To: Interested Parties
From: Environmental Services division
RE: march
2000 Water
Quality Monitoring Report
This is the Sabine River Authority
Water Quality Summary for March 2000. Water quality sampling was
performed March 28 through March 30. Daytime high air temperatures during
the seven days prior to the sampling dates were mostly in the 70’s and 80’s in
the Upper Basin and in the 60’s and 70’s in the Lower Basin. Nighttime
lows in the Upper Basin were mostly in the 50’s and 60’s. Low temperatures in
the Lower Basin were mostly in the 50’s with a few nights in the 30’s just
prior to the sample run. A number of small rainfall events were recorded
throughout the watershed during March.
Upper Sabine Basin Above Toledo Bend Including Lake Fork and Lake
Tawakoni
For the March 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 about a quarter
inch of rain three days prior to sampling. Water temperature and dissolved
oxygen profiles gradually increased from bottom to surface at Lake Tawakoni and
Lake Fork, indicating weak thermal stratification. Most of the reservoir sites
and one river site (SR19) had dissolved oxygen values in excess of 100%. Fecal
coliform levels were slightly elevated at three river sites.
Lower Sabine Basin Including Toledo Bend to Morgan Bluff
March WQM sampling results were indicative of high
water quality at most sites. Profiles taken at deep-water stations on the
reservoir did not exhibit thermal stratification. Stations TB6N, TB6M, TB6L, TB6I, TB8 and BA4 had fecal counts
above stream standards. Corresponding high strepococcus counts were detected at
sites BA4 and TB6N. A significant
rainfall a few days prior to the sampling event likely contributed to the elevated fecal counts. Compared to other sites analyzed during this
sampling event, higher sulfate, chloride, TOC, and nitrate/nitrite 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 reading observed was 18 ppt at Station SRT1. A definite salt-water wedge was detected at
all tidal sites with no thermal stratification.
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 Monday, September 18, 2000