contains data

Lower Truckee River Bioassessment Symposium

lynellg — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:54:43 -0800

Two day symposium includes:
Day 1- Presentations from various groups & individuals on aquatic biological issues on the
Lower Truckee River
Day 2-Introduction to CADDIS
Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System - A model addressing aquatic
biological stressor identification presented by U.S. EPA's National Center for
Environmental Development

Attendance is FREE, however, pre-registration by December 19 is required as
seating and parking is limited.
*For registration to attend please send an email to: kvargas@ndep.nv.gov
and provide your name, affiliation, contact information and if you will be attending Day 1, 2 or both days.

Full flyer: attached or visit website below.

USGS NV Surface Water Data

lynellg — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:14:15 -0700

Follow the link below for the NWIS NV surface water web page.

For questions, please contact Michael Rosen, USGS.

Real-Time Information: USGS stream flow and well water gages through Truckee River system

lynellg — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:56:53 -0700

From the KRNV website: describing our watershed. Click on website for gaging sites & real-time data.
Truckee Meadows is a bowl-shaped valley, approximately 10 miles wide and 16 miles long, containing the cities of Reno and Sparks with a combined urban population of approximately 280,000 persons. The Truckee Meadows also includes Pleasant Valley and Washoe Valley to the south, the latter valley containing Washoe Lake and Little Washoe Lake. Both these valleys are drained by Steamboat Creek, which then runs along the eastern portion of the Truckee Meadows and empties into the Truckee River near Vista and the beginning of the lower Truckee River canyon. Along the way, Steamboat Creek picks up the return flows of numerous irrigation ditches to the south of the Truckee River, the most important being Steamboat Ditch, Last Chance Ditch, and Lake Ditch, as well as the Boynton Slough. The Boynton Slough is the recipient of some of these other ditches' return-flow waters as well. Steamboat Creek also receives the treated effluent from the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (formerly the Reno-Sparks joint sewage treatment plant).
The eastern part of the Truckee Meadows was a vast marshy wetland prior to development of the area, and remnants of low-lying areas are still farmed today. Loss of this wetland area has exacerbated flooding in the Sparks industrial area.The Truckee Meadows urban area is the largest user of municipal and industrial water from the Truckee River. While municipal and industrial water use (withdrawals) in the Truckee Meadows total approximately 65,000 acre-feet per year, nearly three times this amount (172,383 acre-feet per year, 1973-1994) is diverted out of the lower Truckee River Basin at Derby Dam and into the Truckee Canal for agricultural use in the Newlands Project in the lower Carson River Basin.

Watershed monitoring locations: all agencies

lynellg — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:51:29 -0700

PDF of monitoring map created by combining all known sampling locations by agencies between Tahoe City and Pyramid Lake.

Truckee River Biomass Monitoring Program...July 2001 to Aug 2002

lynellg — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:48:24 -0700

Truckee River Biomass Monitoring Program: Data Encompassing Field Studies of July 2001 to August 2002
Jeramie Memmott, Megan Robinson, Annika Mosier, Christian H. Fritsen
Division of Earth and Ecosystem Science, Desert Research Institute
2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno NV 89512. phone: (775) 673-7487

