silver creek annual report 2017 silver... · midnight midnight midnight midnight midday midday...

24
Ecosystem Sciences Foundation 2017 Silver Creek Annual Report 45 F 55 F 65 F 75 F 85 F 78 F 70 F Upper Lower 56 Days 70 F to 78 F Stress Band 5 Days 46.2 F 80.9 F 66.0 F Median 43.8 F 76.2 F 62.3 F Median >78 F Threshold 64 Days 6.5 62.1 28.5 5.4 Mean Error Bar Max Min 17.8 11.6

Upload: others

Post on 20-Apr-2020

19 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Ecosystem Sciences Foundation

2017

Silver Creek Annual Report

45 F

55 F

65 F

75 F

85 F

78 F

70 F

UpperStalker

LowerCain

UpperChaney

57.7 FMedian

56Days

70 F to 78 FStress Band

5Days

46.2 F

80.9 F

66.0 FMedian

43.8 F

76.2 F

62.3 FMedian

43.8 F

67.6 F

55.5 FMedian

>78 FThreshold

43.5 F

74.1 F

59.4 FMedian

18Days

67.9 F

LowerChaney

44.2 F

75.0 F

62.7 FMedian

34Days

Lower MudLowerStalker

45.1 F

85.7 F

64.3 FMedian

Silver Creek@ Hwy 20

32Days

5Days

52.5 FMedian

58.5 F

55.2 FMedian

66.5 F

Grove Crk. @Punkin Rd.

Wilson Crk.@ Hwy 20

LowerThompson

45.3 F

73.6 F

59.5 FMedian

14Days

LowerGrove (TNC)

45.5 F

68.2 F

57.0 FMedian

SullivanPond

46.2 F

87.9 F

60.2 FMedian

9Days

VisitorCenter (TNC)

47.6 F

Lower West FkLoving Crk

44.9 F

69.1 F

57.4 FMedian

43.6 F

72.0 F

58.1 FMedian

North Fk.Loving Crk

45.3 F

71.3 F

59.3 FMedian

6Days

UpperLoving Crk

46.0 F

73.2 F

62.7 FMedian

13Days

LowerLoving Crk

45.3 F

74.8 F

62.6 FMedian

25Days

Silver CrkS Turns

44.6 F

73.4 F

62.5 FMedian

18Days

Silver CrkKilpatrick Bridge

46.7 F

78.1 F

67.0 FMedian

61Days

Silver CrkSusieQ

46.2 F

80.9 F

67.7 FMedian

84Days

5Days

Silver Creek@ Hwy 93

45 F

55 F

65 F

75 F

85 F

78 F

70 F

70 F to 78 FStress Band

>78 FThreshold

45.8 F45.6 F

7Days

64Days

NoData2013

15Days

1Day

Stalker Creek12 cfs

Chaney Creek

Mud Creek

Grove Creek

Loving Creek

Sullivan Pond5 cfs

Grove Creek 62 cfs

WilsonCreek

CainCreek

Chaney Creek18 cfs

Grove Creek% of flow

Stalker Creek% of �ow

Sullivan Pond% of �ow

48%8% 4%

Chaney Creek% of �ow

14%

Mud Creek% of �ow

5%

Loving Creek% of �ow

21%

The flow diagram shows the mean stream flows in cubic feet per second per tributary. The realtive size of each tributary creek represents the amount of flow it contributes to the Silver Creek system.

Silver Creekat S Turns

ThompsonCreek

Loving Creek29 cfs

Mud Creek7 cfs

0

20

40

60

80

8/9/

2011

8/15

/201

1

10/2

8/20

11

3/21

/201

2

4/13

/201

2

5/9/

2012

9/7/

2012

10/2

4/20

12

0

20

40

60

80

8/9/

2011

8/15

/201

1

10/2

8/20

11

3/21

/201

2

4/13

/201

2

5/9/

2012

9/7/

2012

10/2

4/20

12

0

20

40

60

80

8/9/

2011

8/15

/201

1

10/2

8/20

11

3/21

/201

2

4/13

/201

2

5/9/

2012

9/7/

2012

10/2

4/20

12

0

20

40

60

80

8/9/

2011

8/15

/201

1

10/2

8/20

11

3/21

/201

2

4/13

/201

2

5/9/

2012

9/7/

2012

10/2

4/20

12

0

20

40

60

80

8/9/

2011

8/15

/201

1

10/2

8/20

11

3/21

/201

2

4/13

/201

2

5/9/

2012

9/7/

2012

10/2

4/20

12

0

20

40

60

80

8/9/

2011

8/15

/201

1

10/2

8/20

11

3/21

/201

2

4/13

/201

2

5/9/

2012

9/7/

2012

10/2

4/20

12

Flow: 160 CFS

Silver Creek Flow Diagram

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Stal

ker

Chen

ey

Mud

Gro

ve

Lovi

ng

Sulli

van

Mea

n Fl

ow (c

fs)

6.5

62.1

28.5

5.4

Mean

Erro

rBa

r

Max

Min

Legend

17.811.6

Page 2: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Ecosystem Sciences FoundationProduced by: Ecosystem Sciences Foundation 202 N. 9th St Suite 400 Boise, Idaho 83702 Phone 208.383.0226 Copyright © 2018

