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BILLINGSLEY CREEK, GOODING COUNTY, IDAHO. WATER QUALITY STATUS REPORT, 1984
Description:
Billingsley Creek in Gooding County, Idaho (17040212) has been identified as a stream where fish farm discharges and other land use practices are degrading water quality. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environment sampled Billingsley Creek to assess in-stream water quality and to determine impacts of existing point and non-point pollution sources. Chemical and biological parameters were monitored at 9 stream stations and 6 fish rearing facilities throughout 1984. Portions of the creek exhibited symptoms of a stressed aquatic ecosystem with the most severe degradations observed in the mid-reaches of the creek near 2 major hatchery facilities. Impacts associated with hatchery effluents included solids, nutrients, and bacteria loading of Billingsley Creek. Elevated inorganic nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations exceeded established limits. Unionized ammonia concentrations approached toxic levels in hatchery effluents and in the creek. Nighttime dissolved oxygen concentrations were below the state standard. Primary and secondary contact recreation fecal coliform standards were exceeded on various sampling dates. Macroinvertebrate sampling indicated a benthic community composed primarily of pollution-tolerant organisms. Litke, T. 1986. Water Quality Status Report No. 64. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environment, Boise, ID. 93 pp.