The Truckee River Biomass Monitoring (TRBM) program has collected data regarding algal
biomass in the lower Truckee River [expressed as plant pigments (chlorophyll a), carbon,
nitrogen and phosphorous] that can be used for independent analysis of ecosystem health and
nutrient budgets. Furthermore, the biomass sampling program has been implemented in such a
manner that the results will be used to validate water quality models and, hence, to make model
formulations more scientifically defensible as management tools.
Data reported within this draft were generated as part of the second round of monthly biomass
sampling that began in November 2001 and was completed as of August 2002.
THE STUDY:
In monitoring plant and algal biomass in the lower Truckee River we conducted the following
field activities:
Samples were collected four times at eleven sites (HERS, FLEI, PATA, EMCC, LOCK,
PATR, TRAC, PAIN, JOHN, DEAD, LNIX) on the Truckee River (Figure 2) and an additional
six times at eight of the eleven sites (HERS, FLEI, PATA, LOCK, PATR, TRAC, JOHN,
LNIX). Sampling at all eleven sites was conducted on a quarterly basis to be consistent with
the previous monitoring program (July 2000 to July 2001), which also included more
spatially intensive sampling for increased spatial information on a quarterly basis. Eight of
the eleven sites were sampled on a monthly basis.
During the majority of sampling, temperature, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved
oxygen were recorded in real-time using YSI Incorporated sondes provided by Washoe
County. River velocity measurements were made at points where samples were collected to
constrain the physical flow regime of the plant communities beyond levels previously
attained.
· Samples for water quality analysis were collected at each sampling site (consistent with
monthly or quarterly sampling) using a depth-integrating sampler and were delivered to
Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) for analysis. Vertical profiles of
solar irradiance in the water column were conducted to constrain previously estimated light
penetration values used for modeling primary productivity and in community metabolism
studies.
At each site during each round of sampling, an average of 14 periphyton samples were
collected for ash free dry weight (AFDW) and chlorophyll a. A minimum of three samples
from each site were collected for determining periphyton functional groups (e.g. blue green
algae, filamentous green algae, green algae, and diatoms) that are consistent with
groupings currently used in water quality models (e.g. DSSAMt). On average, five
subsamples of periphyton from each site were analyzed for carbon, nitrogen, and
phosphorous contents.
Please find report in pdf attached.

USGS Nevada Water Science Center Water-Resources Data — Surface Water

lynellg — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:39:29 -0800

NV Statewide water-resources data published herein for the 2004 water year comprise the following records:
Water discharge for 182 gaging stations on streams, canals, and drains.
Discharge data for 95 partial record stations and miscellaneous sites, and 16 springs.
Stage and contents for 21 ponds, lakes and reservoirs.
Water levels for 19 continuous observation wells, and 889 periodic observation wells.
Water-quality data for 114 stream, canal, spring and drain sites and 138 wells.
Precipitation totals for 39 stations.
Water withdrawals for 11 wells.

To view maps of collection sites, and data view website below.

Center for Watersheds and Environmental Sustainability, DRI

lynellg — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:12:13 -0800

The Center for Watersheds and Environmental Sustainability (CWES) at the Desert Research Institute creates new predictive approaches for understanding the behavior of watersheds in a planning and management policy context. In addition, CWES facilitates development of interdisciplinary research teams within the Desert Research Institute that address watershed science, planning, and restoration.

It is the vision of CWES to develop a research program to integrate the current scientific knowledge base and translate this knowledge into relevant information to aid political entities in developing sustainable environmental and economic policies with their watersheds.

Within the Western United States, there has been rising concern about the quality of our natural environment. This concern is related to the intrinsic value of a naturally-functioning environment and the aesthetic value it provides to the human experience. The causes for concern about the environment in the west are many, but a common element amongst many of these concerns is water. In much of the mountainous west, the highly variable nature of the availability of water, both temporally and spatially, make it the critical resource for sustaining both human and natural environments. Due to this situation, it is a natural outcome that sustainable economies and environments in the west go hand in hand, and must be developed at the watershed scale.

To learn more about the CWES, please visit the website below.

Water Quality Assessment and Modeling of the California Portion of the Truckee River Basin (2001)

lynellg — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:13:44 -0800

Written By
David McGraw, Alan McKay, Guohong Duan, Thomas Bullard, Tim Minor, Jason Kuchnicki

Prepared By
Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute,
University and Community College System of Nevada, Las Vegas

Prepared For
Town of Truckee
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board

JULY 2001

The purpose of this study is to provide the technical analysis and review necessary to begin developing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for sediment for the California
portions of the Truckee River watershed. The general goal of a sediment TMDL analysis is
to protect designated uses by characterizing existing and desired watershed conditions,
evaluate the degree of impairment to the existing (and future) conditions, and identify land
management and restoration actions needed to attain desired conditions (USEPA, 1999a).
More specifically, the goals of this study are: 1) establish recommended reductions in
sediment loads for designated reaches and sub-basins in the upper basin of the Truckee
River; 2) develop a GIS-based watershed model capable of simulating erosional and
sediment transport processes over multiple physiographic settings; 3) use the calibrated
model to estimate sediment conditions under various land-use scenarios; and 4) interact with
technical advisory groups to ensure stakeholder input from project inception through
completion.
For entire Executive Summary and Final Report, please visit link.

