Monitoring for Water Quality Improvements in Deep Creek, MT

Transcription

1 Monitoring for Water Quality Improvements in Deep Creek, MT A National Water Quality Initiative Watershed Robert Ray and Darrin Kron Montana Department of Environmental Quality Outline of Presentation Background on Deep Creek Watershed Development of NWQI approach Development of monitoring approach Monitoring findings Watershed outcomes and future efforts 2 1

2 Title 3 Title 4 2

3 Title 5 Background on Deep Creek Watershed Lower Deep Creek: 12- digit HUC, 26 square miles, 20.7 river miles. First listed as impaired for sediment in Flows range from 110 to below 5 cfs TMDL for sediment approved in 1996, also identified flow and temperature as concerns all nonpoint sources Goal: reduce percent eroding banks by 50%; reduce < 6.35mm fines from 50% to 30%; increase 2,275 in channel length; 3-9 cfs in-stream flow TMDL Implementation began in treated 3.5 miles of streambanks with bank sloping, juniper revetments, willow plantings and fencing. 319: $169,000; FW&P: $45,000; In-kind: $45,

4 National Water Quality Initiative / 319 Funding NWQI watershed selection started through NRCS and Broadwater CD discussions in NRCS-designated NWQI watershed 2014, 2015 and Watershed Restoration Plan (watershedbased plan) approved in January 2014 DEQ 319 contract in 2014 implementation of projects, monitoring tasks, supported development of SAP. 7 NWQI Monitoring in Deep Creek Watershed Monitoring partner meetings with Broadwater CD leadership Montana State University Extension Water Quality supported Broadwater CD s Big Sky Watershed Corps member to develop SAP that included DEQ, NRCS, CD, FW&P and FS monitoring Resulted in Broadwater CD SAP, DEQ Monitoring Plan, FW&P Plus other monitoring including weeds, Lidar for channel migration zone, riparian vegetation monitoring, photo points DEQ committed to long-term monitoring, including sediment, nutrients, temperature 319 contract called for implementation effectiveness monitoring (including sediment load reduction estimate using BEHI) 8 4

5 Deep Creek Watershed Sampling and Analysis Plan 2015 Deep Creek SAP 2015 Approved by: Robert Ray, DEQ Project Manager Terri Mavencamp, DEQ QA Officer Denise Thompson, BCD District Administrator Jim Beck, BCD Associate Supervisor Ron Spoon, FWP Fisheries Biologist Prepared by: Holly Kreiner, 2015 Big Sky Water Corps Member Broadwater Conservation District 415 So. Front Street Townsend, MT Additional Contributors: Adam Sigler, MSUEWQ Katie Kaylor, MSUEWQ Alli Bratton, 2014 Big Sky Watershed Corps Member Justin Meissner, NRCS District Conservationist Deep Creek LAG Representative 9 Title 10 5

6 Project team and responsibilities Organization Contacts Contact Info Project Responsibilities Data Collection: Discharge, Jim Beck - BCD cross-sections, photopoints Associate Broadwater Supervisor 415 S Front Street Additional contributions: Conservation Townsend, MT Data analysis, report District Denise (406) ext 104 composition, volunteer Thompson - denise.thompson@nacdnet.n coordination and recruitment, District et equipment maintenance, Administrator jbeck3026@mt.net landowner and volunteer holly.kreiner@mt.usda.gov surveys BSWC member (2015 BSWC member) Data collection: Water 39 Centerville Road temperature; fish counts, Fish, Wildlife and Townsend, MT beaver dam and redd counts; Parks Ron Spoon - (406) macroinvertebrate sampling, Townsend Office FWP Fisheries rspoon@mt.net cross-sections Biologist Additional Contributions: Data analysis Data collection: Revegetation Natural Resource survival assessments, RUSLE 2 Conservation Justin Meissner S Front Street assessments, IWM monitoring Service NRCS District Townsend, MT Townsend Office Conservationist (406) ext 103 Additional contributions: justin.meissner@mt.usda.gov Technical assistance Data collection: BEHI MT Department Robert Ray - DEQ 1520 E. 6th Avenue assessments, impairment of Environmental Project P.O. Box assessments Quality Supervisor Helena, MT rray@mt.gov Additional contributions: Technical assistance Data collection: Montana State University Extension Water Adam Sigler - Extension Association PO Box Bozeman, MT asigler@montana.edu Periodic monitoring assistance Additional contributions: 1 Quality Specialist Technical data analysis assistance 11 Sampling Plan Goals Evaluate if riparian and flow enhancement efforts in Deep Creek are effectively improving watershed function instream and in the surrounding physical habitat. (50% reduction in eroding banks) Determine if cumulative project activities (improved irrigation systems, water rights exchanges) are increasing in-stream flows and if minimum flow thresholds are being met. (3-9 cfs) Determine if cumulative project activities (increased flows, enhanced riparian shading, and improved channel form) are reducing instream water temperature in Deep Creek (<10 days of >75 F in 4 out of 5 years) 12 6

