2.2 Middle Fork Nooksack River

Transcription

1 Middle Fork Nooksack River Introduction The Middle Fork of the Nooksack River is a 101 mi 2 drainage with elevation ranging from approximately 10,780 feet at Grant Peak atop Mt. Baker to approximately 280 feet at the confluence with the North Fork. The Middle Fork is roughly 20 miles long, with flows driven by glaciers on the west slopes of Mt. Baker. It flows through mostly steep, mountainous terrain from the headwaters to a point approximately 5 river miles upstream of the confluence with the North Fork Nooksack River. Here, the Middle Fork widens and flows through a small valley to where it joins the North Fork. A diversion dam, located about 8 river miles upstream of the confluence with the North Fork, diverts water to Mirror Lake and then to Lake Whatcom where it becomes part of the water supply for the COB. Land use in the Middle Fork is approximately 77% forestland and approximately 20% non-forested land or bare ground associated with logged areas and high elevation non-forested areas (Cassidy, 1997). The other 3% is made up of riparian areas, wetlands, and a small amount of developed and agricultural area in the lower portion of the subbasin. Primary human impacts in this drainage result from timber harvesting, and there is also a hard-rock mine on the north flank of the Twin Sisters. Figure shows a relief map of the Middle Fork subbasin Water Quality Summary The overall water quality in the Middle Fork Nooksack subbasin compared to Washington state water quality standards appears to be good from a chemical and microbiological perspective. The two 303(d) listings in the Middle Fork subbasin are for water temperature. Most temperatures in the Middle Fork subbasin are below the 16 C Class AA criterion, however, elevated temperatures can exist during summer periods, particularly July and August, when flows are low and ambient air temperatures are high. In general, dissolved oxygen levels are above the criterion, and fecal coliform levels appear to be low, although few recent fecal coliform data other than those collected by the COB at the diversion are available. Limited data are available for nutrients, suspended solids, and turbidity, at locations other than the COB sampling station at the diversion, and generalizations about these parameters throughout the subbasin are likely unsupportable Grouping of Water Quality Stations Figure shows all water quality station locations for the Middle Fork that have been identified by the USU surface water quality technical group. Some of the stations have been placed on the map by USU using either site descriptions or maps from agencies showing sampling sites when exact geographic coordinates were not available. Table B-2 gives more information on the water quality station locations and the agency that collected the data. Table C-2 shows water quality data summaries for the water quality stations in Figure Figure shows that there are several locations that have more than one station within a small radius (e.g., Middle Fork Nooksack at Mosquito Lake Road has 5 water quality stations located within approximately 150 meters of each other). USU has grouped stations so that more 66

2 Figure Middle Fork Subbasin Relief Map. 67

3 Figure Water Quality Stations in the Middle Fork Nooksack Subbasin. 68

4 information at a specific location is available and a more complete water quality analysis can be provided. Table shows which stations have been grouped and the identifier (i.e., location) that will be used throughout the remainder of the report. Table Grouped Stations for Middle Fork Nooksack Location Stations Grouped Description LNT-2480 Middle Fork Nooksack River at Rutsatz Road Middle Fork Nooksack Near Rutsatz Road Middle Fork Nooksack at Mosquito Lake Road Clearwater Creek Near Deming Stream Designations LNT-2491 COB-WELCOMECTR ACME-4 01G070 USU-7 USGSNAWQA-MNOOK NOOKSACK-10 Middle Fork Nooksack River at Rutsatz Road Air Temperature Middle Fork Nooksack River at Welcome Middle Fork Nooksack River Middle Fork Nooksack River at Mosquito Lake Road Middle Fork Nooksack River Middle Fork Nooksack River Below Heislers Creek Middle Fork Nooksack River Bridge COB-BRIDGE Middle Fork Nooksack River at Mosquito Lake Road Bridge Clearwater Creek Clearwater Creek Near Deming Figure shows the stream designations for the Middle Fork of the Nooksack according to Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (WDOE, 1997b). The entire Middle Fork and all of its tributaries are designated as Class AA (extraordinary) Water Quality Impairments Despite the glacial influence in the Middle Fork, the principle water quality concern is water temperature. Two stream segments, one on the mainstem of the Middle Fork and one on Canyon (Lake) Creek, are on the 303(d) list for temperature. The temperature impairments were documented based on a study carried out by LNR in the summer of 1992 in which average hourly temperature measurements were collected via automatic temperature recording devices over a two-month period from the end of July to the beginning of September. The impacts of water quality on fisheries will not be discussed in detail in this report, but will be studied further in Phase III. Figure shows the locations of the 303(d) listed streams, and Table E-2 lists the justification for each. The 1992 LNR temperature data on which the 303(d) listings are based is not currently in the USU surface water quality shapefile or database pending its receipt in electronic format from LNR. Using the information gathered by the USU surface water quality technical group, 69

