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LOWER BOISE RIVER DRAINS, WATER QUALITY STATUS, CANYON COUNTY, IDAHO, 1983
Description:
A water quality monitoring program was established on the irrigation drainage system in the Lower Boise River Valley (17050114) as part of a 208 project to develop a pollution abatement plan for agricultural lands. The 208 project area encompassed irrigated lands along the Boise River from Caldwell to the Snake River. Samples for suspended sediment, nutrients, bacteria, and toxics in fish were collected between November 1979 and March 1982. Agricultural drains within the 208 project area carry high pollutant loads due to surface return flows of sediment-laden water and subsurface returns enriched with nutrients. The pesticides DDT and toxaphene occur in elevated concentrations in fish tissues which may limit development of a fishery in these waters. Bacterial indicators of fecal contamination were found in high concentrations. This bacterial load prevents use of these waters for contact recreation, and contributes to degradation of the Boise River and Snake River for recreational uses. Water Quality Series No. 50. William H. Clark and Stephen B. Bauer. 1983. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environment, Boise, ID. 101 pp.