Middle Snake Watershed (WRIA 35) Tucannon River Temperature - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Middle Snake Watershed (WRIA 35) Tucannon River Temperature Investigation

April 13, 2006

Presentation Outline

• Part 1 - Study Purpose – Why are we

doing this project?

• Part 2 - Temperature Analysis – What we

did

• Part 3 - Model Scenario – Full shade
• Part 4 - Update of Temperature Standards
• Part 5 - Next Steps

Part 1 Why are we doing this project?

Purpose of Tucannon River Temperature Study

• River temperatures exceed standards
• Is this a natural condition?
• What are the sources of heat to the river?
• What is the “worst case” condition during low-

flow

• What temperatures can be attained, and where,

under full shade conditions?

Long-term Monitoring Stations

Study Area = Above Sheep Creek to mouth 26 WDFW temperature stations 3 Ecology stations 4 USFS temperature stations USFS Boundary

Daily maximum temperature criteria exceeded for most of river

50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 10 20 30 40 50 60 River Mile Temperature (oF)

Class AA Water Quality Criteria Class A Water Quality Criteria USFS Boundary

Lower Tucannon River Water Temperatures

2004 Max Daily Temperature on Tucannon River Class A Waters

5 10 15 20 25 30 5/12/2004 5/19/2004 5/26/2004 6/2/2004 6/9/2004 6/16/2004 6/23/2004 6/30/2004 7/7/2004 7/14/2004 7/21/2004 7/28/2004 8/4/2004 8/11/2004 8/18/2004 8/25/2004 9/1/2004 9/8/2004 9/15/2004 9/22/2004 9/29/2004 10/6/2004 10/13/2004 10/20/2004 10/27/2004 Temperature (deg C) RM 2 RM 12 RM 21 Class A Max Class A 7-day

Lower Watershed Middle Watershed Upper Watershed

Cooler Water Temperature: Narrower channel (less surface area) Higher elevation (3,000 ft) Faster flow (less heating time) Denser riparian veg. (more shading) Warmer Water Temperature: Wider channel (more surface area) Low elevation (500 ft msl) Slower flow (more heating time) Less riparian veg. (less shading)

Why are river temperatures cooler upstream and warmer downstream?

Part 2 Temperature Analysis-

Field Work and Modeling

Field Work

Field work during summer 2005

• Install flow, temp. & humidity meters and

collect data

• Stream geometry data (width, depth)
• Calculate ground water inflow/outflow
• Tree shading measurements

Seepage Study

Measure: flows temperatures channel geometry Estimate withdrawals Calculate ground water inflow/outflow Flow and Temperature Measurement Stations

Measure Tree Shading

Measured each stream edge to 150 feet out

Tree height Classify general tree type Canopy density Overhang at 170 locations (transects) Effective shade from trees

We also found snakes!

j10

Modeling steps . . .

• GIS analysis for shading and stream

geometry

• Input weather and temperature data
• Flow budget
• Model development and calibration

– Based on July 13 field data – Flow is constant – Weather and temperature data are diurnal

Tributary Inflows

Measured Tributary Flows River Flow

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 River KM Flow (cfs) River Flow Cumulative Measured Tributary Flow

River Diversions

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

River KM Flow (cfs)

Estimated Cumulative Diversions River Flow

Riparian GIS Analysis

Shading data every 100 meters within 150 feet of the river- ~900 data points Lower Watershed - Low Shade Upper Watershed - More Shade Shade transects

Model represents near worst-case conditions . . .

5 10 15 20 25 30 Apr-05 May-05 Jun-05 Jul-05 Aug-05 Sep-05 Oct-05 Temp (C)

50 100 150 200 250 300

Flow (cfs)

Lady Bug Flat Temperature Smolt Trap Temperature

High water temperatures Low flow conditions Model period

Model solves heat budget to calculate temperature . . .

