Water Quality Working Group

**[Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP)]{.underline}**

## Subcommittee

# Meeting Minutes -- August 2, 2000

**Next LTIMP Meeting:**

[**WEDNESDAY September 6**, **2000**]{.underline} --

**@[1:00 pm to 4:00]{.underline} pm**

[@**TRPA Conference Room**]{.underline}--

[308 Dorla Ct Zephyr Cove, NV]{.underline}

***[In Attendance (13 -- 12 affiliations):]{.underline}***

Troy **Alexander**, EDOT Kim **Carr,** CTC \*

Robert **Erlich**, Lahontan RWQCB \* Vern **Finney**, USDA-NRCS \*

Matthew **Graham**, TRPA Alan **Heyvaert**, UCD-TRG \*

Blake **Johnson**, CDM Lucia **Machado**, NDEP

Steve **Patterson**, EDAW Sean **Penders**, Caltrans \*

Tim **Rowe**, USGS \* Lars **Spurkland**, UNR-NDOT \*

Rita **Whitney**, TRPA

> \* - Attended previous meeting

1)  **[LTIMP Subcommittee Water Quality MONITORING/SAMPLING PROTOCOLS
    for Lake Tahoe Basin]{.underline} -- summary by Steve Patterson:**

> **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**Proposed [Lake Tahoe Basin]{.underline}**

**[Water Quality Monitoring Protocols and Sampling Manual]{.underline}**

1\. **[Purpose and Objectives]{.underline}** \[Rita W./JP Kiel will put
together\]

> This document contains LTIMP's recommendations for monitoring
> protocols and procedures for anyone interested in doing monitoring in
> the Tahoe Basin. Includes a discussion of intended audience, types of
> projects, etc.

2\. **[Agency Mandates and Thresholds for Water Quality]{.underline}:**
TRPA, NDEP, Lahontan \[Robert E. + Rita W.\]

3\. **[Water Quality Issues]{.underline}**

> Issues, prioritization, and development of standards: how they came to
> be, how they may evolve, the EIP, relevance, etc. \[Rita W. /JP Kiel\]

4**. [Research Issues]{.underline}**

Adaptive management; how monitoring at the project level can tie into
answering these questions \[Alan H + Kim C\]

5\. **[Priority Constituents and Parameters]{.underline}**

> Text discussion of table information by constituent or parameter.
> Includes reason or justification for monitoring that constituent or
> parameter and references for each constituent. Including particle size
> distribution \[Alan H?\]

**Table 5-1. Priority constituents or parameters** \[Tim R.\]

  -------------- ----------- ------- ------------ ------------- ---------- ----------
  Constituent/   Detection   Abbr.   Lab method   Mandated or   Project    Priority
  parameter      level               references   recommended   type       code
                                                  by                       

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                           
  -------------- ----------- ------- ------------ ------------- ---------- ----------

6\. [**Overall Considerations for Designing a Sampling
Program**]{.underline}

-   **Refs** to manuals for thinking process, setting up sampling
    programs \[Vern F.\]

-   **Frequency**, event types\... \[Robert E.\]

-   **Equipment**

    -   **Automatic samplers and grab samples** \[Vern + Troy + Russ +
        Sean\]

-   **Costs** \[Kim C\]

7\. **[Monitoring Objectives]{.underline}**

> This section includes constituents, priorities, and sampling regimes
> for various types of projects.
>
> a\. **Pre-construction characterization** \[Steve K.\]
>
> b\. **Detention basins** \[Kim C\]
>
> c\. **Slope stabilization and revegetation** \[Michael H.\]
>
> d\. **Parking lots** \[M. Graham\]
>
> e**. Stormwater** \[M. Graham + Alan H\]
>
> f\. **Golf courses/large turf areas** \[Bruce Warden\]
>
> g\. **Grazing/confined animals** \[Bruce Warden\]
>
> Are there other project types that should be included?
>
> Yes -- h. **Biomonitoring** --recommended by Lauri Kemper, Lahontan
> \[Dale Payne\]

**8. [Toxic Contamination and Remediation]{.underline}** \[Robert E.\]

**9. [References]{.underline}**

> Please include references as you develop your section.

**Please provide your sections to Steve Patterson via email,** **, by
August 30, 2000**.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

2)  **[Revisit LTIMP Subcommittee's Goals and Objectives]{.underline} --
    Alan Heyvaert, UCD-TRG**

> Will discuss next time. A question was brought up -- Should LTIMP
> Subcommittee be a
>
> Response leader to reviewing documents? Should LTIMP Subcommittee be
> the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on all these monitoring
> projects?

3)  **[Upper Truckee/Trout monitoring map layer & data base]{.underline}
    -- Rita Whitney, TRPA**

> Subcommittee has been working on this project. A list of sites and a
> listing of parameters
>
> will be done by September and the map by, maybe, October.

