Collaborative Water-Quality Monitoring in the Big Thompson Watershed

Juliane B. BrownUSGS-BTWF LiaisonColorado District

Rob R. BuirgyBTWF CoordinatorLoveland, Colorado

Where is the Big Thompson Watershed?

The Big Thompson River originates in Rocky Mountain National Park, and flows east to the South Platte River, through the city of Loveland.

It supplies water for much of NE Colorado.

Receives and delivers west-slope water through the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Colorado Big Thompson project.

Big Thompson Watershed

Who is the Big Thompson Watershed Forum?

A group of water providers and other interested parties who are concerned about water quality in the Big Thompson Watershed.

The Forum’s mission is to assess and protect water quality in the Big Thompson Watershed.

Why is the BTWF interested in Water Quality?

Some reservoirs currently have elevated concentrations of nutrients and manganese.

Fish kills occur with some frequency.

Effects of forest fires on water quality.

Impacts from growth and development within the extended basin could further affect water quality.

Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act affect water providers and dischargers.

Increasing Need for Water-Quality Monitoring

Clean Water Action PlanSource Water ProtectionWatershed GroupsGrowth and DevelopmentConversion of Water Supplies from Agricultural to MunicipalIncreased Recreational Use

Past Water-Quality Monitoring Efforts

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Past Water-Quality Monitoring EffortsVariability in sample collection, analytical methods, and data management.

Data were not shared among all parties.

Duplication of sampling was common.

Limited geographic scope of monitoring.

Current Status

Partners: BTWF, Ft. Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Tri-District Water Utility, BOR, NCWCD, CDWR, CSU.

Funding: Voluntary contributions from participants on a cost-shared basis.

Budget: $280,000 annually.

Current Status19 Professional Sites.22 Volunteer Sites.

Monthly / Bi-Monthly sampling.NWIS / In-house STORET data management.Password protected web-delivered data.

Future ActivitiesMerged Professional / Volunteer program.

Development of interactive data base/Web page.

Interpretation and analysis of water-quality data.

Reports on water-quality conditions and trends.

Coordinated monitoring with west slope portion of the basin.

Why did BTWF ask USGS to be involved?

USGS can work with the many partners involved with the effort.

USGS involvement lends increased credibility to data produced.

USGS already involved in monitoring in the watershed.

USGS can offer matching funds.

Why did BTWF ask USGS to be involved?

USGS has well recognized and documented sampling and analysis protocols.

USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory (NWQL) has highly regarded QA/QC procedures.

USGS NWQL has capability to run low-level nutrients.

USGS has capability to measure streamflow.

USGS Involvement – When? Where? How?

When and WhereAugust 2001Spring 2001

HowSampling and measurement.Low-level nutrient analysis.Data management and review.

Big Thompson

Big Thompson

Little Thompson

Buckhorn Creek

Sou

th P

latt

e

Estes Park

Fort Collins

Berthoud

M20

M10

M30

M40

North Fork

Loveland

M50 M60 M70

M80 M90

T10

M130 M150

C50

C20C30

C40

C120

C10

M10

T20 Tributary

Main Stem

Canal

Site Symbols

C10

15/yr

15/yr

Site Type

Sampling Frequency

15/yr BTWF Professional Monitoring Program

Watershed Boundary & Sampling Site Locations

Big Thompson

Watershed

M140

I-25

Pinewood Spgs

Johnstown

Drake

Milliken

USGS Involvement – Why?

PPB/EWI Protocol*RecordsEquipmentTrained PersonnelQ measurementsProcessingNWIS

*National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Datahttp://water.usgs.gov/owq/FieldManual/

Sites and Sampling

Cross-sectionsSeasonsMixingLow/high flowsSafetyAccessBTWF objectives

Seasonal Contrasts

Winter 2002

Summer 2001

Equipment Contrasts

Bridge board and AA Flow meter w/ 30 lb weight.

DH-81 sample wand and 1-L Teflon-nozzle sample bottle.

Challenges Overcome

Route & delivery logistics.Difficult field conditions.Multi-lab coordination.Data management.Overall program coordination.

Future Considerations…Monitoring program publication.

Stage-discharge ratings.

Expanded program.

Data analysis?

Turn-around times.

Coordination with other monitoring.

BTWF Professional and Volunteer Monitoring

Sampling Site Locations

Big Thompson

Big Thompson

Little Thompson

Buckhorn Creek

Sou

th P

latt

e

Estes Park

Fort Collins

Berthoud

M20

M10

M30

M40

North Fork

Loveland

M50M60

M110

M70

M80

M90

T10

M130

M140

C50

C20

C30

C40

C120

R40

C10

VT30

VT20

VT10

VT40

VM10VM20

VM30

VM40VM50

C10

M10

T10 Tributary

Main Stem

Canal

ReservoirR40

Site Symbols

15/year

15/year

18/year

Site TypeSampling Frequency

15/year

Volunteer 12/yearVT10

Milliken

I-25

Drake

Pinewood Spgs

M150

Watershed Boundary

Johnstown

Parting Thoughts...•Collaborative monitoring programs can work.

•Establishing a collaborative monitoring program has many challenges -- most of which can be overcome.

•Federal agencies play a critical role to ensure comparable, high quality data are collected in collaborative efforts.

•Successful collaborative professional-volunteer efforts could benefit from further study and recognition in peer-reviewed literature.