Stream Cross Section

Bed Conduction

Heat Transfer Processes

Evaporation Convection Solar (Diffuse) Solar (Direct) Longwave

Groundwater flow

(wind) Heat Budget Eq. Total heat = solar + longwave + convection + evaporation + streambed + groundwater

Solar (Shade)

Model Results!!

5 10 15 20 25 30 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 distance upstream (Km) temperature (deg C) Temp(C) Average Mean Temp-data Temp(C) Minimum Temp(C) Maximum Minimum Temp-data Maximum Temp-data

Model Prediction Measured Data Error (RMSE) about 1 °C

Tucannon River Heat Budget – Solar heating main factor in heating

• 600
• 400
• 200

200 400 600 800 1000

3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 time of day (hours) heat fluxes (W/m^2)

solar shortwave longwave atmosphere longwave water air convection/conduction evaporation sediment conduction hyporheic

Shade is less in lower watershed

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

12 AM 2 AM 4 AM 6 AM 8 AM 10 AM 12 PM 2 PM 4 PM 6 PM 8 PM 10 PM Hourly Effective Shade (%)

Lady Bug Flat (RM 52) Marengo Bridge (RM 27) Smolt Trap (RM 2)

Part 3 Model Scenario - Full Shade

Full shading for watershed vegetation example cover types . . .

Conifer Shading 80 feet tall 80% density 100% trees Shrub Shading 23 to 31 feet tall 80% density 25 to 50% trees Mixed Shading 82 feet tall 80% density 100% trees Mixed Shading 72 feet tall 80% density 100% trees

Example model run with system potential vegetation

5 10 15 20 25 30 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 distance upstream (Km) temperature (deg C) Temp(C) Average Temp(C) Minimum Temp(C) Maximum Temp(C) Average Shade 100 Temp(C) Minimum Shade 100 Temp(C) Maximum Shade 100

School House Fire (Aug 5-19)

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/fire/school.shtml

Temperature results after School House Fire

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 1-Aug 8-Aug 15-Aug 22-Aug 29-Aug Temperature (F)

Panjab Creek Bridge Bridge 14 Air Temperature Marengo

Part 4 Updated on Ecology/EPA Temperatures Standards

Update of Temperature Standards

• Ecology submitted temp. standards for EPA

review – July 2003

• March 23, 2006 – EPA denied Ecology

standards

• New EPA standards:

– Fish-specific – More stringent in many areas – More exceedences for Tucannon River

• Ecology will revise standards
• TMDL scoping for Tucannon/Pataha next year

Ecology’s Temperature Standards

Location Classification Criteria Mouth to Umatilla National Forest boundary (RM 38.1): Class A 18 C (64.4 F) Umatilla National Forest boundary (RM 38.1) to Panjab Creek Class AA 16 C (60.8 F) Location Classification Criteria Mouth to Umatilla National Forest boundary (RM 38.1): Noncore Salmon/Trout 17.5 C (63.5 F) Umatilla National Forest boundary (RM 38.1) to Panjab Creek Core Salmon/Trout 16 C (60.8 F) Upstream of Panjab confluence: Char 12 C (53.6 F)

Existing (1997) Proposed (2003)

EPA’s March 2006 Proposed Temperature Standards

Location Classification Criteria

Mouth to RM 20 Non Core/Salmon 17.5 oC RM 20 – 38.1 Core 16 oC Above RM 38.1 Char 12 oC

EPA’s March 2006 Recommended Seasonal Temperature Standards

,

Location Time period Criteria

Mouth to RM 20 Feb 15 – Jun 1 13 oC To protect spawning and incubation RM 20 – RM 38.1 Sept 1 – Jun 15 13 oC To protect spawning and incubation Upper Tucannon above Panjab Creek Sept 1 – May 15 9 oC To protect Bull Trout Spawning and Incubation

EPA’s Proposed Temp. Standards

EPA’s Seasonal Temp Standards for Fish Use

Part 5 Next steps . . .

Next Steps

• HDR - run natural conditions (system

potential vegetation) scenario and prepare technical memo on methods and results

• HDR - present results of natural conditions

modeling and discuss with Planning Unit the options for future steps