karuk tribe · daily average water temperatures for the shasta river from 2009-2013 ... agreement...

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KARUK TRIBE

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

P.O. Box 282 * Orleans, California 95556

2013

WATER QUALITY

ASSESMENT REPORT

KLAMATH RIVER, SALMON RIVER, SCOTT

RIVER, SHASTA RIVER, AND CAMP CREEK

2

Karuk Tribe

Water Quality Assessment Report

2013

Prepared by

Karuk Tribe

Water Quality

January 2013

Technical Staff

Crystal Bowman - Water Resources Coordinator

Grant Johnson - Water Quality Biologist

Chook Chook Hillman – Water Quality Technician

Tammy Lightle – Water Quality Technician

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Table of Contents

1 Background ............................................................................................................... 4

2 Program Purpose ...................................................................................................... 7

3 Collaboration and Coordination ............................................................................. 8

4 Karuk Water Quality Program Design................................................................... 9

5 Data Interpretation and Management .................................................................. 11

6 2013 Water Quality Results ................................................................................... 12

7 References ................................................................................................................ 33

4

List of Tables and Figures

Figure 1. Overview of the Karuk Tribe’s water quality monitoring locations along the

Klamath River in 2013. ....................................................................................................... 9

Figure 2. Flagging Criteria automatically applied to sonde data. ..................................... 11 Figure 3. Daily average temperatures for 3 mainstem Klamath River sites in 2013: below

Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR). ............................................. 13 Figure 4. Averaged daily temperature from 2006-2013 at mainstem Klamath River sites:

below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR). .................................. 13

Figure 5. Daily average dissolved oxygen levels for 3 mainstem Klamath River sites in

2013: below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR). ........................ 14 Figure 6. Percent saturation dissolved oxygen readings recorded every 30-minutes for

Klamath River at Orleans (OR) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB Basin

Plan Klamath River site specific dissolved oxygen water quality objective: from the

mouth of the Scott River to Hoopa, >90% saturation year-round. ................................... 14

Figure 7. Percent saturation dissolved oxygen readings recorded every 30-minutes for

Klamath River at Seiad Valley (SV) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB

Basin Plan Klamath River site specific dissolved oxygen water quality objective: from

the mouth of the Scott River to Hoopa, >90% saturation year-round. ............................. 15 Figure 8. Percent saturation dissolved oxygen readings recorded every 30-minutes for

Klamath River below Iron Gate Dam (IG) in 2013. The red line indicates the

NCRWQCB Basin Plan Klamath River site specific dissolved oxygen water quality

objective from Stateline (OR/CA) to the mouth of the Scott River, >90% saturation from

Oct 1- March 30 and >85% from April 1-Sept 30. ........................................................... 15 Figure 9. Average daily dissolved oxygen levels from 2006-2013 at mainstem Klamath

River sites: below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR). ............... 16

Figure 10. Daily average pH levels for 3 mainstem Klamath River sites in 2013: below

Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR). ............................................. 17 Figure 11. Instantaneous pH readings recorded every 30-minutes for Klamath River at

Orleans (OR) in 2013. The red lines are the NCRWQCB Basin Plan water quality

objectives for the Klamath River, 7< X > 8.5. .................................................................. 17

Figure 12. Instantaneous pH readings recorded every 30-minutes for Klamath River

below Seiad Valley (SV) in 2013. The red lines are the NCRWQCB Basin Plan water

quality objectives for the Klamath River, 7< X > 8.5 ....................................................... 18 Figure 13. Instantaneous pH readings recorded every 30-minutes for Klamath River

below Iron Gate (IG) in 2013. The red lines are the NCRWQCB Basin Plan water quality

objectives for the Klamath River, 7< X > 8.5 ................................................................... 18 Figure 14. Daily average pH, 2006-2013 at mainstem Klamath River sites: below Iron

Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR). .................................................... 19 Figure 15. Daily average water temperature for Scott, Shasta, and Salmon Rivers, 2013.

........................................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 16. Daily average water temperatures for the Shasta River from 2009-2013. ...... 20 Figure 17. Daily average water temperatures for the Scott River from 2009-2013. ........ 21 Figure 18. Daily average water temperatures for the Salmon River from 2009-2013. .... 21 Figure 19. Daily average dissolved oxygen for Salmon, Scott and Shasta River, 2013. .. 22

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Figure 20. Daily average dissolved oxygen concentrations for the Shasta River from

2009-2013. ........................................................................................................................ 22

Table 1 - Atlas of Tribal Waters within Ancestral Territory .............................................. 6

Table 2 - Designated uses, tribal goals and parameters measured to analyze impairments

to tribal uses and goals. ....................................................................................................... 7 Table 3 - Site codes and locations of Karuk sampling stations for nutrients, algal toxins

and Sondes. Nutrient Suite indicates collecting nutrients, algal toxins and phytoplankton.