4)  **[Round robin updates --]{.underline}**

    a.  **[Migden Act Update]{.underline} -- by Robert Erlich,
        Lahontan**

> Noted that Lahontan had withdrawn the recent fines against Caltrans
> for the Trout Creek discharge. Cited inconsistency with municipal
> permits that don't take effect till 2008.

b.  **[EDOT Sampling results]{.underline}** -- noted high spikes in TP
    an TKN. Alan Heyvaert, UCD-TRG,

> Will summarize data and give a report on from Beecher Lodi, Angora,
> Pioneer and Trout Creek at Martin Ave. next meeting, September 6,
> 2000.

c.  **[Proposed changes in USGS/TRPA LTIMP Monitoring
    network]{.underline}, by Tim Rowe, USGS**

> Note - Meeting was held August 16, 2000 at USGS in Carson City to
> discuss modification of network plan. Changes needed due to stagnant
> funding and continued rise in network costs.

# USGS/TRPA Lake Tahoe Monitoring Network proposed changes

# 2001 FY:

**[1) Eagle Rock Creek nr Stateline, NV (Douglas County) -- \#
103367592:]{.underline}**

Propose change: **Downgrade** from secondary LTIMP site (gage and
sampling site) to a LTIMP miscellaneous site (sampling and flow
measurement site). Discontinue continuous streamflow gage and reduce
9-10 flow measurements to 6-9. Reduce number of water quality samples
from average of 20 samples per year to 6-9 samples. Would keep gage
structure and outside staff (oss) and maintain stilling well as
crest-stage gage (csg) for peak gage heights.

Period of record: streamflow gage - 11/89-current, sampling site -
10/89-current.

Justification: Eagle Rock is a highly groundwater dominated flow system
that shows minimal fluctuation in daily flows. The 10-year period of
record shows an annual mean flow of only 0.80 cubic feet per second
(ft^3^/s) with range of daily means of 0.19 to 3.6 ft^3^/s. Peak
instantaneous flow was 4.00 ft^3^/s on January 2, 1997. During a normal
runoff year, like the 1999 water year, Eagle Rock Creek showed a range
of daily flow from 1.2 to 1.8 with a mean of 1.42 ft^3^/s, the smallest
mean and range of the 20 gage Lake Tahoe network. Loadings of nutrients
and suspended sediment are the lowest of the 20 primary and secondary
sampling sites. Site can be difficult to get to during winter conditions
due to snow and plowing conditions on one lane dirt road.

**[2a) Third Creek at Village Blvd. nr Incline Village, NV (Washoe
County) - #103366965]{.underline}**:

Propose change: **Eliminate** this LTIMP miscellaneous site (sampling
and flow measurement site) and move this site to Truckee River at Tahoe
City, CA (Placer County) - #10337500 (see below). Would keep csg and oss
in place as a reference in the future.

Period of record: sampling site and flow measurements - 1989, and
1991-current.

Justification: Based on a recent Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), which is now
required for all USGS sites; it was found that this site was un-safe.
The hazard comes from fast stream velocities and a 10-20 foot drop off
and turbulent/deep pool immediately below the sampling location at the
downstream end of a 5 ft culvert. Preliminary water quality results also
show this site not significantly different from the upstream
miscellaneous site (Third Creek blw unnamed tributary - #103366958)
about 1 mile upstream. Upstream and downstream site comparison will be
retained with the upper miscellaneous site and lower primary site (Third
Creek nr Crystal Bay - #10336698).

**[2b) Truckee River at Tahoe City, CA (Placer County) - #10337500
--]{.underline}**

Propose change: **Add** this LTIMP miscellaneous site (sampling and flow
measurement site) and move from Third Creek at Village Blvd. Nr Incline
Village, NV (Washoe County) - #103366965 (see above).

Period of record: streamflow gage -- 1895-1896, 1900-current, continuous
water temperature - 1993-94.

Justification: During a recent USGS project review a point was made that
there was no nutrient data collected for the only outlet to Lake Tahoe.
For a nutrient mass balance it was felt that nutrient samples at the
outlet, Truckee River at Tahoe City, were needed.

This change would provide needed nutrient and sediment data on the
outflow. With the regulated flows, only 6-8 samples would be sufficient
to describe the nutrient levels. A streamflow gage is already in place
and funded.

**[3a) Glenbrook Creek at Old Highway (Douglas County) #10336725
--]{.underline}**

Propose change: **Eliminate** this LTIMP miscellaneous site (sampling
and flow measurement site) and move this site to Burke Creek blw Hwy 50
near Stateline, NV (Douglas County) - \# (see below). Would keep csg and
oss in place as a reference in the future.

Period of record: sampling site and flow measurements -- 1972-74, 89,
and 1991-current.

Justification: Preliminary water quality results also show this site not
significantly different from the downstream primary site -- Glenbrook
Creek at Glenbrook, NV - #10336730 about 0.5 miles downstream. Channel
between sites a straight shot with little inputs or outputs. Could get
more bang for the buck at another site.