5 Figure Washington State Surface Water Classifications for Middle Fork Nooksack Subbasin. 70

6 Figure Middle Fork Nooksack 303(d) Listed Stream Segments. 71

7 an independent analysis of the data in these 303(d) listed segments is offered in the following sections Water Quality Analysis for Listed Segments Middle Fork Nooksack (WA ) According to the Washington State 303(d) list (WDOE, 1998), segment WA is listed for temperature based on July and August 1992 data from LNR (Neff, 1993a) showing 8 excursions above the 16 C criterion (Figure 2.2.5). It should be noted that the location of the 303(d) listed segment of the Middle Fork shown in Figure appears to be incorrect as the data shown in Figure were collected more than 2 miles downstream. Figure shows the approximate location of the 1992 LNR sampling station in relationship to the location of the 303(d) listed segment from the WDOE GIS coverage of 303(d) listed streams Figure LNR Temperature Data for the Middle Fork Showing 8 Excursions Above the Criterion. Note: The water quality criterion shown is incorrect should be 16 C. Source: Neff, 1993a. Although the data shown in Figure met the criteria for listing when they were submitted (2 criterion exceedences recorded more than 24 hours apart), examination of the data reveals that excursions above the criterion were relatively few in number and short lived. A probability plot of all of the hourly measurements taken during this time period would reveal that the criterion was exceeded by a small percentage of the data, presumably less than 10%, and the this segment 72

8 Figure LNR Temperature Sampling Location and Middle Fork 303(d) Listed Segment. Note: The location of the sampling station is approximate and taken from Neff (1993a). 73

9 of the Middle Fork likely would not qualify for listing if the 1992 data were evaluated based on the newer 10% exceedence criterion. This cannot, however, be confirmed until this data is received in electronic format from LNR. Since 1992, LNR has collected intensive data near the same location from July through September in 1996 (LNT-2480), and the COB has collected intensive data during July through September in 1998 and 2000 (COB-WELCOMECTR). Figures show time series plots for each of the three data sets, and Figure shows a probability plot for all three datasets combined. Figure reveals that, combined, the more recent LNR and COB data demonstrate only about 3% exceedence of the criterion in the Middle Fork near where the 1992 LNR data were collected. Figure shows that, during the summer of 2000, there were no exceedences of the criterion at this location. It is possible that the 303(d) listing of the Middle Fork may need to be revisited with the more current 10% criterion in mind since the data shown in Figures represent the most recent 5 years of data collected during the critical period of July through September and combined, they do not meet the 10% criterion for 303(d) listing either. It appears from the time series plots in Figure and Figures that each of the excursions above the criterion are short lived and consist of what appears to be one or two hours in the afternoon during which temperatures are above the criterion. All observations of temperature at this location are below the range in which acute effects to fish would occur, and the periods of time during which afternoon temperatures reach the sub-lethal effects range are short lived (the longest is 8 consecutive days occurring in 1996 and 1998). Time Series for Middle Fork of Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road Water Quality Criterion, 16 Temperature - water, C Mon 15 Mon 22 Mon 1 Aug 8 Thu 15 Thu 22 Thu 1 Sep 8 Sun 15 Sun Jul 96 Date Figure LNR Temperature Data for the Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road (LNT-2480). 74

10 Time Series for Middle Fork of Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road Water Quality Criterion, 16 Temperature - water, C Wed 15 Wed 22 Wed 1 Aug 8 Sat 15 Sat 22 Sat 1 Sep 8 Tue 15 Tue 22 Tue Jul 98 Date Figure COB Data for the Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road (COB- WELCOMECTR). Time Series for Middle Fork of Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road Water Quality Criterion, Temperature - water, C Jul Jul Sat 15 Sat 22 Sat 1 Aug 8 Tue 15 Tue 22 Tue 1 Sep 8 Fri Date Figure COB Data for the Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road (COB- WELCOMECTR). 75