Sonde indicates real time monitoring, and public health designates surface grab sampling

for phytoplankton and algal toxins. .................................................................................. 10

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1 Background

The Karuk Tribe is the second largest Tribe in California, with over 3,500 Tribal

members currently enrolled. The Karuk Tribe is located along the middle Klamath River

in northern California. Karuk Ancestral Territory covers over 90 miles of the mainstem

Klamath River and numerous tributaries. The Klamath River system is central to the

culture of the Karuk People, as it is a vital component of our religion, traditional

ceremonies, and subsistence activities. Degraded water quality and quantity has resulted

in massive fish kills, increased occurrences of toxic algae, and outbreaks of fish diseases.

Impaired water quality conditions also apply extreme limitations and burdens to our

cultural activities.

The Karuk Tribe’s Department of Natural Resources has been monitoring daily water

quality conditions in the Klamath River since January of 2000 and tributaries to the

Klamath River since 1998. The Karuk Tribe has been collaboratively involved in

maintaining water quality stations along the Klamath River and its tributaries with the

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the United States Geological

Survey (USGS), the Yurok Tribe, Oregon State University and PacificCorps. The

following tables summarize waters within the ancestral territory, tribal uses and goals of

these waters, and impairments to these uses and goals (Tables 1-2).

Table 1 - Atlas of Tribal Waters within Ancestral Territory

Atlas of Tribal Waters

Within Ancestral Territory

Total number of Klamath River

miles

90

Total number of perennial stream

miles

1,900

Total number of lake acres 442

Total number of wetland acres UNKNOWN

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Table 2 - Designated uses, tribal goals and parameters measured to analyze

impairments to tribal uses and goals.

Making Assessment Decisions

Designated Beneficial Uses and Tribal

Goals

Parameter(s) to be Measured to

Determine Support of Use of Goal

Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species

(RARE) Temperature, DO, pH, Conductivity,

Subsistence Fishing (FISH) Temperature, DO, pH, Conductivity Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD) Temperature, Turbidity Cultural Contact Water (CUL-1) Temperature, Phosphorus, Nitrogen Cultural Non-Contact Water (CUL-2) Temperature, Phosphorus, Nitrogen Fish Consumption (FC) Temperature, Phosphorus, Nitrogen Water Contact Recreation (REC-1) Temperature, Phosphorus, Nitrogen Non-Contact Water Recreation (REC-2) Temperature, Phosphorus, Nitrogen Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early

Development (SPWN) Temperature, DO, pH, Conductivity,

Turbidity

2 Program Purpose

The overarching mission of the Karuk Tribe is to protect, promote, and preserve the

cultural resources, natural resources, and ecological processes upon which the Karuk

People depend. This mission requires the protection and improvement of the quality and

quantity of water upstream and flowing through Karuk Ancestral Territory and Tribal

trust lands.

The Karuk Tribe Water Quality Program (KTWQP) is currently evaluating the overall

condition of water quality on Karuk Ancestral Territory (KAT), monitoring the extent to

which water quality changes over time, and identifying impacts to beneficial uses. Data

the KTWQP collects is indispensable in monitoring water quality conditions within the

Klamath River Basin and providing valuable information to ongoing water quality

management processes. The information produced allows the Karuk Tribe to give

valuable input in land management decisions and demonstrates the Tribe’s commitment

to sound resource management.

The Klamath River in California is listed as an impaired water body under the Clean

Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d) list for temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen (DO),

sediment, and microcystin (NCRWQCB, 2009). The mid-Klamath River can have

elevated water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen levels, elevated sediment loads,

loading from organic matter, and high levels of the cyanotoxin, microcystin. These

detrimental conditions are caused by a variety of factors including the presence of Iron

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Gate and Copco Reservoirs, hydrological modification, agricultural use, timber

harvesting, mining activities, and fire suppression (NCRWQCB, 2009). Some of the

beneficial uses that are important to the Karuk Tribe and impacted by poor water quality

conditions are, cultural use (CUL), subsistence fishing (FISH), cold freshwater habitat

(COLD), recreation (REC-1 and 2), commercial and sport fishing (COMM), shellfish

harvesting (SHELL), rare, threatened, or endangered species (RARE), migration of

aquatic organisms (MIGR), spawning, reproduction, and/or early development (SPWN),

and wildlife habitat (WILD) (NCRWQCB, 2007).

The data that the KTWQP collects is useful to Tribes, state and federal processes, and

restoration efforts to assess current and past water quality conditions in the mid-Klamath

River. For example, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

(NCRWQCB) has developed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Klamath

River and has begun implementing TMDL’s in the Scott, Shasta, and Salmon Rivers.

KTWQP data was used in the development of the technical portion of the TMDL’s.

Compliance points for tracking water quality improvements through TMDL

implementation were placed at KTWQP long-term monitoring locations. On February

18, 2010, forty-eight entities signed on to the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement

Agreement (KHSA) to remove the four lower dams of the Klamath Hydroelectric Project

(KHP). For this agreement, water quality monitoring will occur to establish baseline

water quality conditions before the dams are removed in 2020.

The Karuk Tribe has established water quality standards for waters within KAT. The

details of these standards are outlined in the Karuk Tribe Water Quality Monitoring Plan

(Karuk, 2002).

