To: Interested Parties
From: Environmental Services division
RE: june 2000 Water Quality
Monitoring Report
This
is the Sabine River Authority Water Quality Summary for June 2000. Water
quality sampling was performed June 13 through June15. Daytime high air temperatures during the
seven days prior to the sampling dates were in the 80’s in the Upper Basin and
in the 80’s and 90’s in the Lower Basin. Nighttime lows in the Upper Basin ranged
from 59 to 72 degrees. Low temperatures in the Lower Basin were in the 60’s and
70’s. Several recent rainfall events
were recorded prior to and during the sample run.
Upper
Sabine Basin Above Toledo Bend Including Lake Fork and Lake Tawakoni
For
the June sample run, most of the water quality values seen at the Upper Basin
sites were consistent with water of high quality. LF2 on Lake Fork Reservoir was the only site that appeared to be
thermally stratified. However, all of
the reservoir sites had a significant dissolved oxygen gradient with low D.O.
near the bottom and gradual increase toward the surface. Several sites had over 100% saturation of
oxygen, indicating high algal activity.
LT23C and LT23D were 141% and 131% saturated respectively. Ammonia and
orthophosphates exceeded nutrient screening criteria at LF7. SR21 on the river
main stem had elevated conductivity, ammonia, and chloride. Elevated
conductivity and chloride values at this site are usually caused by rainwater
runoff from natural salt deposits in the Grand Saline Creek watershed
upstream.
Lower
Sabine Basin Including Toledo Bend to Morgan Bluff
June
WQM sampling results were indicative of high water quality at most sites. Toledo
Bend Reservoir was near pool level during this sampling event. Profiles taken
at deep-water stations on the reservoir exhibited thermal stratification with
near-anoxic conditions near the bottom.
Stations TB6N, TB6I, TB6M, and TB6L had oxygen readings below stream
standards. These stations are predominantly shallow sites with large amounts of
both emergent and floating aquatic vegetation. Station BA4 had higher sulfate,
nitrite/nitrate levels, and conductivity readings compared to other stations. This station 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 tidal stations. The greatest salinity measured occurred at SRT2
with a reading of 12 ppt at 9.2 meters depth. A salt-water wedge was also
detected at tidal stations.
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