Influence of Riparian Vegetation on Local Climate and River Temperature

lynellg — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:50:18 -0800

This project is managed by
Gayle Dana, Jim Brock, and John Stanley

Temperature is of fundamental importance to the function of aquatic ecosystems and the distribution and abundance of species. Water temperature is critical to maintenance of self-sustaining fisheries with considerable resources being applied towards managing flow, channel, and riparian conditions in order to promote optimal thermal regimes. Numerical models that simulate river temperature have come into common use by managers concerned with water quality (pollutant loading) as well as biological communities.

These models typically require meteorologic data (e.g., air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation). Such data typically are obtained from regional weather stations and applied to conditions at a point in the basin. Some models, such as SNTEMP (Bartholow 1995) make adjustments for elevation but generally it is assumed that the climate data from the weather station (commonly located a t airports) adequately reflect conditions that influence river temperature.

Meteorological data (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation) were collected in two areas within in the Truckee River Basin, Nevada. Stations within Reno Urban area include the Reno Airport (Reno), which is presently used in the modeling efforts described earlier, and the Desert Research Institute (DRI). At the Lower Truckee River area, data were collected in 4 different habitat types near the river: open water (OW), shaded riparian (SRA), gallery forest (GF), and open field (OF). Two stations were set up in each habitat type. Data were collected from September 27 to October 23, 2001.

Truckee River Sedimentation Study (1993)

lynellg — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:16:17 -0800

Written By
Brad R. Hall, William A. Thomas
Hydraulics Laboratory, US Army Corps of Engineers
Waterways Experiment Station

Technical Report HL-93-13
September 1993

The U.S. Army Engineer Sacramento District (CESPK) is formulating a
local flood protection project along the Truckee River at Reno, Nevada. The
District is completing a Sediment Engineering Investigation (SEI) in conjunction
with the project design to assess existing and project condition sedimentation
processes of the Truckee River. This report is part of the SEI and
provides an assessment of the existing sedimentation conditions of the study
reach. A sediment budget and associated channel changes for both average
annual and design flood conditions are developed in this report.

The Truckee River study reach is located near Reno, Nevada and extends
from the Vista gage at approximately River Mile (RM) 43.9 to just upstream
of the Booth Street bridge at RM 53.0. A map of the study area is shown on
Figure 1. A number of inflow points occur along the study reach including
urban inflows, irrigation diversion wasteways, and tributary drainages. Two
major tributaries provide additional discharge; Steamboat Creek at RM 45.5
and the North Fork Truckee drain at RM 44.8. The Truckee River watershed
upstream of the study reach includes the Lake Tahoe watershed and portions of
the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and Nevada.
The Truckee River watershed area at the upstream end of the study reach is
approximately 1,067 square miles. The majority of the Truckee River runoff
originates in the Sierra Nevada mountains and flows through the study reach.
Downstream of the study reach, the Truckee River flows east-northeast until it
empties into Pyramid Lake, 43 miles downstream of the Vista gage. Pyramid
Lake is a terminal lake for the river basin which has no outlet to the ocean.

The Truckee River is a perennial stream characterized by pool and riffle
channel morphology. Several bridge crossings and water diversion structures
are found in the study reach. Man made channel modifications, especially
within the upper 3 miles of the study reach, have limited the amount of channel
migration. Bed material size decreases through the reach, and the channel
bed is armored at base flow discharge. The flood plain and back water storage
areas have been encroached upon by areas of urban construction and earth fill
in recent years.

CARBON AND NITROGEN STABLE ISOTOPES ON THE TRUCKEE RIVER: RESULTS OF MARCH 2004 SAMPLING

lynellg — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:55:53 -0800

Prepared By
Laurel Saito, Ph.D., P.E., Christa Fay, and Kristin Kvasnicka
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada Reno
1000 Valley Road
Reno, NV 89512-0013

Prepared For
Karen Vargas, Environmental Specialist
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
July 27, 2004

Introduction
Dr. Laurel Saito and her students at the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) have been collaborating with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (PLPT), the Desert Research Institute (DRI), and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) to investigate the use of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to understand anthropogenic impacts on the aquatic ecosystem in the Truckee River. Previous work included stable isotope sampling and analysis of the Truckee River aquatic food web (i.e., fish and macroinvertebrates, and periphyton) in the summers of 2002 and 2003 during relatively low flows, and in the spring of 2003 during higher flows. The scope of the current study involved collecting another set of aquatic food web samples in March 2004 on the Truckee River for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. This report presents the methods and results of this sampling.