3 Collaboration and Coordination

The KTWQP has found that the key to a successful water quality program in the Klamath

is to build collaborative relationships and coordinate with other entities in the basin. This

adds credibility to our data sets, builds trust in our monitoring techniques, stretches water

quality dollars by combining and coordinating monitoring efforts whenever feasible, and

increases the Tribe’s ability to conduct research and monitoring in the mid-Klamath. Our

partners include: Yurok Tribe, Klamath Tribes, Hoopa Tribe, Quartz Valley Indian

Community, Resighini Rancheria, Humboldt State University, Oregon State University,

UC Berkeley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EPA Region IX, North Coast Regional

Water Quality Control Board, State Water Resources Control Board, U.S. Forest Service,

U.S Geological Survey, Humboldt County, Salmon River Restoration Council, Mid

Klamath Watershed Council, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Pacific Coast Federation

of Fishermen’s Associations, and Klamath Riverkeeper.

The KTWQP participates in many collaborative workgroups. We currently attend

meetings, provide constructive feedback, help set research and monitoring priorities,

working in technical subgroups, looking for and providing support for others grant

proposals, and conduct monitoring and research. Some of the workgroups we participate

in include: the Klamath Blue Green Algae Workgroup, State Blue Green Algae

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Workgroup, Klamath Basin Monitoring Group, Klamath Tribal Water Quality

Workgroup, and the Klamath Fish Health Assessment Team.

4 Karuk Water Quality Program Design

The purpose of the Karuk Tribe’s water quality monitoring program is to evaluate the

quality of water flowing into, through, and out of Karuk Ancestral Territory and Tribal

Trust lands. We have combined the Tribe’s goals with those of our collaborators listed

above to establish a network of monitoring stations. We have established monitoring

stations both within and above KAT. These stations form a longitudinal profile of water

quality conditions along the mid-Klamath River and associated major tributaries.

Figure 1. Overview of the Karuk Tribe’s water quality monitoring locations along

the Klamath River in 2013.

Nutrient grab samples and phytoplankton are collected both in the Klamath River and the

major tributaries, whereas public health monitoring for algal toxins occurs just in the

mainstem (Table 3). In 2013, the KTWQP continued monitoring at the Camp Creek site

in lieu of the Bluff Creek site for winter turbidity monitoring. This change was made to

support monitoring of upcoming work in the Karuk Tribe Restoration Department. The

Orleans (OR), Salmon River (SA), Seiad Valley (SV), Shasta River (SH), and Iron Gate

(IG) continuous water quality monitoring stations are located at USGS gauging stations.

This sampling focuses around the summer base flow (the growing season), which is

generally from May-October. This is when the most water quality impairments stress

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beneficial uses. However, grab sampling continues throughout the year to help establish

annual baseline load conditions and turbidity monitoring occurs in the winter when

impairments are typically observed.

The frequency at which sampling occurs is dependent on resources and monitoring

objectives. We focus on increasing a parameters collection frequency when the dynamics

are changing at the greatest rate. For example, nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics are

in flux more over the growing season than during the rest of the year. Therefore, grab

samples may be collected approximately bimonthly (2x/month) during the growing

season (May-October) and monthly the remainder of the year. Another example is our

toxic algae and toxin sampling; it is aimed at being able to inform the public of health

threats and is therefore collected at an increased frequency when threats are highest,

August and September (Kann and Corum 2009).

Table 3 - Site codes and locations of Karuk sampling stations for nutrients, algal toxins

and Sondes. Nutrient Suite indicates collecting nutrients, algal toxins and phytoplankton.

Sonde indicates real time monitoring, and public health designates surface grab sampling

for phytoplankton and algal toxins.

2013 Locations and Parameters Monitored

Site

ID

Latitude Longitude Nutrient

Suite

Sonde Public

Health

Winter

Turbidity

Location

CP N41

17.96886

W123

33.50988

X X Camp Creek near

mouth

OR N 41

18.336

W 123

31.895

X X X Klamath River at

Orleans

SA N 41

22.617

W 123

28.633

X X X Salmon River at

USGS Gage

HC N 41

43.780

W 123

25.775

X X Klamath River

downstream of

Happy Camp

SV N 41

50.561

W 123

13.132

X X X Klamath River

downstream of

Seiad Valley

SC N 41

46.100

W 123

01.567

X X Scott River at

Johnson’s Bar

BB N 41

49.395

W 122

57.718

X X Brown Bear River

Access on Klamath

River

WA N 41

50.242

W 122

51.895

X Klamath River at

Walker Bridge

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SH N 41

49.390

W 122

35.700

X X Shasta River at

USGS Gage

IG N 41

55.865

W 122

26.532

X X Klamath River

below Iron Gate

Hatchery Bridge

Further discussion of monitoring protocols and procedures can be found in the KTWQP’s

Annual Monitoring Report, formerly Water Quality Assessment Report, and the Mid-

Klamath River Nutrient, Periphyton, Phytoplankton and Algal Toxin Sampling Analysis

Plan, and the Karuk Tribe Quality Assurance Protocols and Procedures document

(QAPP).

