| DCCD will continue to monitor four areas in the Upper Wind River Watershed. Dubois Frontier Editor |
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Results of the Dubois-Crowheart Conservation Districts water quality assessment are in, and according to DCCD Chairman Reg Phillips, the Upper Wind River Watershed is in good shape.
Nineteen sites were tested for water chemistry and seven additional sites for biological and physical assessments. The test sites, located in the watershed from Togwotee Pass to Diversion Dam, met the Department of Environmental Quality`s standards and guidelines in all three types of assessments.
Though there are four areas in the watershed that will continue to be monitored, Phillips said the district is pleased with the results. Water Quality Specialist Tina Melin performed three tests in defined reaches of the river. A reach is a specific section of a stream that is determined by the width of the river, varying in length in this watershed from 500 feet to a maximum of 2,500 feet.
Sites along the watershed were selected based on various land uses along the river housing developments, recreation activities, grazing allotments, the town of Dubois, concentrations of wildlife to give an accurate evaluation and baseline data for comparison in future years as development and recession of the drought continues.
Nineteen sites were tested for water chemistry and seven additional sites for biological and physical assessments. The test sites, located in the watershed from Togwotee Pass to Diversion Dam, met the Department of Environmental Quality`s standards and guidelines in all three types of assessments.
Though there are four areas in the watershed that will continue to be monitored, Phillips said the district is pleased with the results. Water Quality Specialist Tina Melin performed three tests in defined reaches of the river. A reach is a specific section of a stream that is determined by the width of the river, varying in length in this watershed from 500 feet to a maximum of 2,500 feet.
Sites along the watershed were selected based on various land uses along the river housing developments, recreation activities, grazing allotments, the town of Dubois, concentrations of wildlife to give an accurate evaluation and baseline data for comparison in future years as development and recession of the drought continues.
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Our testing is driven by the sample and analysis plan which we derived with the help of a water quality consultant, said Phillips. That plan was submitted to the Wyoming DEQ for approval, that`s the plan Tina follows when she`s testing. The plan was submitted to the DEQ in 2000, water testing began in 2001, with the testing for the project completed in 2003. Water samples were sent to one private lab and one state lab for chemical and biological analysis over the course of the project.
Twenty parameters were assessed at the 19 chemical sites which, among other tests, were analyzed for temperature; PH levels; bacteria such as E. Coli and fecal coliform, nonmetals such as solids in waters; and major ions like sulfate, ammonia and nitrates. Physical assessments at seven sites considered stream banks, type of rocks on the stream bed, and surrounding riparian areas. Biological assessments addressed numbers of fish seen, plant life in the water and bug life.
These tests are referred to as BURP (Beneficial Uses Reconnaissance Protocol) samples, which are established by the DEQ. Thirty-four conservation districts across the state are involved in the water quality assessment process and Phillips said, there would have been ramifications if we had not implemented a water monitoring program.
Twenty parameters were assessed at the 19 chemical sites which, among other tests, were analyzed for temperature; PH levels; bacteria such as E. Coli and fecal coliform, nonmetals such as solids in waters; and major ions like sulfate, ammonia and nitrates. Physical assessments at seven sites considered stream banks, type of rocks on the stream bed, and surrounding riparian areas. Biological assessments addressed numbers of fish seen, plant life in the water and bug life.
These tests are referred to as BURP (Beneficial Uses Reconnaissance Protocol) samples, which are established by the DEQ. Thirty-four conservation districts across the state are involved in the water quality assessment process and Phillips said, there would have been ramifications if we had not implemented a water monitoring program.
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A coalition of environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency in 1996 to force the State of Wyoming to enforce the 1972 Clean Water Act. If the State had turned their back on the lawsuit, the Wyoming DEQ would have stepped in and done the testing themselves, Phillips said. The DEQ would have established water quality standards throughout the state and TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) would have been part of this.
TMDLs are a formula-based calculation to reduce a pollutant which is causing water quality impairments. For the most part, TMDLs are not developed by local people within the local community affected. TMDLs established by the DEQ are numerical calculations and don`t take into consideration historical use, there is no local input, Phillips said. They just grab water samples and develop a standard. From that point, chances of gaining back local control is slim to none according to Phillips.