**[3b) Burke Creek blw Hwy 50 near Stateline, NV (Douglas County) \#
--]{.underline}**

Propose change: **Add** this LTIMP miscellaneous site (sampling and flow
measurement site) and move from Glenbrook Creek at Old Hwy near
Glenbrook, NV (Douglas County) - #10336725 (see above). Would establish
site at old USFS sample location.

Period of record: none for USGS and previous sediment samples by USFS.

Justification: This is a possible problem stream, as there is major
development upstream. There have also been recent concerns about the
quality of water in Burke Creek, along with the effect of new highway
runoff patterns and also of the building of new condominiums in the
area. This would add another watershed in to the LTIMP network where
little data has been collected. A major flood event and turbid flows
were noted on Burke Creek in January 1997.

**[4a) Second Creek at Lakeshore Drive nr Incline Village, NV (Washoe
County) #10336691]{.underline}** --

Propose change: **Eliminate** this LTIMP miscellaneous site (sampling
and flow measurement site) and move site to Rosewood Creek blw Hwy 28 at
Incline Village, NV (Washoe County) - \# (see below). Would keep oss in
place as a reference in the future.

Period of record: sampling site and flow measurements - 1989, and
1991-current.

Justification: Difficult to obtain valid sample on main stem as Second
Creek flow is split above Hwy 28 and below Ponderosa Dr. This split was
initially due to old mudflow and currently continued due to man's
activities. Now the majority of the flow (variable) goes down West Fork
Second Creek about 0.5 miles west. Could get more bang for the buck at
another site.

**[4b) Rosewood Creek (Tributary to Third Creek) blw Hwy 28 at Incline
Village (Washoe County) - \#]{.underline}**

Propose change: **Add** this LTIMP miscellaneous site (sampling and flow
measurement site) and move from Second Creek at Lakeshore Dr. nr Incline
Creek, NV (Washoe County) - #10336691 (see above).

Period of record: none for USGS and previous samples by other agencies.

Justification: There have also been recent concerns about the quality of
water in Rosewood Creek. In October 1997 a restoration project on
Rosewood Creek near the mouth of Third Creek was blown out by a
thunderstorm event. Severe down cutting in the channel above Hwy 28 was
recently noted on site tours with various groups. There are also a
number of restoration projects proposed in this area.

**[5) Drop 1 of 2 rounds of samples for Groundwater
Network:]{.underline}**

Justification: Currently there are two sample rounds collected, once in
early-mid summer and the other in fall. Preliminary water quality
results also show the two sampling rounds are not significantly
different from each other. This change allows the Upper Truckee River
watershed GW/SW study to remain in tack, preserving the seepage run this
fall (in a lower flow year).

***[Possible changes in FY 2002:]{.underline}***

**[6) TRADE sample constituents collected:]{.underline}**

a)  **Drop pH and Dissolved Oxygen** (DO) every 3-4 sample and Add
    Turbidity field measurements every stream sample.

> Justification: pH not a totally reliable measurement in low ionic
> waters of Lake Tahoe. DO found not to vary much from 100% saturation.
> Turbidity is now a higher concern in stream samples. Wish List --
> would like to add continuous turbidity and specific conductance meters
> at all gaged sites, but at least at the 10 primary sites.

b)  **Drop Total Biological Available Iron** on 10 secondary and 12
    miscellaneous stream sites but continue to collect on 10 primary
    sites and Add Full Particle Size Analysis (2-200 microns) for only
    visually turbid samples at the primary stream sites.

> Justification: Recent reports that Iron is no longer a concern as a
> possible co-limiting factor with algal productivity in Lake Tahoe.
> There are new concerns that nutrients attach to finer rather than
> course sediment particles. Little data now collected on full particle
> size in the Basin.

**(tgr 8/17/00)**

Notes Prepared by Tim Rowe, USGS, 8/29/00

***Next LTIMP Subcommittee Meeting*:**

[**WEDNESDAY September 6**, **2000**]{.underline}

**[1:00 pm to 4:00]{.underline} pm**

@ **[TRPA Conference Room]{.underline}** --

[308 Dorla Ct. Zephyr Cove, NV]{.underline}

##### AGENDA

1)  **[LTIMP Subcommittee Water Quality MONITORING/SAMPLING PROTOCOLS
    for Lake Tahoe Basin -]{.underline}**

2)  **[Revisit LTIMP Subcommittee's Goals and Objectives]{.underline} --
    any one**

3)  **[Changes in USGS/TRPA LTIMP Monitoring network]{.underline} - Tim
    Rowe, USGS**

4)  **[Urban SW runoff sampling Results -]{.underline} Alan Heyvaert,
    UCD-TRG**

5)  **[Update on Upper Truckee/Trout monitoring map layer & data
    base]{.underline} -- Rita Whitney, TRPA**

6)  **[Round robin updates]{.underline} -- any one**