5 Data Interpretation and Management

The Yurok Tribe received a grant under the Environmental Information Exchange Network

Program to develop the Yurok Tribe Environmental Data Storage System (YEDSS). This

system has been shared with the Klamath Basin Tribal Water Quality Workgroup, which the

Karuk Tribe is part of. All sonde and nutrient sampling data will be entered and stored in

YEDSS. YEDSS utilizes user defined flag criteria which are automatically applied to the data

set. This is very useful in Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) screening. Data

entries that fall outside excepted ranges are automatically flagged for further analysis. See

example in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Flagging Criteria automatically applied to sonde data.

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Raw data and data that have under-gone further QA/QC are automatically archived

separately. Metadata associated with each data type are also stored within the system and can

be easily accessed when questions arise. Phytoplankton and algal toxin data will be entered

into Excel spreadsheets that are checked for accuracy by the Project Manager and backed up

onto the KTWQP network, and an external hard drive system that is maintained offsite.

Data is compiled using spreadsheets and YEDDS. Graphical and statistical analyses are used

to assess the current status and trends of monitored water bodies. In addition, comparisons

between sites can also be made. Overall, water quality is evaluated using standards put forth

in the Karuk Tribe’s Water Quality Control Plan and QAPP. Assessment of data also

includes the evaluation of field methodology and data quality. Data collected is then

submitted electronically to EPA via their Water Quality Exchange network (WQX) and made

publicly available. Data may be utilized by other Tribes, agencies, and entities to help direct

water resource management actions.

6 2013 Water Quality Results

The associated Water Quality Assessment Report spreadsheet describes current

impairments.

MAINSTEM KLAMATH

The sonde data presented in Figures 3-8 depicts seasonal temperature, dissolved oxygen

and pH trends at mainstem Klamath River monitoring sites.

Temperature:

In 2013, Seiad Valley (SV) and Orleans (OR) monitoring locations had similar

thermographs when comparing daily averages. The Iron Gate (IG) site had less variability

in average temperature fluctuations than SV or OR. Iron Gate also had a lower peak

average temperature during July-August (Figure 3). This trend is further emphasized

when looking at the average temperature over an eight year period from 2006-2013

(Figure 4). The IG site is just downstream of Iron Gate dam (IGD). Water released from

the dam has a moderating effect on water temperature, providing slightly warmer water in

the fall and winter and colder water during summer peak temperatures when compared to

historic conditions and upstream un-impounded tributary contributions. The chronic

average temperature threshold for salmonids adopted by the Tribe, is 15.5ºC (Karuk,

2002). This data supports the designation of impaired water temperature.

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Figure 3. Daily average temperatures for 3 mainstem Klamath River sites in 2013:

below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR).

Klamath River - 8 Year Average Daily

Temperature

8

1012

14

1618

20

2224

26

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

Tem

pera

ture

0 C

8-Year Average IG8-Year Average SV8-Year Average OR

Figure 4. Averaged daily temperature from 2006-2013 at mainstem Klamath River

sites: below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR).

Dissolved Oxygen:

Instantaneous dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in 2013 were the highest at the Seiad Valley

(Figure 7) and the daily average DO is greatest at Orleans (Figure 9). Iron Gate dam has a

negative impact on DO levels from mid September through the end of sampling in 2013,

November. DO levels below the dam drop while increasing at all other Karuk mainstem

Klamath sampling locations (Figure 5 - 8). The timing overlaps with fall-run salmonid

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migration and spawning and is an impairment of the beneficial use. (There is a data gap

in the Orleans data set due to battery failure.)

Eight-year daily averages for DO depict the annual differences between sites are less

extreme in the middle of the summer when water temperatures are the highest (Figures 4

and 5).

Figure 5. Daily average dissolved oxygen levels for 3 mainstem Klamath River sites

in 2013: below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR).

Klamath River at Orleans

Dissovled Oxygen 2013 Percent Saturation

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

4/9/

2013

4/23

/2013

5/7/

2013

5/21

/2013

6/4/

2013

6/18

/2013

7/2/

2013

7/16

/2013

7/30

/2013

8/13

/2013

8/27

/2013

9/10

/2013

9/24

/2013

10/8/2

013

10/22/2

013

11/5/2

013

Date

% S

atu

rati

on

ODO %

CA Basin Plan Water Quality Objective

Figure 6. Percent saturation dissolved oxygen readings recorded every 30-minutes

for Klamath River at Orleans (OR) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB

15

Basin Plan Klamath River site specific dissolved oxygen water quality objective:

from the mouth of the Scott River to Hoopa, >90% saturation year-round.

Klamath River at Seiad Valley


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

4/25

/2013

5/9/

2013

5/23

/2013

6/6/

2013

6/20

/2013

7/4/

2013

7/18

/2013

8/1/

2013

8/15

/2013

8/29

/2013

9/12

/2013

9/26

/2013

10/10/2

013

10/24/2

013

Date

% S

atu

rati

on

ODO %



for Klamath River at Seiad Valley (SV) in 2013. The red line indicates the


objective: from the mouth of the Scott River to Hoopa, >90% saturation year-

round.