The Truckee River is a vital resource to Nevadans in the northwest region of the state. It provides public water supplies to the cities of Reno and Sparks, and while little irrigated agriculture occurs directly adjacent to the river, about one-third of its flow is diverted to the Lahontan Valley for irrigation purposes. The river terminates into Pyramid Lake, which has experienced severe declines in water level because of the heavy water diversions along its length. In addition, there are numerous resort and recreational activities throughout the basin, and the river and Pyramid Lake provide valuable water and habitat for endangered Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui ui species. In 1998, the USGS’s Nevada Basin and Range (NVBR) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program reported that while stream habitat at all sites (based on degradation indices related to riparian vegetation, stream modification, bank stability, and bank erosion) on the Truckee River system was better than the national median, fish communities in the lower reaches of the Truckee River were more degraded than the national median (Bevans et al. 1998). Furthermore, nutrients in the river and trace elements in its sediments increased 3 to 10 times downstream of the discharge from sewage treatment plants and the entrance of Steamboat Creek to the river. Thus, it appears that downstream influences on water quality and associated biological activity are detrimentally affecting the food web in the Truckee River.

The current work involves the use of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to gain insight into the aquatic food web. The use of stable isotopes in trophic studies employs the fundamental concept that ‘you are what you eat.’ Stable isotopes incorporate two kinds of information: origin and fractionation. The isotopic signature of an individual will reflect the signature of the sources of the isotopes (i.e., where the isotopes first entered the food web) and the change in the isotopic signature due to isotopic fractionation by consumption and metabolism in the food web (Peterson and Fry 1987). Because isotopes accumulate in body tissues over time, a one-time analysis of stable isotopes provides a time-integrated measure of the diet (Fry and Sherr 1984; Hesslein et al. 1993; Vander Zanden et al. 1998). Stable isotope analysis can even be used in food webs with omnivory because isotope values can be measured in all levels of the food web, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, and aquatic insects (Michener and Schell 1994; Vander Zanden and Rasmussen 1996; France 1997). Carbon and nitrogen ratios are the most commonly used stable isotope ratios in food web studies. Carbon ratios (?13C ) are used because the slight (0.2 – 1.1000) increase of ?13C in animals relative to their diet means that the ?13C signature of the primary producer (first organic food source) is likely to be preserved through several trophic levels (Peterson and Fry 1987; Michener and Schell 1994; Yoshioka et al. 1994; France and Peters 1997). Thus, carbon isotope analysis can be used to identify and distinguish the influence of different primary food sources if the isotopic signatures of those food sources are distinctive enough (Forsberg et al. 1993; Michener and Schell 1994). The nitrogen ratio (?15N ) is often used as an indicator of trophic position of a consumer (Fry 1988; Kling et al. 1992; Yoshioka et al. 1994) because the increase of ?15N with trophic level is much greater than with carbon (~3-4000 per trophic level) (Michener and Schell 1994).

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes have value in potentially detecting anthropogenic influences on aquatic food webs. Human- and animal-derived wastewater should have higher ?15N values because of the volatilization of 15N depleted ammonia which occurs during the hydroloysis of urea, and because humans tend to eat higher in the food chain, which elevates their waste nitrogen signatures (Heaton 1986; Silva et al. 2002; Wayland and Hobson 2001). On the other hand, synthetic fertilizers are typically derived by industrial fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (which has a reference signature of 0000), so waters draining fields using these fertilizers tend to have lower nitrogen signatures (Heaton 1986; Silva et al. 2002). Distinctive carbon signatures may be detected when aquatic-terrestrial interactions are altered (e.g. due to alteration of the stream channel and/or flooding regime) because terrestrial plants may have significantly different ?13C signatures than their aquatic counterparts. Such approaches have been used to detect the importance of autochthonous versus allochthonous material in streams (Rounick and Winterbourn 1986; Finlay et al. 1999). In addition, shifts in food web dynamics such as shifts in diets or elimination of species may be detectable with stable isotopes; if the food chain shortens, we should see shifts in nitrogen signatures in the top predators, and if a food source is eliminated at the base of the food web, we may see shifts in the carbon signature.

