DTIC ADA635424: Water Quality Conditions at Tributary Projects in the Omaha District: 2008 Report

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by  Defense Technical Information Center

2008 Report

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Omaha District

Water Quality Conditions at Tributary
Projects in the Omaha District

January 2009
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1. REPORT DATE 3. DATES COVERED
JAN 2009 2. REPORT TYPE 00-00-2009 to 00-00-2009
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER
Water Quality Conditions at Tributary Projects in the Omaha District:
5b. GRANT NUMBER
2008 Report
5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER
6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER
5e. TASK NUMBER
5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,Omaha District,1616 Capital Avenue Ste REPORT NUMBER
9000,Omaha,NE,68102
9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S)
11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT
NUMBER(S)
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Approved for public release; distribution unlimited
13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
14. ABSTRACT

15. SUBJECT TERMS
16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF
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a REPORT b ABSTRACT c THIS PAGE Same as 619
unclassified unclassified unclassified Report (SAR)
Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98)
Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18
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2008 Report

Water Quality Conditions at Tributary Projects in the
Omaha District

Prepared by:

Water Quality Unit
Water Control and Water Quality Section
Hydrologic Engineering Branch
Engineering Division
Omaha District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

January 2009

This document is approved for release:

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For Information Regarding This Document Please Contact:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District
Attention: CENWO-ED-HA
106 South 15th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1619
[phone]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Omaha District Water Quality Management Program....................................................................................1
1.2 Corps Civil Works Tributary Projects within the Omaha District...................................................................1
1.3 Water Quality Monitoring Purposes and Objectives.......................................................................................3
1.4 Data Collection Approaches............................................................................................................................4
1.5 General Surface Water Quality Concerns in the Omaha District....................................................................5
1.5.1 Reservoir Eutrophication and Hypolimnetic Dissolved Oxygen Depletion................................................5
1.5.2 Sedimentation.............................................................................................................................................5
1.5.3 Shoreline Erosion........................................................................................................................................6
1.5.4 Bioaccumulation of Contaminants in Aquatic Organisms..........................................................................6
1.5.5 Occurrence of Pesticides.............................................................................................................................6
1.5.6 Urbanization................................................................................................................................................6
1.6 Prioritization of District-Wide Water Quality Management Issues.................................................................7
1.7 Project-Specific Water Quality Management Issues at the Tributary Projects................................................7
1.7.1 Section 303(d) Listings of Impaired waters................................................................................................7
1.7.2 Fish Consumption Advisories.....................................................................................................................7
1.7.3 Summary of Project-Specific TMDL Considerations, Fish Consumption Advisories, and Other
Water Quality Management Issues.............................................................................................................8
2 LIMNOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN RESERVOIRS...................................................................................10
2.1 Vertical and Longitudinal Water Quality Gradients......................................................................................10
2.2 Chemical Characteristics of Reservoir Processes..........................................................................................11
2.2.1 Constituents...............................................................................................................................................11
2.2.2 Anaerobic (Anoxic) Conditions................................................................................................................13
2.3 Biological Characteristics and Processes......................................................................................................14
2.3.1 Microbiological.........................................................................................................................................14
2.3.2 Photosynthesis...........................................................................................................................................14
2.3.3 Plankton....................................................................................................................................................14
2.3.4 Organic Carbon and Detritus....................................................................................................................15
2.4 Bottom Withdrawal Reservoirs.....................................................................................................................16
3 TRIBUTARY PROJECTS WATER QUALITY MONITORING................................................................17
3.1 Colorado Tributary Projects..........................................................................................................................17
3.2 Nebraska Tributary Projects..........................................................................................................................17
3.2.1 Ambient Reservoir Water Quality Monitoring.........................................................................................17
3.2.2 Monitoring at Swimming Beaches............................................................................................................17
3.2.3 Inflow Monitoring During Runoff Conditions..........................................................................................18
3.3 North Dakota Tributary Projects...................................................................................................................18
3.4 South Dakota Tributary Projects...................................................................................................................18
4 WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT METHODS.......................................................................................19
4.1 Existing Water Quality..................................................................................................................................19
4.1.1 Statistical Summary and Comparison to Applicable Numeric Water Quality Standards Criteria............19
4.1.2 Spatial Variation in Reservoir Water Quality Conditions.........................................................................19
4.1.3 Trophic Status...........................................................................................................................................20
4.1.4 Impairment of Designated Water Quality-Dependent Beneficial Uses.....................................................21
4.2 Water Quality Trends....................................................................................................................................24
5 COLORADO TRIBUTARY PROJECTS.....................................................................................................25
5.1 Bear Creek Reservoir....................................................................................................................................25
