Volunteer Summer Study

Transcription

1 2018 Volunteer Summer Study

2 2018 Volunteer Summer Study INTRODUCTION The Guadalupe River is one of the highest rated recreational and scenic rivers in Texas and is Kerr County s central asset. The river provides water to the citizens for domestic, agricultural, municipal, and recreational purposes. Therefore, maintaining excellent water quality is essential. Water quality is determined by the amount of contaminants in the water; as contaminant levels increase, water quality decreases. There are many types of potential contaminants originating from many sources. The objective of this study was to determine the level of one specific contaminant, E. coli. E. coli bacteria levels are commonly monitored to assess the quality of surface water because it is considered to be an indicator of water contamination. E. coli originates in the intestines of warmblooded animals and the presence of E. coli indicates that warm-blooded animal feces have reached the water and that other pathogens may be present. Sources of E. coli can include inadequately treated sewage, livestock, pets, birds, and mammals. Each summer, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) tests E. coli levels at popular swimming holes throughout Kerr County. The results of this swimability study are compared to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality s (TCEQ) standards for contact recreation. For a single grab sample, the standard for contact recreation set by TCEQ is 399 colonies of E. coli bacteria per 100 milliliters (ml). If E. coli levels are greater than 399 colonies of bacteria per 100 ml, then there is a higher risk of contracting water borne illness while swimming. In 2004, UGRA began the Volunteer Summer Study Program to supplement data collected during the swimability study and to include interested members of the community in water quality testing. The information collected by the volunteers also helps identify areas in need of further investigation. This summer we were assisted by 27 volunteers who collected 329 samples at 31 locations throughout Kerr County. UGRA commends the efforts of these volunteers for taking an active role in protecting the water quality of our river. Working together, we can maintain the pristine nature of the Guadalupe River and protect our community s most valuable natural resource. 1

3 2018 VOLUNTEERS AND SAMPLE SITE LOCATIONS Location North Fork Guadalupe River at MO-Ranch North Fork Guadalupe River at Benson Crossing North Fork Guadalupe River at Wagon Wheel Crossing North Fork Guadalupe River at Graham Crossing North Fork Guadalupe River at Friedrich Crossing North Fork Guadalupe River at Lonestar Crossing North Fork Guadalupe River at Mayhugh Crossing South Fork Guadalupe River downstream of Angel Falls Guadalupe River downstream of Upper Cade Loop Guadalupe River at Ingram Boat Ramp Guadalupe River at Lower Cade Loop Johnson Creek at Contrary Creek Johnson Creek at Bluff Trails Road Goat Creek at KOA Bear Creek at Bear Creek Road Nimitz Lake at Cypress Park Cypress Park Boat Ramp Guadalupe River at Francisco Lemos Street Bridge Town Creek at Morris Road Town Creek at River Trail Footbridge Guadalupe River at River Trail Footbridge Guadalupe River at Rio Robles Quinlan Creek upstream of Tivy Street Guadalupe River at River Hills River Trail Camp Meeting Creek at Hwy 173 Guadalupe River at Flat Rock Lake Boat Ramp Third Creek at Spur 100 Guadalupe River at Flat Rock Lake Dam Lower Turtle Creek at East Crossing Guadalupe River at Government Crossing Volunteer MO-Ranch Bob & Karen Taylor Clinton Morse Bob & Karen Taylor Bob & Karen Taylor Bake Foster Bake Foster Dee Elliott Don Willoughby Joe Braly & Susan Clark Marguerite Belec Marie Hardy Judy Anderson Lisa Cotner David Bartels Katy Kappel Paula Harley David & Debbie Thompson Nancy Foster Riverside Nature Center Riverside Nature Center Larry Hesketh Melinda Wasson Diane McMahon Diane McMahon Chuck Smith Richard Lockwood Richard Lockwood Craig Abbott Jana Colgate 2