Biological Condition Index Development for the Truckee River: Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblage

lynellg — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:16:49 -0800

Prepared By
Tetra Tech, Inc.
10045 Red Run Blvd, 110
Owings Mills, MD 21117

Prepared For
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
July 2004

Summary
The objective of our analysis was to develop a biological index for benthic
macroinvertebrates for the Nevada portion of the mainstem of the Truckee River using
preexisting data. We analyzed data collected by four separate entities, Nevada Division
of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (PLPT), Truckee
Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF), and Desert Research Institute (DRI).
To develop a common dataset from collections of multiple entities, an evaluation of the
field and/or lab methodological differences was performed to minimize non-random
error. A common index period was designated as low flow (July to October), all
replicates were combined, and the number of individuals per sample was set to 500
organisms (samples with more organisms were randomly sampled with a computer to
500).
A multimetric index was developed from the data set and comprised six metrics or
attributes of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage; total taxa, percent
Ephemeroptera, percent Chironomidae, percent dominant taxon, percent filterers, and
percent clingers. In an assessment, each metric value is converted to a standard score
ranging between 0 and 100 (100 being closest to reference or optimal value). The scores
for all six metrics are averaged to obtain an aggregated index score and compared to
thresholds or break points based on percentages of the overall score and expected
conditions for a good quality benthic macroinvertebrate community.
Application of the benthic index to the mainstem of the Truckee River indicated the
biological condition was of higher quality in the upper reaches and declined in quality as
the river approaches Pyramid Lake. A more definitive assessment is pending the results
of the analyses on companion assemblages of the aquatic community, namely the fish and
algal assemblages.

Biological Condition Index Development for the Truckee River: Periphyton Assemblage

lynellg — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:09:51 -0800

Prepared By
Clinton J. Davis and Christian H. Fritsen
Desert Research Institute
2215 Raggio Parkway
Reno NV, 89512

Prepared For
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
February 6, 2006

Summary
The objectives of the current activities were to determine if sufficient data was available to derive preliminary periphyton-based metrics that could be used in a periphyton-based indices of ecological condition for the Lower Truckee River, which could in turn be used to derive more comprehensive indices of biological integrity (IBI) based on fish, macroinvertebrates and periphyton populations. Derivation of metrics and indices was made possible through the use of relatively recent (2000 to 2004) seasonal periphyton data that was collected from 11 to 15 locations from California-Nevada border to Pyramid Lake. Although, the levels of taxonomic information from the different data sets were not always comparable, several candidate metrics and indices encompassing information from both the species level and the genera level were identified, calculated and evaluated.

Notable among the metrics most amenable for a Truckee River Periphyton Index were the Siltation Index, Shannon Diversity Index, Eutraphentic Index, Diatom Generic Richness, % Achnanthes minutissima, Chlorophyll a and Ash Free Dry Weight. These metrics covered several aspects of the periphyton community characteristics (richness, composition, tolerance, and habit) that are desired attributes to be accounted for in multimetric indices.

Application of a periphyton-based multimetric index to the mainstem of the Truckee River indicates a general upstream to downstream trend for decreasing ecological condition. However, these results are based on a limited amount of periphyton data and also need to be evaluated in combination with Index’s for fishes and macroinvertebrates in order to gain a more complete picture of the “condition” of the lower Truckee River.