11 Frequency Distribution for Middle Fork of Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road 17.5 Water Quality Criterion, Temperature - water, C Median = C Median Cumulative frequency < stated value, % Figure , 1998, and 2000 Temperature Data for Middle Fork Nooksack River Near Rutsatz Road (LNT-2480 and COB-WELCOMECTR). Data collected by the COB in the Middle Fork above Porter Creek (COB-PORTER), which is approximately 2.5 river miles upstream of the Rutsatz Road sampling stations, do not show impairment. Figure shows that out of nearly 14,000 temperature measurements recorded during the summers of 1998, 1999, and 2000, not one is above 16 C, and the maximum temperature recorded by the COB at this location was 14.3 C. Data collected by the COB during the same time period approximately 1.5 miles upstream of Porter Creek at the Mosquito Lake Road bridge (COB-BRIDGE) are similar, with a maximum temperature of 14.1 C out of nearly 15,000 observations during the summers of 1998, 1999, and It is likely that the somewhat elevated temperatures in the lower Middle Fork would not be a significant barrier to fish migration due to the fact that temperatures are below the ranges that would cause deleterious effects during most of the day, and upstream temperatures are cool. Fish could move upstream during the parts of the day when temperatures are cooler and hold in deeper, cooler pools during the afternoon. The information and data collected during Phase II, however, are inadequate to determine the level of impairment due to this temperature regime. 76

12 Time Series for Middle Fork Nooksack River Above Porter Creek Water Quality Criterion, Temperature - water, C Jul 98 Oct Jan 99 Apr Jul Oct Jan 2000 Apr Jul Oct Date Figure Middle Fork above Porter Creek Temperature Data (COB-PORTER). Canyon (Lake) Creek (WA ) Canyon (Lake) Creek was also listed for temperature based on LNR temperature data (Neff, 1993a) collected in July and August of 1992, which showed that the water quality criterion was exceeded on 31 out of 39 days that were sampled. Unfortunately, these data have not been made available to USU in electronic format, although Figure shows a time series of the data from the data report (Neff, 1993a). Figure shows a plot of temperature data in Canyon (Lake) Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-12) collected by the Nooksack Tribe during 1996 and 1997 (Nooksack Water Department, 1998). Although these data do not account for diurnal variations, the plot shows elevated temperatures in July and August that exceed the water quality criterion. The 1996 Nooksack Tribe data support the 303(d) listing of Canyon (Lake) Creek as the water quality criterion is exceeded by 18% of the observations (3 out of 17), and it is likely that if the Nooksack Tribe had collected intensive data similar the 1992 LNR data, similar exceedences of the criterion would have been observed. The temperature data in Canyon (Lake) Creek show that in 1992 temperatures approached the range where acute effects to fish could occur and that there was a period of 19 consecutive days where temperatures in the afternoon were in the sub-lethal effects range. The Nooksack Tribe data do not show diurnal variation and are, therefore, less useful for determining impairment. More intensive data collected in Canyon (Lake) Creek would be helpful in determining the extent of the temperature impairment and degree to which fish may be affected. 77

13 Figure LNR Temperature Data for Canyon (Lake) Creek. Note: Water quality criterion shown is incorrect should be 16 C. Source: Neff, 1993a. Time Series for Canyon Lake Creek at Mosquito Lake Road 17.5 Water Quality Criterion, Temperature - water, C Jan 96 Apr Jul Oct Jan 97 Date Figure Temperature data in Canyon (Lake) Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-12). 78

14 Potential Water Quality Impaired Segments Canyon (Lake) Creek Although Canyon (Lake) Creek is currently on the 303(d) list for temperature, observations of dissolved oxygen that are below the water quality criterion have also been observed. Figure shows a time series plot of Nooksack Tribe data (Nooksack Water Department, 1998) for dissolved oxygen in Canyon (Lake) Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-12). Time Series for Canyon Lake Creek at Mosquito Lake Road 14.0 Oxygen - dissolved, mg/l Water Quality Criterion, Jan 96 Apr Jul Oct Jan 97 Date Figure Dissolved Oxygen in Canyon (Lake) Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-12). Six out of 17 (35%) of the observations are below the 9.5 mg/l criterion, with concentrations dipping below the Class AA criterion during the months of July through September. These lower dissolved oxygen concentrations are likely attributable to higher water temperatures during these months. This assumption appears to be supported by the correlation plot between dissolved oxygen and water temperature shown in Figure , which indicates that a strong correlation exists between these two parameters at this location (R 2 = 0.87). The strong correlation between water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentrations does not necessarily imply that the concentration of dissolved oxygen is controlled solely by water temperature. It does, however, imply that interrelated factors may be influencing both dissolved oxygen concentrations and water temperatures. One way to test whether water temperature is the driving force behind dissolved oxygen concentrations is to determine whether the trend line shown in Figure follows the Henry s Law relationship. If this is the case, fixing the temperature problem would likely fix the dissolved oxygen problem as well. 79