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5.1.1 Background Information...........................................................................................................................25
5.1.2 Existing Water Quality Conditions...........................................................................................................28
5.2 Chatfield Reservoir.......................................................................................................................................28
5.2.1 Background Information...........................................................................................................................28
5.2.2 Existing Water Quality Conditions...........................................................................................................30
5.3 Cherry Creek Reservoir.................................................................................................................................30
5.3.1 Background Information...........................................................................................................................30
5.3.2 Existing Water Quality Conditions...........................................................................................................32
6 NEBRASKA TRIBUTARY PROJECTS......................................................................................................33
6.1 Papillion Creek Tributary Projects................................................................................................................33
6.1.1 Background Information...........................................................................................................................33
6.1.2 Ed Zorinsky Reservoir..............................................................................................................................36
6.1.3 Glenn Cunningham Reservoir...................................................................................................................44
6.1.4 Standing Bear Reservoir...........................................................................................................................50
6.1.5 Wehrspann Reservoir................................................................................................................................56
6.2 Salt Creek Watershed Projects......................................................................................................................64
6.2.1 Background Information...........................................................................................................................64
6.2.2 Bluestem Reservoir...................................................................................................................................69
6.2.3 Branched Oak Reservoir...........................................................................................................................76
6.2.4 Conestoga Reservoir.................................................................................................................................85
6.2.5 Holmes Reservoir......................................................................................................................................92
6.2.6 Olive Creek Reservoir.............................................................................................................................101
6.2.7 Pawnee Reservoir....................................................................................................................................108
6.2.8 Stagecoach Reservoir..............................................................................................................................117
6.2.9 Twin Lakes Reservoir (East and West Twin Reservoirs).......................................................................123
6.2.10 Wagon Train Reservoir...........................................................................................................................132
6.2.11 Yankee Hill Reservoir.............................................................................................................................141
6.3 Summary of Water Quality Conditions Monitored at the Nebraska Tributary Projects..............................149
6.3.1 Exceedences of Numeric Water Quality Standards Criteria...................................................................149
6.3.2 Water Clarity...........................................................................................................................................151
6.3.3 Trophic Condition...................................................................................................................................151
6.3.4 Sedimentation.........................................................................................................................................152
6.3.5 Impaired Waterbodies.............................................................................................................................152
6.3.6 Water Quality Trends..............................................................................................................................155
7 NORTH DAKOTA TRIBUTARY PROJECTS..........................................................................................156
7.1 Bowman-Haley Reservoir...........................................................................................................................156
7.1.1 Background Information.........................................................................................................................156
7.1.2 Existing Water Quality Conditions.........................................................................................................158
7.1.3 Water Quality Trends (1980 through 2004)............................................................................................161
7.2 Pipestem Reservoir......................................................................................................................................162
7.2.1 Background Information.........................................................................................................................162
7.2.2 Existing Water Quality Conditions.........................................................................................................164
7.2.3 Water Quality Trends (1980 through 2007)............................................................................................169
7.2.4 Existing Water Quality Conditions of Inflows to Pipestem Reservoir....................................................169
8 SOUTH DAKOTA TRIBUTARY PROJECTS..........................................................................................170
8.1 Cold Brook Reservoir..................................................................................................................................170
8.1.1 Background Information.........................................................................................................................170
8.1.2 Existing Water Quality Conditions.........................................................................................................174
8.1.3 Water Quality Trends (1980 through 2008)............................................................................................177
8.2 Cottonwood Springs Reservoir....................................................................................................................177
8.2.1 Background Information.........................................................................................................................177
8.2.2 Existing Water Quality Conditions.........................................................................................................180
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9 WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR
FUTURE YEARS.......................................................................................................................................182
9.1 Water Quality Data Collection....................................................................................................................182
9.2 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)......................................................................................................182
10 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................183
11 PLATES......................................................................................................................................................184

