The basin assessment research and scoping completed by the Salmon-Drift Creek Watershed Council (SDCWC) in 2001 revealed that there was very little baseline water quality and quantity data available to identify specific problems or to develop enhancement and restoration strategies. SDCWC developed a quality assurance plan in 2001 (updated in 2002, 2003, and 2004) with the assistance of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Oregon DEQ). Goals included establishing baseline water quality and flow information, monitoring for bacterial contamination, identification of temperature limited areas and cold-water refugia, and determining potential priority restoration areas.
Partners in this project include the MidCoast and Nestucca-Neskowin Watersheds Councils, Oregon DEQ, Oregon Coast Community College, The Nature Conservancy, Devils Lake Water Improvement District, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, and the United States Forest Service. The monitoring project focuses on the water quality of Drift Creek, Schooner Creek, Rock Creek and the Salmon River.
In the summers of 2001, 2002 and 2003, a water quality laboratory was set up in a facility owned by Oregon Coast Community College using equipment loaned by Oregon DEQ. Volunteers monitored flows, temperature and surface water chemistry during this period. In 2003, SDCWC in cooperation with a consortium of other local groups raised money to fund a laboratory to process bacteria samples. Bacterial processing on a bi-weekly basis was initiated at the Nestucca-Neskowin Watershed Council cooperative laboratory beginning in August 2003. This work continued throughout 2004 and 2005. An increased frequency of monitoring was initiated during the summer of 2005 to meet the Oregon DEQ standard of five samples within a 30 day time period. In the fall of 2005, the laboratory relocated back to the Oregon Coast Community College. The college initiated water quality monitoring and environmental studies classes as part of their natural resources career-training program during the 2005 through 2007 terms. Oregon DEQ and the US Forest Service offer technical support and equipment.
Personnel from Devils Lake Water Improvement District assisted with flow data collection at the three monitoring sites (two on Schooner Creek and one on Drift Creek). Flows on the Salmon River were measured in 2005 after the Oregon Water Resources Department staff gage was decommissioned.
Additional Salmon River monitoring sites were added in during the summer of 2005 based on land use changes and practices. These sites were located above and below rural home site developments and livestock pastures in an attempt to capture water quality variations.
At the request of Oregon DEQ, SDCWC made measuring dissolved oxygen a special focus of the lower Salmon River. There is one monitoring site at Otis bridge that is monitored quarterly by Oregon DEQ. Two additional sites are located upstream of the bridge. This data was anticipated to be particularly useful for the Mid Coast Basin Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)development. Additional dissolved oxygen monitoring sites will be developed under the guidance and direction of Steve Hanson, Oregon DEQ. Dissolved oxygen monitoring will utilize both the Winkler titration method and (YSI) dissolved oxygen metering.
Beginning in 2006, expanded monitoring on Salmon River will attempt to determine specific locations and possible sources of fecal bacteria contamination. This increase in number of sites monitored will hopefully pinpoint specific stream reaches to investigate further. Bacteria Source Testing will assist in determining possible sources of fecal bacteria contamination. SDCWC proposes to perform optical brightener testing in areas where high numbers of E.coli have consistently been observed. Steve Hanson, Oregon DEQ, recommended optical brightener testing as a cost efficient method for bacterial source tracking. Optical brightening monitoring investigates whether chemicals in laundry are present in surface waters. The presence of optical brighteners shows anthropogenic sources. Humans do laundry; animals do not.
Prior to SDCWC's flow measurements, no systematic flows had been recorded for Drift Creek according to the Oregon Water Resources Department. SDCWC flow measurement results proved to be valuable in proceedings before Oregon Water Resources Department regarding Drift Creek water allocation. The SDCWC flow information and surface water quality data was cited as assisting in the discussion and subsequent negotiated settlement. SDCWC input will continue to be valuable for preparing and implementing Lincoln City's water conservation management plan.
In 2005, Paul Katen, a SDCWC volunteer, participated in the temperature data collection in the Yaquina watershed. His experience was instrumental in gathering the information for establishing a temperature TMDL for the Mid Coast Basin. SDCWC proposes to continue its temperature monitoring in the Salmon-Drift Creek area to gain information to aid protection and restoration efforts. Temperature information will also be valuable due to the on-going water withdrawals by local municipalities.
Oregon DEQ has been working with the SDCWC for five years to develop monitoring programs that address the specific needs of the sub-basin. The SDCWC volunteers have proven their commitment to collecting high quality data and to applying that data to identify and solve local problems. Their sampling plans have incorporated new information and pursued areas of concern uncovered by their monitoring. They have consistently proven effective in analyzing and presenting their water quality data, as represented by a 2006 Report to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.