15 Correlation of Oxygen - dissolved, mg/l vs. Temperature - water, C Oxygen - dissolved, mg/l Temperature - water, C Figure Correlation Between Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature in Canyon (Lake) Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-12). Porter Creek The Nooksack Tribe recorded a single observation (1 out of 13) of temperature above the 16 C criterion and 3 observations (3 out of 14) of dissolved oxygen below the 9.5 mg/l criterion in Figure shows the Nooksack Tribe temperature and dissolved oxygen data collected in Porter Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-11). Although there are few observations to characterize the distributions or diurnal variability of temperature and dissolved oxygen at this location, the Nooksack Tribe data indicate that higher temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen concentrations during the summer months may be an issue in Porter Creek Sources of Water Quality Impairment From the limited information obtained through discussions with the WRIA 1 surface water quality technical team in Bellingham, elevated temperatures in the Middle Fork may be induced by low flow conditions resulting from large flow diversions to Lake Whatcom. The issues that must be addressed if this is true deal mainly with water quantity rather than water quality. When maximum daily water temperatures from the 1992 LNR data (the data for which the segment of the Middle Fork was listed) are compared to maximum daily air temperatures recorded a few miles upstream (Figure ), it can be seen that the water temperatures follow the same general trend as the air temperatures. The exact degree of correlation cannot be determined, however, as these data have not been made available to USU. 80

16 Time Series for Porter Creek at Mosquito Lake Road 17.5 Water Quality Criterion, Temperature - water, C Jan 96 Apr Jul Oct Jan 97 Date Time Series for Porter Creek at Mosquito Lake Road Oxygen - dissolved, mg/l Water Quality Criterion, Jan 96 Apr Jul Oct Jan 97 Date Figure Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen in Porter Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-11). 81

17 Figure LNR Water and Air Temperature for the Middle Fork Nooksack. Plot Source: Neff, 1993b. Figure shows a similar plot for data collected near the same location in 1996 by LNR (LNT-2480 and LNT-2491) and Figure shows a correlation plot for the 1996 water and air temperature data. These figures show that the water and air temperatures follow the same general trends in the Middle Fork at this location and that there is a strong correlation between maximum air and water temperatures (R 2 =0.84). Factors that likely contribute to this relationship include widening of the lower Middle Fork in the relatively flat lower section and removal or alteration of riparian vegetation. Since these conditions exist, reduction in flow from diversions during the critical months of July August would have the potential to significantly affect water temperatures in the Middle Fork. Studies directed at characterization of these and other potential sources of elevated temperatures and the relative magnitudes of their effects in the Middle Fork are recommended for future work in the basin. It is difficult to ascribe causes for the elevated temperatures in Canyon (Lake) Creek. Riparian vegetation alteration may be causing increases in temperature due to limited shading. There is also a large deforested area adjacent to the creek that may affect temperatures in the creek by increasing the temperature of the associated overland flow and interflow. Canyon Lake also represents a potential source of higher temperature water if this lake is subject to significant heating in the summer. 82

18 Maximum Daily Temperatures Temperature (C) /15/1996 7/25/1996 8/12/1996 8/21/1996 8/30/1996 9/11/1996 Date Water Air Criterion Figure LNR Daily Maximum Water (LNT-2480) and Air Temperature (LNT- 2491) for the Middle Fork Nooksack y = x R 2 = Water Temperature (C) Air Temperature (C) Figure Correlation Between Daily Maximum Water (LNT-2480) and Air Temperature (LNT-2491) for the Middle Fork Nooksack in

19 Figure shows the correlation between air temperature and water temperature for Canyon (Lake) Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-12). It appears that air and water temperature in Canyon (Lake) Creek are well correlated with an R 2 of 0.78, which may support the possible explanations for elevated temperatures in Canyon (Lake) Creek mentioned above. It is, however, impossible to determine the specific cause(s) of the elevated temperatures in the absence of any studies for that purpose. Such studies are recommended for future work in the basin. Correlation of Temperature - air, C vs. Temperature - water, C Temperature - air, C Temperature - water, C Figure Correlation Between Water and Air Temperature in Canyon (Lake) Creek at Mosquito Lake Road (Nooksack-12) (R 2 = 0.78). 84