A Collaborative Effort to Evaluate Water Resources in the Lower
Siuslaw Watershed
Suzanne Moellendorf, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.Mike Miller, City of Florence
Dennis Nelson, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.Dave Livesay, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.
Siuslaw Estuary Partnership (SEP)Interdisciplinary team of 19 local, state, and
federal agencies
Objectives:Protect water quality and quantityProtect and restore wetlands and riparian areasProtect and restore key estuary wetlandsPlan for ecological growthUse collaboration and scientific investigationFoster public education and stewardship
3-Year project funded by project partners and EPA
Why form the SEP?
Unique features of the Lower Siuslaw watershed
North Florence Sole-Source Dunal Aquifer Designated a sole source
aquifer by EPA Only sole source aquifer
in OregonRapid infiltration rates Shallow water tableHydrologic connection Study Area Map. (Project Overview 2010)
Why form the SEP?Water Contamination
ConcernSurface activity
Example: Dunes City
Management and Planning NeedsCurrent and future
drinking water sources
Lack of water quality and quantity data (excluding the municipal well field)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030
MD
D (
mg
d)
MDD within UGB
Range of MDDs within UGB
MDD within City Limits Range of MDDs within City Limits
Projected Maximum Day Demands for the City of Florence City Limits and UGB (City of Florence Water Management and Conservation Plan 2010).
SEP’s Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring ProgramSAMPLING
Well sites chosen by zoning Commercial &
industrial Hwy 101 corridor Residential – Sewer Residential – Septic
Stream sites chosen to evaluate water as it progresses downstream
SEP’s Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring ProgramSAMPLING
In-situ
Water TemperaturepHConductivityDissolved OxygenOxidation Reduction
Potential (GW)Turbidity (SW)Static water level (GW)Stream Discharge (SW)
*SW=Surface water only*GW=Groundwater only
Lab
Total coliform/E. coliTotal PhosphatesNitrateAlkalinityTotal Organic CarbonCommon IonsZinc & Copper (SW)Lead (SW)VOCsIOCsGlyphosate/2,4-DCaffeine
SEP’s Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring ProgramSAMPLING
Sampling Frequency October 2010-November 2012,
Monthly & Storm Events
Staff TrainingProvided by DEQ, OWRD,
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians, and GSI
Data ManagementFor stream data: DEQ
Volunteer Monitoring Program Technical support QA/QC support and verification Data accessible to the public
PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
Groundwater
Depth to Water Table
PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
Groundwater
Water Table Elevation Contours (feet above
sea level)
Contours vary from 20-100 ft in 20 ft intervals Individual #s at well site = water table elevation at
site Red arrows show approximate groundwater flow
direction Contours and directions will likely change seasonally
PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
Parameter Date Result
Nitrates
10/18/201011/22/2010
Detected in 1 Well* (B-2)
2/28 & 3/1 2011
Not Detected
Caffeine 2/28/2011Detected in 1 Well
(B-3)
E. coli
11/22/2010Detected in 1 Well
(B-2)1/6 & 1/7
20112/1 & 2/2
20112/28 & 3/1
20114/4 & 4/5
20115/2 & 5/3
2011
Not Detected
Groundwater: Summary of Lab Results
*Well B-2 did not pump properly on 10/18/10.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS: Surface water
Summary of Surface Water Lab Results:
• E.coli: Detections below level of concern
• No other detections
Streamflow in Munsel CreekTemperature
How to Use the Information To develop sustainable water management practices
What is “Sustainable?” Amount of water that goes out = Amount of water that goes in Contamination is not exacerbated
To address any sources of contaminationPossible sources:
Private septic systems: North of the City of Florence within UGB
Stormwater Commercial/Industrial chemical use and disposal Fuel storage tanks Pesticides and fertilizers
How to Use the Information To build a water quality/quantity data record
Compare data over time To identify any changes of concern To note any suspected effects of climate change
To develop a Groundwater Flow model• To evaluate interaction between groundwater and surface water• To identify capture zones for future municipal supply wells
To determine habitat protection and/or enhancement needed for fish and wildlife
To plan for potential future impacts of climate change
To educate the community
Climate ChangePotential impacts
Sea level riseLand inundationSaltwater
intrusion Making wells
unusable
(Freeze and Cherry 1979) Areas Potentially impacted by sea level rise.
(Weiss, Overpeck and Strauss 2010)
Climate ChangePotential impacts
Change in precipitation patterns
Increase in winter, decrease in summer
Increase in air and water temperature
Increase in storm intensity and frequency
Potential strategiesContinue water
monitoringDevelop a Source Water
(Aquifer) Protection plan
Maintain and restore wetlands and riparian areas
Integrate potential climate change impacts into infrastructure planning
Tsunami
Land inundationWater quality impacts
SEP as a Model for OthersCollaboration: City, Tribes, Agencies, Stakeholders…
Public Outreach & InvolvementOpen Houses Website & mailingsCommunity Stakeholder GroupElected Officials Stakeholder GroupYouth workshops & field trips
Science-basedData collection and analysis
Holistic: Groundwater and Surface waters
Funding OpportunitiesEPA
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/grants.htmBoise State University Directory of Watershed
Resourceshttp://efc.boisestate.edu/Default.aspx?
alias=efc.boisestate.edu/watershedLeague of Oregon Cities
http://www.orcities.org/Network of Oregon Watershed Councils
http://oregonwatersheds.org/events/funding/Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/GRANTS/index.shtml
For more information:Siuslaw Estuary Partnership
websitewww.siuslawwaters.org
Suzanne Moellendorf, GSI Water Solutions, [email protected] ext. 204
References Freeze, R.A. and J.A.Cherry. 1979. Groundwater. Prentice-Hall,
Englewood Cliffs. Pg 376. Siuslaw Estuary Partnership. 2010. Project Overview and Study Area
Map. Weiss, J.L., J.T. Overpeck, and B. Strauss. 2011. Implications of recent
sea level rise science for low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A. Climate Change DOI.
Also in the Siuslaw Estuary Partnership’s Climate Change Report, 2011.
Munsel Greenway Park
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