Background
GRMW ProjectsMonitoring
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GRMW Monitoring Program
- Project Implementation Monitoring
- Project Effectiveness Monitoring
- Water Quality Monitoring
- Water Quantity (Stream Flows) Monitoring
Project Implementation Monitoring
All projects funded through the GRMW are required to submit a project completion report that serves as project implementation monitoring.
Click here to view the requirements for GRMW project completion reports.
Take a look at three example project completion reports:
- End Creek-Rice Fish Habitat & Wetland Restoration Project
- Dry Creek/Lower Valley Ditch Passage: Completion Report
- Swamp Creek Hardwood and Riparian Improvement Project: Completion Report
Project Effectiveness Monitoring
The GRMW requires short-term effectiveness monitoring for most projects. The intensity of project effectiveness monitoring has been commensurate with the project complexity. The GRMW requires a monitoring plan to be included with each project proposal; the proposal and monitoring plan are reviewed by our nine-member technical committee composed of primarily agency biologists and resource specialists. The technical committee determines the adequacy of the monitoring plan relative to the objectives and complexity of the project. The GRMW requires monitoring reports for each project for up to five years. Click here to view the requirements for GRMW project monitoring reports (second page after description of completion report requirements).
Take a look at three examples of project effectiveness monitoring:
- Imnaha Parks Ditch annual monitoring report submitted to GRMW
- Summary of ODFW/BPA Fish Habitat Projects on Salmon Creek, Wallowa County
- Summary of Groundwater monitoring for Longley Meadows project on Bear Creek.
Water Quality Monitoring
The Grande Ronde Basin Water Quality Report (Ballard 1999) was the second summary
of the basinwide coordinated water quality monitoring program initiated by the
GRMW. This report summarized the data from the following agencies:
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Oregon Dept. of Env. Quality
- Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
- Oregon Water Resources Dept.
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Nez Perce Tribe
- Union & Wallowa Soil & Water Conservation Dist.
Measured Parameters: Temperature, flow, weather, water chemistry, nutrients, bacteria, and suspended sediment (variable by site).
Monitoring Locations:
- 11 stations on Grande Ronde River
- 7 stations on Catherine Creek
- 4 stations on Indian Creek
- 2 stations each at: Meadow Creek, Five Points Creek, Clear Creek, Limber Jim Creek, Fly Creek, Spring Creek, Dark Canyon Creek, Bear Creek, Clearwater Ditch, Cross Country Canal
- 3 stations each at: Wallowa River, Lostine River, Whiskey Creek, Rock Creek
The GRMW monitoring coordinator maintains a GIS/database identifying the water quality monitoring conducted in the Grande Ronde Basin. A map representing locations of monitoring sites is presented below. If you have any questions about the GRMW monitoring program or about monitoring being done in the Grande Ronde Basin, contact the GRMW monitoring coordinator.
[Click on map to view enlargement]
Water Quantity (Streamflow) Monitoring
Starting in 1999 the GRMW became involved with monitoring streamflows in the Grande Ronde Basin. There are currently 16 streamflow monitoring sites (gages). The GRMW monitoring coordinator monitors five of these sites; the remainder are monitored by the OWRD and USGS. The stream gaging sites are listed below. Maintenance of continuous flow data is vital if we are to quantify improved streamflows resulting from projects. We do not expect to be able to quantify flow changes resulting from modified hydrologic condition, as a result of projects, in the short-term due to a combination of the extreme annual variability in precipitation and the low level of change as a result of projects. However, future projects that purchase or lease water rights, or rebuild natural storage capacity, could measurably increase late season flows. Flow monitoring is in place to detect changes in flow due to any single or combination of projects. The GRMW monitoring coordinator maintains a GIS/database identifying the water gaging sites in the Grande Ronde Basin. Click here to look at map. |
Diagram of Stream Gaging Station. Click on image to view enlargement. Graphic courtesy NOAA. |
Stream gaging station on Grande Ronde River. Photo courtesy OWRD. |
Grande Ronde Basin Stream Gage Sites
Click the highlighted gage number to link to the USGS Water Data site for the selected station. Site numbers with an "*" have real time flow data available.
Wallowa County Stream Gages
- Imnaha River at Imnaha, OR; #13292000*. USGS funded
- Wallowa R Above Cross Country Canal, near Enterprise, OR #13329770*. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Wallowa River Below Water Canyon #13331450. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Lostine River near Lostine, OR #13330000*. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Lostine River at Baker Road, near Lostine, OR #13330300*. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Bear Creek near Wallowa, OR #13330500*. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Minam River near Minam, OR #13331500*. USGS funded
- Grande Ronde River at Troy, OR #13333000*. USGS funded
Union County Stream Gages
- Lookingglass Creek near Lookingglass, OR. #13324300*. USGS funded
- Grande Ronde River below Clear Creek near Starkey, OR #13317850. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Meadow Creek above Bear Creek near Starkey, OR #13318060. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Meadow Creek below Dark Canyon Creek near Starkey, OR #13318210. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Five Point Creek at Hilgard #13318920. GRMW & OWEB funded
- North Fork Catherine Creek near Medical Springs #13319900. OWRD funded
- Grande Ronde River near Perry, Or. #13318960. GRMW & OWEB funded
- Catherine Creek at Union, Or. #13320300. GRMW & OWEB funded
Other Monitoring Efforts in the Grande Ronde Basin
The GRMW monitoring coordinator maintains a map/database that identifies monitoring sites in the Grande Ronde Basin. If you have any questions about this map or the monitoring programs in the basin, contact the GRMW monitoring coordinator
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ)
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Listed below are some of the more recent results from ODEQ's involvement with water quality monitoring in the Grande Ronde Basin or statewide.
ODEQ Contact: Steve Hanson, 503-229-5449 |
- LASAR: ODEQ's database of water quality data for the state of Oregon.
- Oregon Water Quality Index Summary Report Water Years 1995-2004 The Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) analyzes a defined set of water quality variables and produces a score describing general water quality. Includes results for five monitoring sites in the Grande Ronde Basin
- ODEQ completed the Upper Grande Ronde TMDL in 2000.
- Remote sensing survey of the Grande Ronde River basin: Thermal infrared and color videography. In 1999 this project, funded in part with GRMW/BPA funds, collected and analyzed continuous stream temperature data for 20 key reaches (566 river/stream miles) through out the Basin with FLIR.
Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Union SWCD
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Listed below are some of the more recent results from ODA and Union SWCD's involvement with water quality monitoring in the Grande Ronde Basin or statewide.
ODA Contact: Doni Clair, Regional Water Quality Specialist; 503-508-1520 Union SWCD Contact; Gregg Miles, 541-963-8309 |
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- The Union SWCD monitors current water quality conditions and assesses water quality trends as part of the implementation of the ODEQ’s Upper Grande Ronde TMDL (see link above) and the ODA's Upper Grande Ronde River Basin agricultural water quality management plan
- 2005 Update; biennial review of the progress of implementation of the Upper Grande Ronde Agricultural Water Quality Management Area Plan and Rules.
- ODA’s Agricultural Water Quality Management Plans and Rules website
U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
The USFS monitors water quality and streamflows at various
locations within the lands managed by the Forest Service.
Contact: Mike McNamara 541-523-1382