WATERSHED ASSESSMENT REPORT SUMMARY Prepared for Elk Creek Ranch - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
UPPER WHITE RIVER WATERSHED ASSESSMENT REPORT SUMMARY Prepared for Elk Creek Ranch White River Algae Task Force Meeting Luke Osborne, P.E. 2018.01.11 Purpose High-level overview of what we did, our findings, and recommendations
Luke Osborne, P.E.
2018.01.11 Prepared for Elk Creek Ranch White River Algae Task Force Meeting
High-level overview of what
we did, our findings, and recommendations
Focus on issues relevant to
finalizing USGS scope of work
Questions & Discussion
Began work in July 2017 with Elk Creek Ranch Focus on Upper White River, above Meeker Driving Questions relating to algal blooms:
What has changed in recent years? What is the cause and how can we reverse it?
Desktop study of existing
data
Focus on water quality
parameters, algal growth indicators, hydrology, and nutrient sources
Site visit in late August with
deployment of water quality sondes
1.
Literature review
2.
Reviewed water quality standards
3.
Reviewed CPW data
4.
Identified monitoring sites that had sufficient data and monitoring record
5.
Compiled existing water quality data
6.
Characterized water quality trends and loads
7.
Summarized data deficiencies
8.
Conducted a site visit in late August
9.
Deployed 3 water quality sondes
streamflow data
annual basis and for a summer month
No DO impairment No change in water temp pH within min-max criteria (5th St. Bridge had excursions) Chlorophyll-a data exceeds Colorado standard Total and dissolved N decreasing, P increasing Nitrogen limitation Distinct day-night cycle of pH and DO Multiple hydrologic factors likely affecting blooms Many factors (climate, streamflow, water temp, light) affecting algal
growth are beyond control or management
Primary tool is nutrient control, few readily controllable nutrient
sources in watershed
SAP and QAPP for data collection, validation, and management Adequate laboratory method detection resolution and reporting limits Synoptic monitoring program and spatial coverage of monitoring sites
throughout the watershed to assess nutrient source contributions and loads
Diurnal monitoring of field parameters DO and pH during peak algal growth Collection of algal/periphyton samples co-located water-quality (nutrient)
monitoring
Collection of total and dissolved forms of N and P Suspended solids and PAR monitoring Characterization of bed substrate and river transects to form a better
understanding of river hydraulic conditions
Re-establishment of USGS gaging activities in the North and South Fork White
River
Watershed management approach
Lead by board or council of stakeholders Define goals and objectives
Comprehensive water quality monitoring program to
inform sound decisions
Implement nutrient source management strategies Focus on nitrogen reductions followed by phosphorus Others detailed in report
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