Klamath River below Iron Gate


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

4/15

/2013

4/29

/2013

5/13

/2013

5/27

/2013

6/10

/2013

6/24

/2013

7/8/

2013

7/22

/2013

8/5/

2013

8/19

/2013

9/2/

2013

9/16

/2013

9/30

/2013

10/14/2

013

10/28/2

013

11/11/2

013

Date

% S

atu

rati

on

ODO %



for Klamath River below Iron Gate Dam (IG) in 2013. The red line indicates the


objective from Stateline (OR/CA) to the mouth of the Scott River, >90% saturation

from Oct 1- March 30 and >85% from April 1-Sept 30.

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Klamath River - 8 Year Average Daily

Dissolved Oxygen

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

810/2

8

Date

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n m

g/L

8-Year Average DO IG8-Year Average DO SV8-Year Average DO OR

Figure 9. Average daily dissolved oxygen levels from 2006-2013 at mainstem

Klamath River sites: below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans

(OR).

pH:

Daily average and instantaneous pH trends vary between mainstem sites in 2013 (Figures

10 - 14). SV has the least seasonal variability and has an instantaneous pH diurnal swing

of approximately 0.8 pH units (Figure 12). Of the Klamath mainstem sites, IG has the

most instantaneous exceedances in 2013 to the NCRWQCB Basin Plan water quality

objective for the Klamath River.

Eight-year trend comparison (Figure 14) depicts daily average pH peaking in late July

and August, with daily average pH exceedances above 8.5 at IG from August through

September.

The spike in pH occurs during the peak in river primary productivity and the lowest DO

readings, indicative of water quality impairments associated with photorespiration. (In

2013, all sites have some data gaps due to probe malfunction and battery failure.)

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Klamath River - Daily Average pH for 2013

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

pH u

nits

13' IG pH 13' SV pH 13' OR pH

Figure 10. Daily average pH levels for 3 mainstem Klamath River sites in 2013:

below Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR).

Klamath River at Orleans 2013 pH

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

4/9/

2013

4/23

/2013

5/7/

2013

5/21

/2013

6/4/

2013

6/18

/2013

7/2/

2013

7/16

/2013

7/30

/2013

8/13

/2013

8/27

/2013

9/10

/2013

9/24

/2013

10/8/2

013

10/22/2

013

11/5/2

013

Date

pH

un

its

pH

Basin Plan Max

Basin Plan Min


at Orleans (OR) in 2013. The red lines are the NCRWQCB Basin Plan water quality

objectives for the Klamath River, 7< X > 8.5.

18

Klamath River at Seiad Valley 2013 pH

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

4/25

/2013

5/9/

2013

5/23

/2013

6/6/

2013

6/20

/2013

7/4/

2013

7/18

/2013

8/1/

2013

8/15

/2013

8/29

/2013

9/12

/2013

9/26

/2013

10/10/2

013

10/24/2

013

Date

pH

un

its

pH

Basin Plan Max

Basin Plan Min


below Seiad Valley (SV) in 2013. The red lines are the NCRWQCB Basin Plan water

quality objectives for the Klamath River, 7< X > 8.5

Klamath River at below Iron Gate 2013 pH

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

4/15

/2013

4/29

/2013

5/13

/2013

5/27

/2013

6/10

/2013

6/24

/2013

7/8/

2013

7/22

/2013

8/5/

2013

8/19

/2013

9/2/

2013

9/16

/2013

9/30

/2013

10/14/2

013

10/28/2

013

11/11/2

013

Date

pH

un

its

PH

Basin Plan Max

Basin Plan Min


below Iron Gate (IG) in 2013. The red lines are the NCRWQCB Basin Plan water

quality objectives for the Klamath River, 7< X > 8.5

19

Klamath River - 8 Year Average Daily pH

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

810/2

8

Date

pH

8-Year Average pH IG8-Year Average pH SV8-Year Average pH OR

Figure 14. Daily average pH, 2006-2013 at mainstem Klamath River sites: below

Iron Gate dam (IG), Seiad Valley (SV), and Orleans (OR).

Mainstem Klamath Conclusions from Datasonde Data 2013: Instantaneous dissolved

oxygen and pH data indicate the impacts to water quality due to photorespiration are most

intense at Seiad Valley, but also experienced at all sites to a lesser degree. Temperature

impacts are greatest at Seiad Valley at the beginning of the summer but Orleans is

greatest from August through September; below Iron Gate Dam has the lowest

temperature due to multiple factors associated with the reservoirs and controlled water

release. Water temperature is impacted heavily by ambient air temperature and the

temperature of receiving waters; these could be the controlling factors between Seiad and

Orleans.

TRIBUTARIES

The KTWQP have monitored three major Klamath tributaries just upstream from the

confluence with the Klamath since 2006: the Shasta, Scott, and Salmon Rivers. Each of

the tributaries has similar seasonal water quality trends.

Temperature:

The Shasta River experiences much warmer temperatures in the early spring. This is due,

in part, to ground water influences which tend to moderate water temperature. Compare

this to the very similar temperature conditions in the Scott, which is fed by a mix of

groundwater and snow-melt; and the Salmon, which is a snow-melt dominated system

(Figure 15).