TMDLs are a formula-based calculation to reduce a pollutant which is causing water quality impairments. For the most part, TMDLs are not developed by local people within the local community affected. TMDLs established by the DEQ are numerical calculations and don`t take into consideration historical use, there is no local input, Phillips said. They just grab water samples and develop a standard. From that point, chances of gaining back local control is slim to none according to Phillips.
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science practices when collecting samples. Currently, the DCCD has no impaired or threatened water bodies on the 303b list. The 303b list states the conditions of the waters within Wyoming`s borders and is released every two years by the Wyoming DEQ. Although the report was good overall, four areas of concern were also identified within the analysis.
An algae growth was reported on a Horse Creek site that crosses Diamond D Ranch property. We found an algal growth in a specific reach that is kind of weird, said Melin. We`re trying to get the algae identified. It`s just tough, but we`ll find it. We don`t know if it`s a chemical thing or a physical thing causing the algae. We are continuing to monitor that site. The algae identification process will continue in the hopes that it will lead to possible sources of the outbreak and to solutions that can be pursued. Monitoring will also continue on the East Fork for sediment, algal growths and total coliforms. There are coliform issues we`re watching on East Fork, Melin said. There`s always a lot of sedimentation that could be causing some concern.
An algae growth was reported on a Horse Creek site that crosses Diamond D Ranch property. We found an algal growth in a specific reach that is kind of weird, said Melin. We`re trying to get the algae identified. It`s just tough, but we`ll find it. We don`t know if it`s a chemical thing or a physical thing causing the algae. We are continuing to monitor that site. The algae identification process will continue in the hopes that it will lead to possible sources of the outbreak and to solutions that can be pursued. Monitoring will also continue on the East Fork for sediment, algal growths and total coliforms. There are coliform issues we`re watching on East Fork, Melin said. There`s always a lot of sedimentation that could be causing some concern.
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Along with that sedimentation is another type of algae, unidentified at this point, but much more common to the area than the algae found at the Horse Creek site. A Sheridan Creek site will be monitored for fish habitat quality. This physical and biological testing site actually falls downstream of work that was done within the stream bed. In 2002, the Forest Service placed boulders in the creek, creating weirs (rock stabilizing structures) for fish habitat. As a result, the ensuing bank damage from the fast water being channeled off the rock structures and sediment collecting in the pools and back eddies are two of the biggest concerns the district will watch.
Crow Creek will continue to have water chemistry assessed for total coliform and E. Coli to assure compliance with DEQ`s water quality standards for these parameters. There`s a lot of bacteria in the water and we`re trying to identify the source and how we can get less of it in the water, said Phillips.
Crow Creek will continue to have water chemistry assessed for total coliform and E. Coli to assure compliance with DEQ`s water quality standards for these parameters. There`s a lot of bacteria in the water and we`re trying to identify the source and how we can get less of it in the water, said Phillips.
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The district is continuing to monitor some of the sites to keep an eye on things and see how the sites are affected over time, said Melin. We did this testing right in the middle of the drought 2003 was some of lowest (water) levels we`ve seen, and yet we still met the DEQ standards for Class 2 cold water fisheries, Phillips said.
As snowpack and moisture patterns improve, so should the water quality. Our findings were all done within a drought, so things should only get better as the drought decreases, Melin concurred. Melin continued monitoring in 2004 at four of the seven original physical and biological sites, as well as conducting chemical analysis at six of the original 19 chemistry sites, in order to develop trends and reference sites.
We`re pleased, Phillips said in conclusion. I`ve been trying to get this done for years. It`s nice to have some baseline data. The DCCD is hosting two public open houses in Dubois and Crowheart to present the water quality test results. The Crowheart open house is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:45 p.m. at the Big Wind Hall and the Dubois meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Headwaters Center.
As snowpack and moisture patterns improve, so should the water quality. Our findings were all done within a drought, so things should only get better as the drought decreases, Melin concurred. Melin continued monitoring in 2004 at four of the seven original physical and biological sites, as well as conducting chemical analysis at six of the original 19 chemistry sites, in order to develop trends and reference sites.
We`re pleased, Phillips said in conclusion. I`ve been trying to get this done for years. It`s nice to have some baseline data. The DCCD is hosting two public open houses in Dubois and Crowheart to present the water quality test results. The Crowheart open house is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:45 p.m. at the Big Wind Hall and the Dubois meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Headwaters Center.