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ROCK CREEK RURAL CLEAN WATER PROGRAM, COMPREHENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING REPORT, 1981-1986
Description:
Water quality monitoring for the Rock Creek (17040212) rural clean water program was initiated by the ID Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environment in 1981. Weekly sampling is done through the irrigation season (April - October) on the subbasin drains for suspended sediment, nutrients, and bacteria. Suspended sediment, the key parameter examined, has shown a significant decrease in five of the six subbasins studied since the beginning of the project. Analysis of substrate in Rock Creek reveals that all sample stations are impacted by fine sediments. Three of the subbasins show significant reductions in organic nitrogen. 14 of 16 subbasin stations showed improvement in fecal coliform density for the period 1981-1986. Benthic macroinvertebrates show greatest diversity at upstream Rock Creek stations. Wild trout populations have increased significantly at half of the stations since the projects beginning. Author: William H. Clark. Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environmental Quality, Boise, ID. 147 pp.