In 2013, all monitored tributaries depict the highest daily average temperatures during

July, followed by a drop in temperature around the first week of August (Figures 15 - 18).

These water temperatures correlate with high ambient air temperatures in July through

early August. Water temperatures in 2013 peaked earlier and were hotter than those seen

in previous years (Figures 16-18).

20

Salmon, Scott and Shasta Rivers - Daily Average

Temperature, 2013

5

10

15

20

25

30

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

Tem

pera

ture

0 C

13' SH Temp 13' SC Temp

13' SA Temp

Figure 15. Daily average water temperature for Scott, Shasta, and Salmon Rivers,

2013.

Shasta River - Daily Average Temperature for

2009 - 2013

6

11

16

21

26

31

5/1

5/31

6/30

7/30

8/29

9/28

10/2

8

Date

Tem

pera

ture

0 C

09' SH Temp 10' SH Temp 11' SH Temp12' SH Temp 13' SH Temp

Figure 16. Daily average water temperatures for the Shasta River from 2009-2013.

21

Scott River - Daily Average Temperature for

2009 - 2013

5

10

15

20

25

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

Tem

pera

ture

0 C

09' SC Temp 10' SC Temp 11' SC Temp12' SC Temp 13' SC Temp

Figure 17. Daily average water temperatures for the Scott River from 2009-2013.

Salmon River - Daily Average Temperature for

2009 - 2013

4

9

14

19

24

5/1 6/1 7/1 8/1 9/110/1

11/1Date

Tem

pera

ture

0 C

09' SA Temp 10' SA Temp 11' SA Temp

12' SA Temp 13' SA Temp

Figure 18. Daily average water temperatures for the Salmon River from 2009-2013.

Dissolved Oxygen:

Daily average dissolved oxygen for 2013 depicts the usual annual trend, Shasta River

with the lowest daily averages, Scott next and the Salmon River the highest daily average

DO. The lowest DO levels occurred in June to August, this is the general trend at all

tributary sites from 2009-2013 (Figures 19 -25). However, 2013 spring-time DO averages

were the lowest in all tributaries than we have seen in the past 5 years of monitoring. This

time period corresponds with the outmigration of Coho salmon from the tributaries.

22

The NCRWQCB Basin Plan establishes water quality objectives for each tributary based

on instantaneous readings. The Scott River did not drop below the water quality objective

of (x>7 mg/L). The Shasta dropped below the DO threshold (x>7 mg/L) between the

June and August (Figure 21). The Salmon River dropped below its threshold (x>9 mg/L)

the longest, between early July through the end of September (Figure 25).

Salmon, Scott and Shasta River - Daily Average

Dissolved Oxygen, 2013

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

810/2

8

Date

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n m

g/L

13' SH DO 13' SC DO

13' SA DO

Figure 19. Daily average dissolved oxygen for Salmon, Scott and Shasta River, 2013.

Shasta River - Daily Average Dissolved Oxygen

for 2009 - 2013

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n m

g/L 09' SH DO 10' SH DO 11' SH DO

12' SH DO 13' SH DO

Figure 20. Daily average dissolved oxygen concentrations for the Shasta River from

2009-2013.

23

Shasta River at Mouth Dissovled Oxygen 2013

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

4/17

/2013

5/1/

2013

5/15

/2013

5/29

/2013

6/12

/2013

6/26

/2013

7/10

/2013

7/24

/2013

8/7/

2013

8/21

/2013

9/4/

2013

9/18

/2013

10/2/2

013

10/16/2

013

10/30/2

013

11/13/2

013

11/27/2

013

12/11/2

013

12/25/2

013

Date

mg

/L

Figure 21. Instantaneous dissolved oxygen recorded every 30-minutes for the mouth

of the Shasta River (SH) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB Basin Plan

site specific dissolved oxygen water quality objective for Shasta River, >7mg/L.

Scott River - Daily Average Dissolved Oxygen

for 2009 - 2013

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

810/2

8

Date

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n m

g/L 09' SC DO 10' SC DO 11' SC DO

12' SC DO 13' SC DO

Figure 22. Daily average dissolved oxygen concentrations for the Scott River from

2009-2013.

24

Scott River at Mouth Dissovled Oxygen 2013

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

4/18

/2013

5/2/

2013

5/16

/2013

5/30

/2013

6/13

/2013

6/27

/2013

7/11

/2013

7/25

/2013

8/8/

2013

8/22

/2013

9/5/

2013

9/19

/2013

10/3/2

013

10/17/2

013

10/31/2

013

Date

mg

/L

Figure 23. Instantaneous dissolved oxygen readings recorded every 30-minutes for

the mouth of the Scott River (SC) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB

Basin Plan site specific dissolved oxygen water quality objective for Scott River,

>7mg/L.

Salmon River - Daily Average Dissolved

Oxygen for 2009 - 2013

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

5/1 6/1 7/1 8/1 9/110/1

11/1

Date

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n m

g/L

09' SA DO 10'SA DO 11' SA DO12' SA DO 13' SA DO

Figure 24. Daily average dissolved oxygen concentrations for the Salmon River from

2009-2013.

