Chapter 2: Program Analysis
2.2.6 Wafer Qualify
In Idaho,
was re-
duced by siltation caused by high suspended
contributed
sediment concentrations, which
(continued)
of trout reproductive capability. At the
onset of the project, agricultural sources were
identified as the primary cause of reduced
2.2.6.2 Water
Problem
Further analysis showed
erosion was
a major
Definition and Problem
of sediment
Influx
sediment from
Assessment
erosion made documentation of the
effectiveness of
Based
on project estimates, sediment contributions
Lesson:
defining the water qual-
from two major sources,
erosion
ity problem is one of the most important
and irrigation return flow, were similar in
when the project
In contrast_ fro5
steps for
control and water
monitoring indicated that
monitoring. An effective approach
bank erosion
2
times the amount
is to implement a probiem identification
in the
of sediment added
and assessment monitoring program
ins during the inigation season The problem of
streambank erosion will continue to mask
ing six to 18 months. Problem identifica-
stream benefits from the land treatment.
tion monitoring uses a site-specific plan to
sources and impacts dur-
In
Illinois
project, turbid-
ing both base
and storm conditions;
ity, siltation, and nutrients were thought to
monitoring may be most effective
Silver Lake, the water supply for the
the seasons of greatest pollutant
city of Highland. Sediment survey results
showed that sedimentation rates were low which
(spring runoff, snow melt) and during
meant there
threat of rapid loss of lake
season when impairments are noted (grow-
storage capacity.
analysis of lake turbidity
blooms).
identify-
ing season
indicated that algal production was limited more
ing the specific pollutant and
the
by light than by nutrients. It was found that
turbidity, which increased the cost of water
in
problem assists land treatment
was due mostly
soil
identifying critical areas and targeting
particles. Monitoring demonstrated
loading
resuspension
of
particle
soils and
from lake sediments was the
factor
Example: The Florida, Idaho, Nebraska, Ore-
lake turbidity. In order to target pollut-
gon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Vermont projects
ant sources, the project placed special emphasis
had ample visual and analytical evidence of
soils in place o r
keeping
receiving water problems.
reducing their
into the lake.
Example: In Iowa, heavy sediment and a blanket
Example: To accurately interpret ground water
of corn stalks covering a recreational lake sur-
monitoring results, a thorough understanding of
rounded by
helped make the problem
project area geology was essential for the Min-
and its source especially clear.
nesota RCWP project Project personnel found
that performing a geologic investigation was
Example: In Massachusetts, where both
critical even though it was
sive dairy farming on small acreages and boom-
after the start of the
expensive, and
ing residential development were taking place
project The
area and BMP emphasis
adjacent to an estuary containing important
were changed
address the identified ground
resources, the
of the problem
water problem_ Monitoring plans were en-
needed to be more clearly documented
gen-
ground water and pesticides
hanced
erate
support for project activities.
The Florida project benefited greatly
Example: South Dakota's project required
from several years of water quality assessment
intensive monitoring programs to gain a
monitoring performed in the late 1970's by
thorough understanding of
water quality
the South Florida Water
Dis-
problem and its causes in complex interactions
trict These data helped document the water
the surface and ground water
quality problem and sources.
feeding the target lakes.
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