Sabine River Authority of Texas

To: Interested Parties

From: Water Resources Branch

RE: FebRUARY 2007 monthly Water Quality Report

This is the Sabine River Authority Water Quality Report for February 2007. Water quality sampling was performed February 12^th through February 15^th. Recent weather (previous seven days) in the Sabine River Basin was cold, with daytime highs in the low 40s to upper 60s at Lake Tawakoni and at Lake Fork. Toledo Bend Reservoir and Orange had daytime highs from the low 40s to the mid 70s. Lows ranged from the upper 20s to low 40s at Lake Tawakoni and at Lake Fork. Toledo Bend and Orange had lows ranging from the mid 30s to the mid 50s. During the 28 days prior to the sample run, the Upper Basin received 2.32 and 1.60 inches of rainfall as recorded at Lake Tawakoni and at Lake Fork, respectively. Lake Tawakoni received 0.17 inches of rain and Lake Fork received 0.05 inches of rain the week preceding the sample run. Toledo Bend and Orange received 4.37 and 8.33 inches of precipitation during the 28 days prior to the sample run. Reservoir profiles indicated complete mixing of the water column in Lake Tawakoni, Lake Fork and Toledo Bend reservoirs.

Upper Sabine Basin Above Toledo Bend Including Lake Fork and Lake Tawakoni

Water quality parameter measurements at the Upper Basin sites were consistent with water of high quality at most sites for the February sample run. The level of Lake Fork was recorded at 401.13 feet msl with 22 cfs releases and the level of Lake Tawakoni was recorded at 429.34 feet msl with 6 cfs releases at the time of sampling. Stations BS9, SR16, SR15, SR14, SR11 and SR10 exceeded the numeric criteria for the stream standard for E. coli.

Lower Sabine Basin Including Toledo Bend to Morgan Bluff

The February monthly sampling results were indicative of water of high quality at most sites. The area received 1.80 inches of rainfall during the sampling week and the week prior. The level of Toledo Bend Reservoir was recorded at 170.18 feet with 15,869 cfs discharge at the time of sampling. Toledo Bend Reservoir stations were completely mixed in vertical profile samples and no anoxic conditions were found. Stations TB8, BT1, TB6S, SR3, and BCC1 all exceeded the stream standard criteria for bacteria. Runoff from heavy rains, most of which occurred during the sample week, is the likely cause of the elevated results.

Tidal Section of the Sabine Basin below Morgan Bluff

Most sites sampled in the Tidal portion of the Sabine Basin had values that are consistent with water of high quality. The Tidal stations received 3.72 inches of rainfall in the seven days prior to the sample event. Surface salinities were found at only one of the Tidal stations. The largest salinity value, 2.0 ppt, was found at stations BB1 at 3.0 meters. The Enterococcus value at Station SRT1 was the only result measured that was above the stream standard criteria.

This Report and additional data for these monitoring stations are available on our World Wide Web site (www.sratx.org). If you have any questions or comments concerning this report, please contact:

Ø Upper Sabine Basin
Terry Wilson, Upper Basin Field Office Coordinator
903-878-2420 (twilson@sratx.org)

Ø Lower and Tidal Sabine Basin
Jerry Wiegreffe, Lower Basin Field Office Coordinator
409-746-3284 (jwiegreffe@sratx.org)

Ø If above are unavailable
John Payne, Special Projects Administrator
409-746-2192 (jpayne@sratx.org)
or
Miles Hall, Environmental Services Division Manager
409-746-3284 (mhall@sratx.org)

Printed Wednesday, February 06, 2008 at 14:46