25

Salmon River at Mouth Dissovled Oxygen 2013

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

2/13

/2013

2/27

/2013

3/13

/2013

3/27

/2013

4/10

/2013

4/24

/2013

5/8/

2013

5/22

/2013

6/5/

2013

6/19

/2013

7/3/

2013

7/17

/2013

7/31

/2013

8/14

/2013

8/28

/2013

9/11

/2013

9/25

/2013

10/9/2

013

10/23/2

013

11/6/2

013

Date

mg

/L

Figure 25: Instantaneous dissolved oxygen readings recorded every 30 minutes for

the mouth of the Salmon River (SA) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB

Basin Plan site specific dissolved oxygen water quality objective for Salmon River,

>9mg/L.

pH:

Daily average pH in 2013 varied between tributary sites (Figure 26) but was an average

year within each site for the past five years daily average comparison graphs for each

tributary (Figures 27, 29 and 31).

The Salmon River pH was just between 7.5 and 8.5 units for most of the season, meeting

the NCRWQCB Bain Plan water quality objective for all three tributaries, 7< x >8.5.

The Scott River exceeded the Basin Plan objective from the end of May through the end

of October (Figure 30). There is a dramatic decrease in the pH in Scott River during the

spring associated with a spring rain and snowmelt event. The Shasta River was between 8

and 9 pH units for the entire sampling season (Figure 28).

26

Salmon, Scott and Shasta Rivers - Daily Average

pH, 2013

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

pH

13' SH pH 13' SC pH 13' SA pH

Figure 26. Daily average pH for Scott, Shasta, and Salmon Rivers, 2013.

Shasta River - Daily Average pH for 2009 - 2013

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

pH

09' SH pH 10' SH pH 11' SH pH

12' SH pH 13' SH pH

Figure 27. Daily average pH concentrations for the Shasta River from 2009-2013.

27

Shasta River at Mouth 2013 pH

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

4/17

/2013

5/1/

2013

5/15

/2013

5/29

/2013

6/12

/2013

6/26

/2013

7/10

/2013

7/24

/2013

8/7/

2013

8/21

/2013

9/4/

2013

9/18

/2013

10/2/2

013

10/16/2

013

10/30/2

013

11/13/2

013

11/27/2

013

12/11/2

013

12/25/2

013

Date

pH

un

its

Figure 28. Instantaneous pH readings recorded every 30 minutes for the mouth of

the Shasta River (SH) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB Basin Plan pH

water quality objective for Shasta River, 7< X > 8.5.

Scott River - Daily Average pH for 2009 - 2013

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

pH

09' SC pH 10' SC pH 11' SC pH12' SC pH 13' SC pH

Figure 29. Daily average pH concentrations for the Scott River from 2009-2013.

28

Scott River at Mouth 2013 pH

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

4/18

/2013

5/2/

2013

5/16

/2013

5/30

/2013

6/13

/2013

6/27

/2013

7/11

/2013

7/25

/2013

8/8/

2013

8/22

/2013

9/5/

2013

9/19

/2013

10/3/2

013

10/17/2

013

10/31/2

013

Date

pH

un

its


the Scott River (SC) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB Basin Plan pH

water quality objective for Scott River, 7< X > 8.5.

Salmon River - Daily Average pH for 2009 - 2013

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

5/15/3

16/3

07/3

08/2

99/2

8

10/28

Date

pH

09' SA pH 10' SA pH 11' SA pH

12' SA pH 13' SA pH

Figure 31. Daily average pH concentrations for the Salmon River from 2009-2013.

29

Salmon River at Mouth 2013 pH

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

2/13

/2013

2/27

/2013

3/13

/2013

3/27

/2013

4/10

/2013

4/24

/2013

5/8/

2013

5/22

/2013

6/5/

2013

6/19

/2013

7/3/

2013

7/17

/2013

7/31

/2013

8/14

/2013

8/28

/2013

9/11

/2013

9/25

/2013

10/9/2

013

10/23/2

013

11/6/2

013

Date

pH

un

its


the Salmon River (SA) in 2013. The red line indicates the NCRWQCB Basin Plan

pH water quality objective for Salmon River, 7< X > 8.5.

Turbidity:

Turbidity data gathered on Camp Creek and Salmon River during winter and spring

depict similar trends in response to the lack of major winter rain and snowmelt events

(Figures 33 and 34).

Camp Creek - Daily Average Turbidity 2012 and 2013

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

2/243/5

3/153/25

4/44/14

Date

Tu

rbid

ity (

NT

U)

Figure 33. Daily average turbidity, winter of 2012 and 2013 on Camp Creek.

30

Salmon River - Daily Average Turbidity 2007-2013

-10

90

190

290

390

490

590

690

790

1/9

1/24 2/

82/

23 3/9

3/24 4/

84/

23

Date

Tu

rbid

ity (

NT

U)

SA 12'

SA 11'

SA 10'

SA 09'

SA 08'

SA 07'

SA 13'

Figure 34 . Daily average turbidity, winters of 2007 - 2013 on Salmon River (SA).

