlled marine or freshwater environments; underwater agriculture. File:Marshimages/RearingPondsCopy.jpg

The Arcata Marsh Aquaculture project was proposed in 1963 by Dr. George Allen, and started later in 1971 to increase the local salmon runs. 1 img src= File:Marshimages/birdeatingfishsmall.jpg Why put the fish in poop water? At this point you may have read enough to notice that the fish are indeed swimming in our (the city of Arcata) toilette water (not to mention other run off from the streets). This may bother you; however the dirty water has benefits for both the treatment plant and the fish. o Because the water is dirty the waste water treatment plant actually saves on having to feed the fish as much, plus the bacteria and the fish help clean the water.

What fish are in the Arcata Marsh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o The Aquaculture program is rearing mostly anadromous salmonids including: o Chinook Salmon File:Chinook salmon File:Http://wildernessclassroom.com/superior/Chinook Salmon.gif http://wildernessclassroom.com/superior/Chinook_Salmon.gif" width="500" height="333"

o File:Http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/cohosalmon.htm Coho Salmon src="http://wildernessclassroom.com/superior/coho%20salmon.jpg" width="500" height="333"

o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutthroat_trout Cutthroat Trout http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Weber_river_cutt.jpg src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Weber_river_cutt.jpg" width="500" height="333"

o http://home.centurytel.net/sha/smithlake/images/rainbow-trout.jpg Rainbow Trout

<img src="http://home.centurytel.net/sha/smithlake/images/rainbow-trout.jpg" width="500" height="333"

Fish Facts

  • The fish usually weigh 2.1 lbs, and are on average 22cm long
  • The survival rates of the rainbow trout averages out to 85%
  • The ponds are composed of 80 % wastewater to 20 % saltwater because it is the highest levels of waste water that are tolerable without causing any fish mortalities.

1

  • The trout then go into pond 2, where they are fed roughly 1.5% of their body weight a day
  • Why isn't every town doing this?

???Knowledge o Not everyone knows about constructed wetlands dual purpose. You can't change you mind if you do not know there are other options. Location: Not every town can

o Wetland experts estimate a minimum of two acres per 1,000 people are required. So it's not feasible for big cities where land is hard to come by and expensive

o You also need direct access to a bay nearby

$$$ Engineers are partly to blame

o Construction cost for constructed wetlands is relatively low. This means engineers get paid less, so they are less likely to suggest it. o They also tend to avoid natural systems because they have less control over them.

Marshimages:arcata-danger.jpg

It may be O.K. for the fish but it will take a little longer before people can use it.

Awsome Walks File:Arcata-marshsideview.jpg

So now that you know a little about aquaculture, here is something else you may want to know Birds

The birds at the Arcata Marsh are awesome. People come from all over to see our Marsh just for the birds!

class=images><img src=marshimages/eagretononeleg.jpg

Cool Links:

Want to learn about a Salmons Life cycle?Salmon Life Cycle

File:Http://www.humboldt.edu/~ere dept/marsh/ Arcata Marsh Website

class=images><img src=marshimages/pinkreeds.jpg width="450" height="250"

Sources: 1. The predominant source of my information came from the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary Webpage 2. Marsh Photos Courtesy of Dustin Poppendieck 3. Fish photos

Birds

Other Animals

The Arcata Wastewater treatment marshes create habitat for many animals. Birds, Aquaculture, and other animals live in the marsh area.

This section will show some of the other animals that live in the Arcata Marsh; Amphibians, Reptiles, and Mammals.

Amphibians


Reptiles


Mammals


Many different kinds of animals benefit from the habitat provided by the marshes.

Links


This is a list of interesting links.


Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary [1]

Birds of the Arcata Marsh [2]

Friends of the Arcata Marsh (F.O.A.M.) [3]

Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Center - City of Arcata [4]


Sources


Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center

Trails

Current Operations

Operators

Current Performance

Research Projects

New Work

Points of Interest

The following points of interest are ordered to follow the flow of wastewater through Arcata's integrated wetland wastewater treatment plant.

1. Primary Treatment Plant (the "headworks"): Raw sewage enters the treatment plant at this point. It treats up to 5 Million Gallons a Day (MGD). An additional 14 MGD can bypass primary treatment and flow directly to the oxidation ponds during storms.

2. Oxidation Ponds: These 49 acres of ponds, built in the late 1950's, treat Arcata's wastewater to secondary standards. Time, water, plants, bacteria, and fungi purify the wastewater to secondary standards.

Arcata's wastewater circulates through a six-marsh system before it is released into the Bay. The natural processes occurring in the marshes simultaneously purify the wastewater by removing excess nutrients, and "feed" the marsh plants with water high in nitrogen-rich organic matter. Nutrients are taken up by the plants and thus removed from the wastewater. The roots and stems of the plants also clean the water by forming a dense netlike filter that removes large quantities of suspended solid materials. Algae, fungi, bacteria, and micro-organisms attached to the roots of these plants feed on these solids. All treatment marshes were planted with Humboldt Bay native Hardstem Bulrush (scirpus acutus) as well as a variety of other aquatic plants. This nutrient-rich habitat attracts thousands of birds, over 200 species, to the sanctuary. These ponds are:

3. Treatment Marshes: These three, two-acre marshes were completed between 1987-1990.

4. George Allen Marsh: Completed in 1981, this marsh was built on an abandoned log deck.

5. Robert Gearheart Marsh: Completed in 1981, this marsh was pasture land.

6. Dan Hauser Marsh: This is the final marsh irrigated with treated wastewater. From here the water is returned to the treatment plant.

Links

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