You are here:
PINE CREEK, NEZ PERCE COUNTY, IDAHO - WATER QUALITY STATUS REPORT, 1986
Description:
A water quality monitoring study was conducted on Pine Creek (17060306), from February 20, 1985 to February 23, 1986. Objectives of the study were to determine baseline water quality of Pine Creek and its tributaries and to document the effects of storm runoff on water quality. Pine Creek is a third order tributary to the Clearwater River. Beneficial uses are as an agricultural water supply and for secondary contact recreation. Some spring steelhead spawning occurs in the drainage and cold water biota are present; however, both are limited by water quality. Water quality in Pine Creek was most severely impacted by runoff and low flows. Periods of minimal discharge normally occur from mid-April to September or October. Upper reaches usually go completely dry except for freshets created by summer storms. Water quality during the dry summer months in the canyon is characterized by temperatures over 20C and elevated pH values greater than 8.5 S.U. Three events in 1985 produced peak discharges of approximately 100 cfs each, at the mouth. Three storms in early 1986 exceeded the 1985 peaks by 2 to 10 times. Suspended sediment exported from Pine Creek into the Clearwater River exceeded 12,300 tons during the period of the study. 93% of that sediment occurred during the storms on February 16 and 23, 1986. The influx of nutrients, notably nitrite + nitrate and total phosphorus were seasonally related. At least 35 tons of nitrite and nitrate were exported from Pine Creek in this manner. The phosphorus loading was event-related. An estimated 16 tons of total phosphate were lost from the drainage. Latham, R. 1986. Water Quality Status Report No. 63. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environment, Boise, ID. 34 pp.