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List of Tables

Page
Table 1.1. Background information for the Tributary Projects located in the Omaha District.................3
Table 1.2. Priority water quality management issues within the Omaha District.....................................8
Table 1.3. Summary of project-specific water quality management issues and concerns at District
Tributary Projects.....................................................................................................................9
Table 4.1. Lake trophic status based on calculated TSI values...............................................................21
Table 4.2. State of Nebraska Assessment Measures for Sample Size and Number of Exceedences
Required to Determine an Impaired Use (i.e., 10% Exceedence)..........................................21
Table 4.3. State of Nebraska measures for the assessment of the Primary Contact Recreation
Beneficial Use using fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria data................................................22
Table 4.4. State of Nebraska measures for the assessment of lake sedimentation data..........................22
Table 4.5. State of Nebraska measures for the assessment of lakes regarding nutrients........................22
Table 5.1. Summary of selected engineering data for the Colorado Tri-Lakes Tributary Projects.........27
Table 6.1. Summary of selected engineering data for the Papillion Creek tributary projects.................35
Table 6.2. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Ed Zorinsky Reservoir for
the 5-year period 2004 through 2008.....................................................................................43
Table 6.3. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Glenn Cunningham
Reservoir for the 2-year period 2004 through 2005...............................................................48
Table 6.4. Summary of weekly (May through September) bacteria samples collected at Glenn
Cunningham Reservoir (i.e., site GCRLKBACT1) during the 2-year period 2004
through 2005..........................................................................................................................49
Table 6.5. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Standing Bear Reservoir
for the 5-year period 2004 through 2008...............................................................................56
Table 6.6. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Wehrspann Reservoir for
the 5-year period 2004 through 2008.....................................................................................63
Table 6.7. Summary of selected engineering for the Salt Creek Tributary Projects...............................66
Table 6.8. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Bluestem Reservoir for the
5-year period 2004 through 2008...........................................................................................74
Table 6.9. Summary of weekly (May through September) E. coli bacteria samples collected at
Bluestem Reservoir (i.e., site BLULKBACT1) during the 5-year period 2004 through
2008........................................................................................................................................75
Table 6.10. Summary of weekly (May through September) microcystin samples collected at the
Bluestem Reservoir swimming beach (i.e., site BLULKBACT1) during the 4-year
period 2005 through 2008......................................................................................................75
Table 6.11. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Branched Oak Reservoir
for the 5-year period 2004 through 2008...............................................................................82
Table 6.12. Summary of weekly (May through September) bacteria samples collected at Branched
Oak Reservoir (i.e., sites BOKLKBACT1 and BOKLKBACT2) during the 5-year
period 2004 through 2008......................................................................................................83
Table 6.13. Summary of weekly (May through September) microcystin samples collected at
Branched Oak Reservoir (i.e., sites BOKLKBACT1 and BOKLKBACT2) during the 4-
year period 2005 through 2008..............................................................................................84
Table 6.14. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Conestoga Reservoir for
the 5-year period 2004 through 2008.....................................................................................90
Table 6.15. Summary of weekly (May through September) E. coli bacteria samples collected at
Conestoga Reservoir (i.e., site CONLKBACT1) during the 5-year period 2004 through
2008........................................................................................................................................91
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Table 6.16. Summary of weekly (May through September) microcystin samples collected at the
Conestoga Reservoir swimming beach (i.e., site CONLKBACT1) during the 4-year
period 2005 through 2008......................................................................................................91
Table 6.17. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Holmes Reservoir for the
3-year period 2006 through 2008...........................................................................................99
Table 6.18. Summary of weekly (May through September) E. coli bacteria samples collected at
Holmes Reservoir (i.e., site HOLLKBACT1) during the 3-year period 2005 through
2008........................................................................................................................................99
Table 6.19. Summary of weekly (May through September) microcystin samples collected at
Holmes Reservoir (i.e., site HOLLKBACT1) during the 3-year period 2006 through
2008......................................................................................................................................100
Table 6.20. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Olive Creek Reservoir for
the 5-year period 2004 through 2008...................................................................................108
Table 6.21. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Pawnee Reservoir for the
5-year period 2004 through 2008.........................................................................................115
Table 6.22. Summary of weekly (May through September) bacteria samples collected at Pawnee
Reservoir (i.e., sites PAWLKBACT1 and PAWLKBACT2) during the 5-year period
2004 through 2008...............................................................................................................116
Table 6.23. Summary of weekly (May through September) microcystin samples collected at
Pawnee Reservoir (i.e., sites PAWLKBACT1 and PAWLKBACT2) during the 4-year
period 2005 through 2008....................................................................................................116
Table 6.24. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Stagecoach Reservoir for
the 5-year period 2004 through 2008...................................................................................123
Table 6.25. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for East Twin Reservoir for
the 5-year period 2004 through 2008...................................................................................130
Table 6.26. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for West Twin Reservoir for
the 2-year period 2004 through 2005...................................................................................131
Table 6.27. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Wagon Train Reservoir for
the 5-year period 2004 through 2008...................................................................................139
Table 6.28. Summary of weekly (May through September) E. coli bacteria samples collected at
Wagon Train Reservoir (i.e., site WAGLKBACT1) during the 5-year period 2004
through 2008........................................................................................................................140
Table 6.29. Summary of weekly (May through September) microcystin samples collected at the
Wagon Train Reservoir swimming beach (i.e., site WAGLKBACT1) during the 4-year
period 2005 through 2008....................................................................................................140
Table 6.30. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Yankee Hill Reservoir for
the 2-year period 2007 through 2008...................................................................................149
Table 6.31. Percent exceedences of water quality standards criteria for all samples collected at near-
dam, deepwater monitoring sites during the 5-year period of 2004 through 2008. ..........150
Table 6.32. Papillion Creek Tributary Project reservoirs which are believed to be impaired based on
current water quality monitoring data and 2008 impairment assessment criteria
identified by the State of Nebraska......................................................................................153
Table 6.33. Salt Creek Tributary Project reservoirs which are believed to be impaired based on
current water quality monitoring data and 2008 impairment assessment criteria
identified by the State of Nebraska......................................................................................154
Table 6.34. Observable trends in transparency, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, and trophic state
index (TSI) based on monitoring conducted over the 29-year period of 1980 through
2008......................................................................................................................................155
Table 7.1. Summary of selected engineering data for the Bowman-Haley and Pipestem Projects.......157
Table 7.2. Summary of Trophic State Index (TSI) values calculated for Bowman-Haley Reservoir
for the 6-year period of 1999 through 2004.........................................................................161
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