Truckee River Water Quality: Current Conditions and Trends Relevant to TMDLs and WLAs

tjdaum — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:58:11 -0700

Prepared for
Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility
City of Reno and City of Sparks, Nevada

Prepared by
Alan Jassby PhD, Ted Daum MS, and Charles Goldman PhD
Ecological Research Associates
Davis, Calif.
September 10, 2007

Summary

The Truckee River’s natural flow pattern has been severely modified, with negative repercussions for native fish and plant communities in the floodplain. Water quality problems were exacerbated in the 1980s as high nutrient loading and low flow during an extended drought resulted in the proliferation of aquatic macrophytes and benthic algae. In response, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) developed the Truckee River Strategy. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for total nitrogen (TN) total phosphorus (TP) and total dissolved solids (TDS), and Waste Load Allocations (WLAs) for the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF), were adopted in 1994. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for TMWRF was reissued in 2003. The permit allows potential TMDL and WLA adjustments if supported by appropriate scientific evidence. This report is an analysis of historical monitoring data for both the Truckee River and TMWRF effluent in order to help determine what adjustments, if any, can be made in the discharge levels of the facility. The report is based mainly on the TMWRF river monitoring and treatment plant databases combined with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gage data. The water quality monitoring record started in 1985. The most important period considered here, though, is 1998–2006 because major modification of treatment plant processes and/or operating strategies continued through 1997.

Sedimentation and Erosion in the Upper Truckee River and Trout Creek Watershed (1969)

rwurgler — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:26:04 -0700

Dept. of Conservation
Division of Source Conservation

This report on erosion, sedimentation, and flooding on the Trout Creek and Upper Truckee River Watershed is based on field work carried out by the Division of Soil Conservation. It is a part of a larger study, the Lake Tahoe Coordinated Study, initiated by the Department of Conservation in 1967 which involved the Division of Soil Conservation, the Division of Mines and Geology, and the Division of Forestry. The coordinated study is intended to help agencies of local government and others to cope with resource problems that have developed within the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Truckee River Water Chemistry Synoptic Study

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:21:26 -0700

Prepared by
Carollo Engineers with Assistance from Rapid Creek Research

As part of the Truckee River watershed Coordinated Monitoring Program (CMP), intensive monitoring of Truckee River water quality was conducted in November 1998 with participation from many of the resource agencies in the area. The purposes of this report are to present the objectives of this study, summarize sampling protocols and laboratory procedures, present the data collected, and provide a brief discussion on the results and recommendations for future synoptic studies.

Preliminary Assessment of Contaminants and Potential Effects to Fish of the Truckee River, Nevada

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:07:06 -0700

Written By
Damian K. Higgins, Peter L. Tuttle, and J. Scott Foote
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office

Environmental Contaminants Program
Off-Refuge Investigations Sub-Activity
FFS # 1130-1F35

January 2006

Previous investigations by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and others reported elevated concentrations of a variety of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Truckee River sediment collected in and downstream of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area in Nevada in 1998. USGS scientists also documented elevated contaminant concentrations in fish and aquatic invertebrates which exceeded published biological effects criteria. In 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) biologists also noted a higher incidence of lesions, hemorrhagic septicemia, and external parasites in fish collected in this same reach. Therefore, the Service initiated a synoptic investigation in 2002 to determine if contaminants are affecting or have the potential to affect fish health, survival, or reproductive potential in the lower Truckee River. Specific Service objectives included: 1) evaluation of fish abundance and community structure; 2) assessment of the external condition of fish; 3) detailed evaluation of salmonid health (i.e., internal/external condition, histology, cytology, disease, and parasites); 4) characterization of fish contaminant exposure and accumulation; and 5) screening for indicators of endocrine disruption.

Fish were collected from 5 sampling sites on the Truckee River from Verdi, Nevada to its terminus near the Marble Bluff Dam at Pyramid Lake. Abundance and community structure values (species evenness and Index of Biotic Integrity) declined in a downstream fashion with notable reductions occurring at the Lockwood and Marble Bluff sample sites which were likely a result of cumulative effects of urbanization, loss of riparian cover, reduced flows, increased water temperature, as well as contaminants. Condition of brown trout and mountain/Tahoe suckers were significantly reduced at downstream sites. High percentages of external anomalies were also observed at sampling sites downstream of the Reno-Sparks urban area and ranged from 11% at Marble Bluff to a maximum of 43% at Lockwood. These anomalies were also likely the result of non-point sources, sewage effluent discharges, and reduced flows.

Evaluations of salmonid health revealed no significant issues with regards to organosomatic assays, blood chemistry, microbiological assessment, and histological evaluation from each sampling site. However, some data indicated suspected infections of bacterial kidney disease and other bacterial-type infections. However, these infections were not expressive enough or had detrimental impacts to those fish.

