**Integrated Status & Effectiveness Monitoring Program**

**Project #2003-017-00**

**Water Quality Monitoring and Habitat Survey Assistance**

**Chelan County Conservation District**

**Annual Report**

**March 1, 2005 through February 28, 2006**

**PIs: Michael Rickel and Sarah Coffler**

# 

# Budget

The Chelan County Conservation District (District) entered into a grant
agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in March 2005
to support water quality monitoring and stream survey efforts in the
Wenatchee River basin for the Integrated Status and Effectiveness
Monitoring Program (ISEMP). This is the second consecutive agreement
between the District and BPA and it expires on February 28, 2006.

Original budget amount - \$88,319.00\*

Estimated expenditures -- \$70,483.50\*

Actual funding remaining - \$17,835.50\*

\* - Budget numbers current as of December 31, 2005.

**[Tasks]{.underline}**

-   **Project Management**

*Work Completed:*

The project statement of work (SOW) and budget were finalized in early
April. The revised SOW resulted in changes to the budget due to
increased quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) measures added
to gauge the accuracy and precision of our sampling methods and measure
potential bias in our sampling equipment.

A standard quarterly report was submitted to BPA Contracting Officer
(COTAR), Gerald McClintock, in June 2005. We began submitting monthly
project status reports via PISCES in early September making us one of
the "early adopters' of the new reporting method.

On November 9, 2005 District employees Mike Rickel and Sarah Coffler
attended the Columbia River Regional Technical Team (RTT) meeting to
present information regarding District ISEMP efforts and network with
other area ISEMP contractors.

Following the RTT meeting, Sarah Coffler attended the data management
workshop hosted by NOAA personnel.

A draft document describing the water quality characterization methods
utilized by the District for ISEMP projects was completed in November
2005. A draft scope of work and budget for the 2007 grant cycle was
submitted in December 2005 via the PICES program. Vouchering and
required financial reports were submitted as necessary.

*Problems Encountered/Resolved:*

The District was scheduled to begin using the PISCES system in early
August 2005 as a means of submitting monthly reports. Internal problems
with the PISCES system prevented us from submitting a monthly report for
July. System problems were promptly reported to our COTAR and resolved
by BPA in time for us to submit the August monthly report.

-   **Water Quality Monitoring**

*Work Completed:*

We continued water quality monitoring efforts at five sites in the
Wenatchee River basin, including the Wenatchee River at Monitor,
Wenatchee River below Lake Wenatchee, Peshastin, Creek, Nason Creek, and
the Chiwawa River (Figure 1).

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.875in" height="8.5in"}Figure 1. Map of
Chelan County Conservation District ISEMP monitoring sites and
associated flow gages in the Wenatchee River Subbasin.

Temperature, pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity
readings were collected

every hour using Hydrolab® multi-probe data loggers. Data loggers were
calibrated and

maintained on a biweekly schedule and calibration records were
documented.

In November 2005 we began working with Carol Volk (NOAA) to ensure our
data was in a compatible format for the intended data management system
and conduct an initial data analysis. Preliminary monitoring data for
July/August 2004 through November 2005 was submitted to Ms. Volk in
December. All pertinent information including explanations for gaps in
data collection was included.

During the month of April and May 2005 a new Hydrolab 4a minisonde was
deployed at the Peshastin Creek site to collect simultaneous data in
conjunction with the existing data logger. The minisonde was calibrated
and maintained on a weekly basis for a period of three weeks. Deployment
of the second meter was suggested by Dr. Chris Jordon (NOAA
Fisheries/RTT) and Mike Ward (Terraqua, Inc.) as a means of gauging the
accuracy of the existing meter and to test for potential bias. Data from
the dual deployment will be analyzed with the help of Carol Volk (NOAA).
The minisonde is scheduled to be deployed at each of the four remaining
sites for similar comparison tests in 2006.

[]{.mark}

Winkler titration of dissolved oxygen samples were used to assess the
accuracy of the Hydrolab® dissolved oxygen probes. Between February and
March 2005, we attempted to coordinate with Washington State Department
of Ecology (Ecology) personnel to perform Winkler titrations of
dissolved oxygen samples; however, scheduling became difficult so an
alternative arrangement was required. In May 2005, an agreement with the
Chemistry department at Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) was approved
permitting us to utilize their lab to perform Winkler titrations of
dissolved oxygen samples. Between May and August 2005 dissolved oxygen
samples were collected at each site twice a month. A replicate sample
was collected at one site (20% replication rate) during each sampling
event to assess field sampling and laboratory precision. The Winkler
titration data will be analyzed with the help of Carol Volk (NOAA).

[]{.mark}

In addition to monitoring efforts, we continued collecting water samples
once a month to examine ambient nutrient levels at each study site.
Parameters analyzed included total phosphorus, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia,
orthophosphate, and total persulfate nitrogen. Replicate samples were
collected at one site (20% replication rate) during each sampling run to
assess field sampling precision. Preliminary lab analysis data was
submitted to Carol Volk (NOAA) in February 2006. All pertinent data,
including data qualifiers, was included.

*Problems Encountered & Resolutions:*

All efforts were made to prevent the loss of data however each site,
meter, and season offered unique challenges. Gaps in the data record
were caused by maintenance and repair activities, programming errors,
full meter memory, low battery power, vandalism and sensor damage. Once
the cause of a data gap was identified corrective action was taken to
prevent any future loss of data to the same cause. A detailed list of
data gaps, causes, and corrective actions is included.