Major Tributary Conclusions from Datasonde Data 2013: Water temperature differed

among sites during the beginning of summer more likely due to sub basin hydrology

differences (snow melt vs spring fed) and differed less once in stream flows dropped and

air temperature became the dominant controlling factor. This trend has been recorded

annually for the past five years. Dissolved oxygen levels in the lower Salmon were the

worst recorded among the three major tributaries for 2013, this drop corresponds with the

Salmon’s highest water temperature readings indicating the rivers decreased ability to

hold oxygen with increased water temperature. Dissolved oxygen levels in the lower

Salmon did not meet the Salmon River Basin Plan water quality objective of 9mg/L for a

large portion of the sampling season, July through September. This timeframe

corresponds with large diurnal pH swings indicting photo-respiration was impacting

water quality in 2013. The pH in the Shasta and Scott River were high in 2013 compared

to the Salmon; but average when compared to there own five year trends.

MAINSTEM AND TRIBUTARIES

Nutrients:

Nutrient samples were collected by the KTWQP in 2013 from the mainstem Klamath and

major tributaries.

Total phosphorus (TP) results for 2013 from the mainstem Klamath and major tributaries

depict Iron Gate (IG), Walker Bridge (WA) and Shasta River (SH) as the highest levels

(Figure 35). TP levels decrease at all monitoring sites longitudinally downstream from

IG. The 2007-2013 (Figure 36) data depicts the same trend. The Shasta River had the

highest TP concentration among all sites sampled from 2007-2013, Scott and Salmon

Rivers the lowest.

Total nitrogen (TN) mainstem concentrations were highest at the most upriver sites (IG

and WA) (Figures 37 and 38). TN concentrations increased throughout the season,

31

doubling between May and October in 2013 (Figure 37). The Shasta River had the

highest TN, compared to other major tributaries, which supports the nutrient enrichment

TMDL impairment listing of dissolved oxygen and temperature.

Total Phosphorus, 2013

0.000

0.050

0.100

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

1/6/

2013

3/7/

2013

5/6/

2013

7/5/

2013

9/3/

2013

11/2/2

013

1/1/

2014

3/2/

2014

Date

TP

IG

OR

SA

SC

HC

SH

WA

Figure 35. Total Phosphorus measured in mg/L for all monitored sites during 2013.

Total Phosphorus, 2007-2013

0.000

0.100

0.200

0.300

3/9/

2007

7/21

/2008

12/3/2

009

4/17

/2011

8/29

/2012

1/11

/2014

Date

TP

HC

IG

OR

SA

SC

SH

SV

WA

Figure 36. Total Phosphorus measured in mg/L for all monitored sites during 2007-

2013.

32

Total Nitrogen, 2013

0.000

0.200

0.400

0.600

0.800

1.000

1.200

1.400

1/6/

2013

3/7/

2013

5/6/

2013

7/5/

2013

9/3/

2013

11/2/2

013

1/1/

2014

3/2/

2014

Date

TN

IG

OR

SA

SC

HC

SH

WA

Figure 37. Total Nitrogen measured in mg/L for all monitored sites during 2013.

Total Nitrogen, 2007-2013

0.000

0.400

0.800

1.200

1.600

3/9/

2007

7/21

/2008

12/3/2

009

4/17

/2011

8/29

/2012

1/11

/2014

Date

TN

HC

OR

SA

SC

SH

SV

IG

WA

Figure 38. Total Nitrogen measured in mg/L for all monitored sites during 2007-

2013.

Mainstem and Tributary Nutrient Conclusions: Agricultural land uses in the upper

Klamath Basin and major tributaries of Shasta and Scott Rivers are the majority of

nutrient contributions in the basin. Grab sample results support this land use assessment.

Trends are consistent throughout the six sampling years.

33

7 References

Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources. 2002. Water Quality Control Plan.

Orleans, CA. 36 p.

Kann, J. and S. Corum. 2009. Toxigenic Microcystis aeruginosa bloom dynamics and

cell density/chlorophyll a relationships with microcystin toxin in the Klamath

River, 2005-2008. Prepared for Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources,

Orleans, CA. 46 pg.

NCRWQCB. 2006. CWA Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments

Requiring TMDLs. Santa Rosa, CA. Accessed online 3/4/2010 at:

<http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/303dlists2006/epa/r1

_06_303d_reqtmdls.pdf>

NCRWQCB. 2007. Water quality control plan for the North Coast Region. Santa Rosa,

CA. Accessed online 2/26/2010 at:

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/basin_plan/basi

n_plan.shtml

NCRWQCB. 2009. Staff report for the Klamath River Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) addressing

temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrient, and microcystin impairments in California, the Klamath

River site specific dissolved oxygen objective, and the Klamath River and Lost River

implementation plans: December 2009 Public Draft Review Documents. Santa Rosa, CA.

Accessed online 2/17/2010 at:

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdls/klamath_

river/

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/303dlists2006/epa/r1_06_303d_reqtmdls.pdf

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/303dlists2006/epa/r1_06_303d_reqtmdls.pdf

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/basin_plan/basin_plan.shtml

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/basin_plan/basin_plan.shtml

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdls/klamath_river/

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdls/klamath_river/