To assess contaminant exposure and accumulation, five to seven trout of appropriate size (? 200 mm) were randomly selected from sampling sites and were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in bile and concentrations of metals or trace elements in whole fish. Bile data revealed fish were being exposed to elevated concentrations of naphthalene and phenanthrene in the Reno-Sparks area. These concentrations, which were likely the result of urban run-off sources, exceeded criteria considered as contaminated. Whole fish data revealed concentrations of aluminum, barium, iron, and manganese were highest in rainbow trout compared to brown trout. Mercury concentrations in brown trout did not exceed water quality standards established by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. Concentrations of aluminum and barium in whole fish were highest above Reno and were likely the result of geochemical interactions of stream water with specific bedrock types. However, none of these concentrations exceeded known adverse biological effects. Concentrations of arsenic, mercury, and selenium in whole fish were highest at the Tracy sampling site located below the Reno-Sparks urban area. The sources of uptake for these constituents originate mostly from geothermal springs, historic mine wastes, irrigation, and tertiary-treated sewage effluent within the Steamboat Creek drainage. Arsenic and selenium concentrations did not exceed known adverse biological effects. Mercury concentrations in trout downstream of the Reno-Sparks urban area did not exceed avian dietary effects, fish consumption guidelines, and water quality standards established by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

Several studies have associated municipal waste water discharges with endocrine system effects in fish. Because treated municipal waste water represents a significant component of flows in the lower Truckee River, blood plasma was collected to screen for indicators of endocrine disruption in trout. Vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were detected in two males downstream of the Reno-sparks urban area. Male fish do not normally produce VTG, but the hepatic estrogen receptor and the gene that encodes for VTG is still present. The result is that when male fish are exposed to estrogenic compounds, VTG production can be induced. Also, all adult males in the fish health assessment had no mature testes at all sites. The presence of VTG in the two males combined with the organosomatic data provides some evidence of potential endocrine disruption in individual trout. However, additional research is needed to assess which endocrine disrupting compounds may be present in the Truckee River, and the extent to which these compounds may be affecting fish populations.

The long-term health and reproductive potential of fish in the Truckee River will be increasingly affected as the Reno-Sparks urban area continues to expand. Restoration of river function and augmentation of wetlands within the floodplain would assist in attenuating contributions of contaminants from various point and non-point sources. Improvements in sewage effluent discharges and effective urban planning can also assist to reduce both point and non-point sources of some contaminants. Without addressing these issues, these point and non-point sources of contaminants will present significant challenges to maintaining a healthy fishery and prevent long-term restoration efforts of Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) in the Truckee River.

Written in cooperation with

The authors acknowledge members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and University of Nevada, Reno for providing ideas and information on fish and water-quality issues and for participating in this study. Members of those organizations who participated in data collection and provided technical assistance for this study include:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
William Cowan, Jody Fraser, Rick Harmon, Chad Mellison, Bridget Nielsen, Stan Wiemeyer

U.S. Geological Survey
Timothy S. Gross, Angela Paul, Timothy Rowe, Karen A. Thomas

Nevada Department of Wildlife
Kim Tisdale

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
Beverly Harry, Dan Mosley, Nancy Vucinich

University of Nevada, Reno
Sudeep Chandra, Ph.D, Laurel Saito, Ph.D

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Waste Load Allocations (WLAs) Final Report, February 1994

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:47:33 -0700

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify waters that do not or are not expected to meet applicable water quality standards with technology-based controls alone. Once these waters are identified, states are to develop total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) at a level necessary to achieve the applicable water quality standards. The Truckee River at Lockwood is listed on Nevada's 303(d) List for total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total dissolved solids. NDEP has chosen to use the chemical specific approach for the establishing TMDLs.

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states implement water quality-based controls where technology based limits and implemented Best Management Practices (BMPs) are not sufficient to achieve water quality standards. A TMDL is a tool for implementing State water quality standards and is based on the relationship between pollutant sources and in-stream water quality conditions. TMDLs integrate the management of both point and nonpoint sources of pollution to a waterbody. The TMDL establishes the allowable loadings or other quantifiable parameters for a waterbody and thereby provides the basis for establishing water quality-based controls. These controls should provide the pollution reduction necessary for a waterbody to meet water quality standards.