7 Sampling Plan Goals cont. To determine whether sediment loads in Deep Creek are being reduced post-project implementation. To determine the approximate amount of sediment saved by implementing grade controls along the creek at the reach 8 restoration site. (Reduce percent eroding banks from by 50%, DEQ BEHI) To determine the approximate amount of sediment saved as a result of implementing riparian restoration projects along the creek (NRCS RUSLE, FWP eroding banks surveys) To determine if watershed sediment, flow and temperature restoration project activities have decreased sediment loads, leading to water quality improvements to the point of supporting beneficial uses (Fully support aquatic life, DEQ assessment methodology) 13 DEQ Assessment Monitoring - Outcomes DEQ committed to monitoring water quality at the reach scale in 2014, 2019, and 2024 DEQ assessed sediment, nutrients, and temperature impacts to beneficial use support in 2014 Findings: Sediment standard met. De-list Deep Creek for sediment impairment TN, TP, N02&NO3 meet state standards ( 0.3, 0.03, 0.1 mg/l) Temperature not meeting standard. List Deep Creek for temperature impairment 14 7

8 Discharge (cfs) 9/22/2016 DEQ Sediment Assessment Monitoring - Outcomes 2014 sediment-related data for Deep Creek relative to targets %<6mm % <2mm Pool % <6mm W/D Entrench RPDepth Pools/100 Riffle Pebble Counts Grid toss ratio ratio (ft) DC DC DC Targets and Criteria: 19% 17% 15% <24, 30 >2.0 >0.9 >4 15 Broadwater CD Monitoring Outcomes in Deep Creek Watershed Deep Creek Bi-weekly Flow Below River Mile Stocks ABM Hahn /1 to 15 7/16 to 31 8/1 to 15 8/16 to 31 9/1 to 15 9/16 to

9 /22/2016 Broadwater CD Monitoring Outcomes in Deep Creek Watershed Deep Creek Water Temperature Trend to 2015 Number of Days Temperature Exceeded 73 Degrees Farenheit Clopton Above BM Hahn 17 FW&P Monitoring Outcomes in Deep Creek Deep Creek - Redd and Beaver Dam Counts Redds Beaver Dams

10 FW&P Monitoring Outcomes in Deep Creek Number of non-target species captured at screw trap, 2007 and Year Longnose Dace Redside Shiner Fathead Minnow Sculpin Sucker Spp. Mountain Whitefish Stonecat Watershed Outcomes and Future Efforts Riparian fencing based on channel migration zone, native riparian woody vegetation, offstream water being provided through NWQI and 319 funds Three water diversion changes resulting in instream water savings. One addressing a longterm streambank instability. Streambank project with 319 $ DEQ 2019, 2024 monitoring BEHI evaluation for streambank project FW&P & Broadwater CD fish, temperature, flow monitoring 20 10

11 Watershed Outcomes and Future Efforts (continued) Long-term commitment by Broadwater CD to ranchers and farmers to provide support for riparian fencing, native riparian planting (with emphasis on willows, cottonwoods, alders, box elder, etc. for bank stability and shade Bio-engineering emphasis on willow soil lifts, and woody fascines, encouragement of beaver dams and floodplain access Continue to evaluation potential in-stream flow savings through water conservation and water diversion changes. 21 Title 22 11

12 Title 23 12