PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Water Quality Assessments

Review of the effects of forest management on in-stream phosphorus levels in the Pacific Northwest

Client: Oregon Department of Forestry

Project Description: In the late 1980’s, deteriorating water quality conditions in the Tualatin River basin, a 710 mi² tributary of the Willamette River near Portland, Oregon, led the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to establish total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for phosphorus inputs from all land uses and activities in the basin. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) was charged with developing a phosphorus control plan for phosphorus inputs associated with forest management activities. However, numerous uncertainties existed as to the extent to which forest management activities contributed to in-stream phosphorus levels. This uncertainty was due to the lack of any systematic synthesis and summary of existing research and regional data. In 1991, ODF contracted with Oregon State University College of Forestry to review the effects of forest management on in-stream phosphorus levels in the Pacific Northwest. Ed Salminen, at that time employed as an Assistant Research Hydrologist at Oregon State University, conducted the review, and was lead author of the final report to the ODF. This project included an extensive review and synthesis of peer-reviewed and “gray” literature on forest management contributions to in-stream phosphorus loading, and collection and analysis of unpublished regional data sets.

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Truckee River, Nevada - River Nutrient Modeling

Client: Bureau of Reclamation, State of Nevada, Washoe County

Project Description: The computer model DSSAMt, co-developed by, WPN Member Jim Brock was used to simulate the regulated flow, nutrient loading from agriculture, and point source loading from the Reno/Sparks Water Reclamation Facility. The model simulates water temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and primary producer dynamics. DSSAMt was developed specifically to simulate the benthic (river bottom) processes on the dissolved oxygen, pH, and nutrient fluxes of a river. The model has been calibrated and tested using several years of Truckee River data over diverse flow and nutrient loads. DSSAMt is providing a technical input for resource management decisions involving water rights acquisition for purposes of flow augmentation, setting appropriate TMDLs, nonpoint source pollutant reduction, and river channel restoration. Jim’s ongoing projects using DSSAMt include application to wastewater facilities planning and the EIS associated with the Truckee River Operating Agreement.

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Continuous Monitoring of Phosphorus and Sediment, Lake Creek, Idaho

Client: Kootenai-Shoshone Soil and Water Conservation District

Project Description: Lake Creek, a tributary to Windy Bay, near Worley, Idaho is a small watershed (23,000 acres) comprised primarily of forest and cropland. The Kootenai-Shoshone Soil Conservation District initiated a watershed restoration project in Lake Creek in 1994 to reduce sediment and nutrient loading into Lake Coeur d' Alene. Steve Bauer and Jim Brock combined resources to develop and install a continuous monitoring system to measure storm event pollution over a long-term period. The monitoring system provides a continuous record of turbidity, discharge, rainfall, temperature and conductivity. Suspended sediment and phosphorus loading to the lake is determined by regression equations from samples collected manually and analyzed at the Idaho State laboratory. A gage house contained the stilling well, pressure transducer (stage height), data logger, and precipitation bucket. A walk bridge was constructed to hold the turbidity sensor and provide access to collect manual samples and measure discharge. The turbidity sensor, mounted on a swinging hinged pipe, was constructed to deflect floating debris and ice. The monitoring stations were powered by solar panels due to inaccessibility to electrical power. Stations were checked on and daily basis via telephone modem to maintain equipment in good running order.

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Water Quality Monitoring Program Assessment, Grande Ronde River, Oregon

Client: Grande Ronde Basin Partnership, La Grande, Oregon

Project Description: The Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program is a citizen-based river restoration program aimed at restoring historic steelhead and salmon runs and complying with a recently completed TMDL. Steve Bauer evaluated the current monitoring program for its potential to detect improvement in water quality and fisheries habitat. Recommendations addressed implementation and effectiveness monitoring and the development of a long-term scientifically based monitoring program.

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Analysis of Metals Toxicity and Nutrient Limitation, Kootenai River, Idaho

Client: Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

Project Description: The Kootenai River is an international river shared between British Columbia, Idaho, and Montana with a history of mining and dam construction that has severely limited sturgeon, burbot, and salmonid species. Steve Bauer is assisting the Kootenai Tribe in evaluation of water quality data in relationship to restoration and enhancement of traditional tribal fisheries. A series of reports for the tribe evaluated metals toxicity, from arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium and zinc, and phosphorus as a limiting factor to primary productivity. Steve is currently working with an interagency fisheries team to develop a long-term water quality and biomonitoring program.

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TMDL Development, Fremont River, Utah

Client: Utah Department of Environmental Quality

Project Description: The Fremont River watershed is listed on Utah's Year 2000 303(d) list as being impaired for three water quality constituents - total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, and total dissolved solids. Steve Bauer is providing technical assistance to the prime contractor to assess water quality impairments of the watershed, quantify loadings for these limiting water quality parameters, and to develop watershed quality management plans with acceptable total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). The project will quantify potential reductions of loadings, provide recommendations for appropriate best management practices (BMPs), and recommend a monitoring program to assess implementation effectiveness.

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Middle Fork Payette River TMDL

Client: Boise Cascade

Project Description: Domoni Glass participated as an active member of the technical assessment team that analyzed the effect of land use on water quality in this basin. The primary pollutant of concern in this basin was sediment. Analysis relied heavily on a sediment model developed by Boise Cascade under the management of Domoni Glass. The assessment was used to support a TMDL, which has recently been approved by EPA with some modification. A preliminary implementation plan has been developed. Ms. Glass also aided in the application for grants to implement the plan. To date, $100,000 in grants have been awarded to the landowners of the basin.

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Portneuf River TMDL support

Client: City of Pocatello

Project Description: Jim Brock designed an automated system to continuously monitor dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and conductivity to assist the city of Pocatello evaluate the impacts of its municipal discharge on the river for TMDL compliance. The monitoring network is being expanded to include several additional stations higher in the drainage to assess effectiveness of agricultural BMPs. Telemetry by means of a cellular telephone has been added to the system to make information accessible to the public over the internet. Jim also assisted the City of Pocatello and other stakeholders, including Idaho DEQ, in drafting an implementation plan for the Portneuf River Basin.

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Evaluation of Prediction Models & Characterization of Stream Temperature Regimes in Washington

Client: Timber-Fish- Wildlife Co-operatively Funded Research

Project Description: Jean Caldwell was a member of five-person work team investigating available water temperature prediction models, and temperature characteristics of Washington forested streams. Project objectives were to evaluate available computer models and to develop a method for identifying streams where post-timber harvest water temperatures might exceed regulatory standards, and specify additional levels of resource protection.

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Cascade Reservoir Assessment and TMDL

Client: Boise Cascade

Project Description: Domoni Glass managed the assessment of 100,000 acres of this 314,000-acre watershed. The assessment team included Joanne Greenberg, Steve Bauer and Karen Kuzis of WPN. The watershed assessment addressed water quantity, water quality, and fish habitat and identified actions that could be taken to improve aquatic resources and minimize effects on flow. In addition, Ms. Glass served as chair of the Technical Advisory Committee charged with the development of the TMDL and completion of an implementation plan. She worked with forestry, agricultural, and urban interests to develop an assessment of land use effects on water quality in the basin. The assessment was used to identify projects that could be implemented with the greatest cost/benefit. Avenues for project funding were explored. Controls of effects of future land use in this rapidly developing basin were also addressed. To date, over $3 million in grants have been awarded to the residents of the basin to be used for a new sewage treatment plan, updates of the irrigation water transport system, road improvements, and other irrigation modifications. The State of Idaho and EPA have approved the TMDL.

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