A TMDL quantifies pollutant sources and allocates allowable loads to the contributing point and nonpoint sources so that the water quality standards are attained. The greatest amount of loading that a water can receive without violating water quality standards is the loading capacity. The waste load allocation (WLA) is the portion of a receiving water's loading capacity that is allocated to existing or future point sources of pollution. EPA regulations (40 CFR 130.2(g)) provide that load allocations for nonpoint sources and/or natural background "are best estimates of the loading which may range from reasonably accurate estimates to gross allotments...."

This document first describes the methodology used for determining a TMDL for both conservative and nonconservative parameters. Then water quality attainment programs other than waste load allocations in the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (formerly known as the Reno/Sparks Wastewater Treatment Facility) NPDES permit are discussed. Finally, TMDLs/WLAs for TDS, TN and TP are discussed including a discussion of the proposed NPDES permit and attainability.

Load Duration Curve Methodology for Assessment and TMDL Development Nevada Division of Environmental Protection

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:12:41 -0700

The major streams in Nevada have had TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) established for several years. However for some of these streams, the TMDLs are expressed as an average daily load based upon average long term flow conditions. These TMDLs have been dubbed as "bare bones" TMDLs due to the simplicity of the calculation and their lack of usefulness. While these TMDLs seem to satisfy the requirements of the Clean Water Act, they have contributed little to any watershed/waterbody assessment and restoration plans. These types of TMDLs do little to characterize the problems the TMDLs are intended to address. Without adequate characterizations, appropriate solutions cannot be identified and implemented.

For TMDLs to be more beneficial in the assessment and implementation process, TMDLs should reflect adequate water quality across flow conditions rather than at a single flow event such as average daily flow. Many states have begun to use load duration curves as a more robust method for setting TMDL targets. It is also a useful tool for better characterizing the pollutant problems over the entire flow regime. This paper discusses the steps taken to develop load duration curves and how they can be used in the assessment and TMDL process.

Evaluation of Groundwater and Solute Transport in the Fernley – Wadsworth Area

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:06:11 -0700

A hydrogeologic investigation was undertaken to characterize the groundwater system in the Fernley Basin and to determine the total dissolved solids (TDS) loading to the Truckee River between the towns of Wadsworth and Nixon. A groundwater flow and transport model was constructed to integrate all of the available data and to predict the potential loadings under various management alternatives.

Biological Condition Index Development for the Lower Truckee River and Eastern Sierra Nevada Rivers: Fish Assemblage

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:42:16 -0700

Written By

Robert M. Hughes and Thomas R. Whittier
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Oregon State University
200 SW 35th Street
Corvallis, Oregon 97333
541.754.4516
hughes.bob@epa.gov

Gregg A. Lomnicky
Dynamac Corporation
200 SW 35th Street
Corvallis, Oregon 97333

Prepared For

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
April 2005

Summary

We developed a fish assemblage IBI for western Nevada rivers and applied it to the Truckee River. Available state and federal fish assemblage data from the Carson, Walker, and upper Truckee rivers were analyzed to select and score metrics. Selected metrics included number of native species, % sculpin individuals, % mountain whitefish individuals, evidence of sculpin and whitefish reproduction, % cutthroat trout individuals, % sensitive individuals, % mountain sucker individuals, % omnivorous individuals, % highly tolerant individuals, % alien individuals, and % external anomalies. Metrics were scored continuously from 0-1 and the IBI was scored from 0-10 by summing the metrics. Those metrics and scoring criteria were then applied to existing fish assemblage data for the lower Truckee River. The IBI declined from the Nevada border to Wadsworth, with sharp declines at river miles 57 (Oxbow), 69 (Mustang), and 87 (Painted Rock). Revisits to the same sites indicated that IBI scores may vary by 1.0 as a result of temporal and sampling variation. We consider median IBI scores >7.5 as acceptable, 5.0-7.4 as marginally damaged, and <5.0 as damaged. However, these are only guidelines and 2.0 changes in IBI scores over space or time are probably biologically significant.