4 RESULTS The following pages contain the results of the volunteer summer study for The results are displayed in chart format indicating the level of E. coli found at each site on the dates they were sampled. A picture of the sample site is placed next to the results along with the name of the volunteer monitor. A red line is displayed on some charts at 399 E. coli colonies per 100 ml to indicate the E. coli single sample standard set by TCEQ for contact recreation. E. coli values above the red line represent conditions with increased risk of contracting water borne illness. The last chart represents the geometric mean E. coli values for all sites sampled during the 2018 volunteer summer study. The geometric mean is used to summarize E. coli values instead of an average because the values have a wide range and can fluctuate greatly from week to week. TCEQ considers a geometric mean value greater than 126 E. coli colonies per 100 ml to exceed standards for primary contact recreation. Below average rainfall during the first eight months of 2018, produced streamflow rates in Kerrville well below long term historical levels. When the higher temperatures started to appear in May, the river dropped quickly and remained at critically low levels for much of the summer. Streamflow rates did temporarily spike immediately following rain events, but these increases to streamflow did not provide lasting improvements to baseflow conditions. According the U.S. Drought Monitor, Kerr County was in a moderate to extreme drought during summer of Routine drops in streamflow rates did predictably occur during the summer in both the mainstem Guadalupe River and the tributaries with some tributaries drying up. As a result, during the summer of 2018, several of the sites yielded samples with E. coli counts greater than 399 colonies per 100 ml and some sites also displayed geometric mean values greater than 126 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. All of the sites on Town Creek, Quinlan Creek, and Camp Meeting Creek exceeded the 126 E. coli colonies per 100 ml standard. This was greatly influenced by low flow conditions and runoff from rainfall events. These urban tributaries have exceeded the geometric mean criteria during past summers and pollution sources are discussed in the Bacteria Reduction Plan for the Upper Guadalupe River. Information about the plan can be found on the UGRA webpage at UGRA is continuing to monitor these sites closely in order to identify other sources of contamination. Two sites on the mainstem Guadalupe River resulted in a geometric mean value above the state standard. The Guadalupe River at the River Trail Footbridge site exceeded the 126 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. This location is at the upstream end of Louise Hays Park and flocks of waterfowl are routinely observed at this location. Bird waste has been identified as a primary source of elevated bacteria levels in this segment of the Guadalupe River. UGRA routinely monitors three sites immediately downstream from this location and will continue to monitor this site closely in order to identify other sources of contamination. This year, the volunteer at Government Crossing collected paired samples above and below the bridge to assess if water quality was impacted by a colony of bats roosting under the bridge. Bat feces is known to contain high levels of E. coli bacteria. The results indicate that bacteria levels were significantly higher downstream of the bat colony. UGRA will initiate follow up testing to determine the extent of the area downstream that is influenced by the bat colony. 3

5 RAINFALL TOTALS 06/01/ /05/2018 4

6 MO-Ranch MO-Ranch Benson Crossing Bob & Karen Taylor 5

7 Wagon Wheel Crossing Clinton Morse Graham Crossing Bob & Karen Taylor 6

8 Friedrich Crossing Bob & Karen Taylor Lonestar Crossing Bake Foster 7

9 Mayhugh Crossing Bake Foster Downstream of Angel Falls Dee Elliot 8

10 Downstream Upper Cade Loop Don Willoughby Ingram Boat Ramp Joe Braly & Susan Clark 9

11 Lower Cade Loop Crossing Marguerite Belec Johnson Creek at Contrary Creek Marie Hardy 10

12 Johnson Creek at Bluff Trails Judy Anderson Goat Creek at KOA Lisa Cotner 11

13 Bear Creek at Bear Creek Road David Bartels Cypress Park Overall Geometric Mean: 17 Paula Harley & Katy Kappel 12

14 Francisco Lemos Street Bridge David & Debbie Thompson Town Creek at Morris Road Nancy Foster 13

15 Town Creek at River Trail Footbridge Riverside Nature Center River Trail Footbridge Riverside Nature Center 14

16 Rio Robles Larry Hesketh Quinlan Creek at Tivy Street Melinda Wasson 15

17 River Hills River Trail Diane McMahon Camp Meeting Creek at Hwy 173 Diane McMahon 16

18 Flat Rock Lake Boat Ramp Chuck Smith Third Creek at Spur 100 Richard Lockwood 17

19 Flat Rock Lake Dam Richard Lockwood Lower Turtle Creek East Crossing Craig Abbott 18

20 Government Crossing Jana Colgate 19

21 Geometric Mean E. coli Values E. coli colonies per 100 ml Great job volunteers!! Thank you for all your hard work and we hope you will participate in UGRA s Volunteer Summer Study next year. 20