To: Interested Parties
From: Environmental Services division
RE: February
2000 Water
Quality Monitoring Report
This is the Sabine River Authority
Water Quality Summary for February 2000.
Water quality sampling was performed February 15 through February
17. Daytime high air temperatures
during the seven days prior to the sampling dates were mostly in the 60’s and
70’s in the Upper Basin and in the 70’s in the Lower Basin. Nighttime lows in the Upper Basin were in
the 30’s and 40’s. Low temperatures in the Lower Basin have been mostly in the
50’s and 60’s. Dry conditions prevailed
throughout the Basin and water quality was not affected by recent runoff
events. The Lower Basin received from
0.16 inches of rainfall at Toledo Bend, to 0.38 inches in Orange, nine days
prior to the sample run. The most
recent precipitation upstream of Toledo Bend Reservoir was recorded 18 days
prior to the sample run on January 28 when most of the in the Upper Basin
received about an inch of sleet and snow.
Upper
Sabine Basin Above Toledo Bend Including Lake Fork and Lake Tawakoni
For the February sample run, most
of the water quality values seen at the Upper Basin sites were consistent with
water of high quality. The most recent
precipitation was 1-2 inches of sleet and snow over most of the Upper Basin 18
days prior to sampling. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were
similar from surface to bottom at Lake Tawakoni and Lake Fork indicating
complete mixing, with no significant thermal stratification. Several sites on
the river and one reservoir site (LF3) had dissolved oxygen values in excess of
100%, likely indicating algal activity is still fairly high. However, dissolved oxygen values in excess
of 100% can sometimes be due to rapid warming of a water body. High chlorophyll a levels were seen
at LT23A, LF7, and LF2. Mild temperatures
were present during the sampling event but several days of sub-freezing weather
with icy precipitation were encountered during the last week of January.
Ammonia was slightly over screening criteria at SR14 and chlorides were at the
upper limit of stream standards at SR14 and above stream standards at SR11.
Lower
Sabine Basin Including Toledo Bend to Morgan Bluff
February
WQM sampling results were indicative of high water quality at most sites.
Profiles taken at deep-water stations on the reservoir exhibited thermal
stratification. Higher conductivity
readings, total alkalinity, and chloride levels were observed at Station
TB6N. TB6N is located downstream from a
municipal wastewater treatment plant.
Higher conductivity readings and sulfate levels were observed at Station
BA4. Station BA4 is sampled from a
bayou that receives discharge from a paper mill.
Tidal
Section of the Sabine Basin below Morgan Bluff
Stations
sampled in the tidal portion of the Sabine Basin had values that were consistent
with water of high quality. All values
measured were within stream standards criteria. Salinity was detected at all four tidal stations: SRT1, SRT2, BB1
and ICW1. The greatest salinity
readings were observed at the deepest depths at Stations SRT1 and SRT2. A salt-water wedge was not observed at tidal
sites; profile readings taken were well mixed.
This
Report and additional data for these monitoring stations are available on our
World Wide Web site (www.sra.dst.tx.us).
If you have any questions or comments concerning this report, please contact:
Ø
Upper Sabine Basin
John Payne, Upper Basin Field Office Coordinator
903-878-2420 (sraubfo@yahoo.com)
Ø
Lower and Tidal Sabine Basin
Cynthia Darbonne, Lower Basin Field Office Coordinator
409-746-3284 (darbonne@sra.dst.tx.us)
Ø
If
above are unavailable
Miles Hall, Assistant Division Manager
Environmental Services
409-746-3284 (mhall@sra.dst.tx.us)
Printed Tuesday, September 12, 2000