*No Data Recorded Due to Maintenance/Repair Activities*

-   Rapid snowmelt contributed to high flows in the basin, particularly
    during the month of May. The meters deployed at the Chiwawa River
    and the Wenatchee River at Monitor sites sustained minor damage due
    to the high flows and had to be pulled for maintenance and repairs.
    As a result, no data was collected at the Chiwawa River site May
    23-June 8 and the Wenatchee River at Monitor site May 19-24.
    Following this event, all of the meters were encased in camouflaged
    PVC tubing and securely locked to a cement weight with a padlock to
    help protect the meters during future high flow events and to
    prevent theft from occurring.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Following the rapid snowmelt, water levels in the basin quickly
    receded. On June 8 the meter at the Wenatchee River at Monitor site
    was found nearly out of the water. The meter was pulled for
    maintenance and calibration, and redeployed on June 9. Consequently,
    no data was recorded during that time. In an effort to prevent this
    from happening again, we began monitoring flow gages in the area
    more closely during snowmelt and storm events and checking on the
    meters as needed.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   On a few occasions, the Wenatchee River at Monitor and Wenatchee
    River below Lake Wenatchee meters had to be pulled for incidental
    maintenance and repairs. As a result, no data was collected on
    August 19-20, October 19, or December 6-8 at the Wenatchee River at
    Monitor site, and no data was collected October 4-6 at the Wenatchee
    River below Lake Wenatchee site. All efforts were taken to minimize
    the amount of time the meters were out of the water for maintenance
    and repair activities.

*No Data Recorded Due to Programming Errors*

-   No data was collected March 1-April 30 and December 1-6 at Peshastin
    Creek, and June 8-30 at Nason Creek due to programming errors.
    Programming errors can be avoided by maintaining a back-up, or
    autolog, file. No autolog files were programmed on either meter. To
    prevent any future loss of data due to similar circumstances,
    autolog files were programmed and regularly maintained on each meter
    and programming checks were built-in to the calibration process.

*No Data Recorded Due to Full Meter Memory*

-   Full memory capacity prevented data collection at the Wenatchee
    River at Monitor site March 2-30 and April 4-14, the Wenatchee River
    at Lake Wenatchee site March 8-30, May 19-23 and December 28-29, the
    Chiwawa River site September 24-30, and the Nason Creek site August
    12-18 and 29. Checks were built-in to the calibration process to
    help prevent any future loss of data due to full meter memory.

*No Data Recorded Due to Low Battery Power*

-   Low battery power prevented data collection at the Chiwawa River
    site from April 28, 2005 to May 2, 2005, the Nason Creek site from
    May 21, 2005 to May 23, 2005, and the Peshastin Creek site on
    December 29. Checks were built-in to the calibration process to help
    prevent any future loss of data due to low battery power.

> *No Data Recorded Due to Vandalism*

-   The Wenatchee River at Monitor meter was vandalized and physically
    removed from the monitoring site on July 29. With the help of a
    private citizen, District personnel recovered, calibrated, and
    redeployed the meter on August 3. No data was recorded July
    29-August 3. At the time that the vandalism occurred the meter was
    encased in camouflaged PVC tubing and locked to a cement weight with
    a padlock. Efforts were taken to better hide the meter from public
    view when the meter was redeployed.

> *No Turbidity Data Recorded Due to Sensor Damage*

-   The turbidity sensor on the Chiwawa River meter was damaged during a
    high flow event. No turbidity data was collected from May 2-23 or
    June 8-30. Following this event, all of the meters were encased in
    camouflaged PVC tubing and securely locked to a cement weight with a
    padlock to help protect the meters during future high flow events
    and to prevent theft from occurring.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **Agency Coordination**

*Work Completed:*

In March and April 2005, we worked with United States Forest Service
(USFS) personnel to gain access rights to steelhead spawning survey
sites on private lands. Potential survey sites located on private lands
were mapped and affected landowners were identified using GIS. Over 80
access requests were mailed out to private landowners describing the
purpose of the study and requesting permission to access the survey site
via their property. Follow-up phone calls were made to landowners that
failed to reply. Responses were recorded in tabular format, and reported
to USFS personnel.

In June, we began working with USFS and Ecology personnel in preparation
for the aquatic habitat surveys. Potential survey sites located on
private lands were mapped and affected landowners were identified using
GIS. Over ninety access requests were mailed out to private landowners
describing the purpose of the study and requesting permission to access
the survey site via their land. Follow-up phone calls were made to
landowners that failed to reply. Responses were recorded in tabular
format and reported to USFS and Ecology personnel.

Thank you notes are currently being drafted for landowners that
participated in either the steelhead spawning or habitat surveys.
Landowners who expressed an interest in receiving more information on
the surveys will be receiving a brief data summary outlining the
objectives of the studies and a summary of the 2005 results.

*Problems Encountered & Resolutions:*

None

**[Activities Planned for Next Reporting Period]{.underline}**

-   **Water Quality Monitoring**

Continue with water quality monitoring efforts in the Wenatchee River
basin. Per the suggestion of Carol Volk (NOAA) following a general data
analysis conducted in December 2005, switch to a three week calibration
and meter maintenance schedule. Continue collecting nutrient samples at
each monitoring site once a month, as well as one suite of replicates.
Deploy the minisonde for simultaneous readings at the four remaining
sites requiring QA/QC measures.

-   **Agency Coordination**

Maintain an open line of communication with partner agencies and private
landowners. Prepare for the 2007 steelhead spawning surveys and habitat
surveys. Mail out cards of recognition to cooperative landowners, and a
brief data summary to landowners who expressed an interest in receiving
more information about the surveys.