Page 3: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

2017 Annual Report

Silver CreekWatershed

Photo: Shutterstock/ CSNafzger

Page 4: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

50

60

70

80

Wilson Thompson Stalker Mud Grove Chaney Cain Loving

50

60

70

80

50

60

70

80

50

60

70

80

50

60

70

80

50

60

70

80

50

60

70

80

50

60

70

80

50

60

70

80

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 20152016 2016 2016 2016 2016 201620162016

00

55

10

10

15

15

Dissolved Oxygen (Mg/L)

Dissolved Oxygen (Mg/L)

Mid

nig

ht

Mid

nig

ht

Mid

nig

ht

Mid

nig

ht

Mid

da

yM

idd

ay

Op

tima

l

Stre

ssfu

l

Le

tha

l

15

1050

Butte

Cre

ek

Gro

ve C

reek

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0

Trout Eggs(Developing Embryos)

Juveniles and AdultsTemp ≤ 59° F Temp ≥ 59° F

Average Dissolved Oxygen Requirements for Salmonids

Optimal

Optimal

Optimal

Stressful

Stressful

Stressful

Lethal

Lethal

Lethal

15

10

5

0

4–7Stream TemperatureStream and springhead temperature

analysis for 2017

2-3Water Year - 2017A look into the historic winter and

water year of 2017

10–13Water QualityDissolved oxygen measurements,

results and discussion

14–15MacroinvertebratesFood base for the Silver Creek fishery,

USGS study

16–17Data Sharing/CooperationCooperating with the USFS stream

temperature monitoring nation-wide

8–9Stream HydrologyStreamflows in Silver Creek with

comparison from 2011 to 2017

18–19Next StepsAdditional areas of study, and a call

for funding next years program

Contents

Page 5: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

1

2017 Report

Silver CreekWatershed

Ecosystem Sciences Foundation (ESF)

has been working in the Silver Creek

watershed since 2009, when it partnered

with The Nature Conservancy to develop a

Restoration and Enhancement Strategy for

the Silver Creek Watershed. The strategy

identified numerous actions to be taken,

including addressing data gaps on stream

flow, temperature and sediment conditions.

To address these data gaps, ESF began its

monitoring program in 2010 to increase our

understanding of the Silver Creek system.

This past year, ESF and its partners

continued to gather critical data on stream

flows, temperature, and dissolved oxygen.

In addition, ESF conducted statistical

analyses of temperature monitoring results

and prepared an in-depth review of recent

water quality research performed by the

U.S. Geological Survey.

To date, our Silver Creek program

has enjoyed support from numerous

stakeholders. Most of the land within

the watershed is privately owned;

consequently, landowners in the watershed

recognize the need to protect the

ecological health of the watershed, as well

as their rights as landowners. Our partners

and stakeholders have been integral in

helping us achieve our vision of providing

direction for stewardship of the Silver

Creek Watershed and in designing and

promoting appropriate stream restoration

and enhancement actions.

The significant conclusions and

findings from 2017 are:

• The three-year period of below

average discharge within the system

ended with a historic snowpack and

run-off year that reversed the trend.

• With some notable exceptions,

temperatures in the Silver Creek

system had lower average

temperatures than 2016.

• Dissolved Oxygen monitoring indicated

that in some areas of Silver Creek,

Dissolved Oxygen concentrations become

so low that they stress all life stages of

trout, especially in Butte Creek and Lower

Silver Creek. However, these conditions

are generally limited to early morning

hours. In the afternoon, Dissolved Oxygen

levels rise rapidly. Cold tributary creeks

like Grove, Chaney and Loving Creek

maintained higher Dissolved Oxygen levels

than Butte Creek and Lower Silver Creek.

• The USGS found that the Purdy Pond and

Kilpatrick Dam restoration projects did not

negatively affect stream macroinvertebrate

communities.

• Cooperation between ESF and USFS on

Silver Creek will result in better regional

data sets and new sampling for fish on

Silver Creek.The information that is presented in this report reflects summarized analysis of all data. We are presenting the most important aspects of the past season’s work in a way that tells a story of the stream system and watershed. The information presented here is a result of detailed, scientifically rigorous analysis, and reflects a considerable amount of field work to collect. The website has additional information on programs in the watershed, including raw and tabulated data.

For more details please visit: www.savesilvercreek.com

Page 6: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

2

The water year for 2016-17 set

records after robust snow pack levels

accumulated over the winter. In 2017,

snow water equivalent (SWE) levels

within the Big Wood Basin were

measured at 319% of median from

those measured from 1981-2010. We

calculate the total streamflow volume

for the Big Wood River at Hailey (USGS

gauge#13139510) to be 249% above

median from streamflow measured

1981-2010. This has been great news

for the Silver Creek system, which relies

heavily on groundwater levels within the

Wood River Valley Aquifer, a system in

which three-quarters of inflow is received

directly from tributaries and streamflow

losses. As a spring-fed system, Silver

Creek’s water comes from groundwater

upwelling at springheads and streambed

groundwater inputs to maintain a stream

flows. In 2017, monitoring within Silver

Creek’s tributaries showed a significant

increase in spring and stream flows.

Additionally, none of the springs dried

up mid-summer, which has been

documented in previous low water years.

Well water monitoring within the South

Valley Groundwater District found that

groundwater depth and artesian pressure

was sustained at most wells throughout

the June to November 2017 timeframe.

The consistent, cool groundwater inputs

that continued throughout the summer

months led to a reduction in average and

maximum stream temperatures at most

locations when compared to the previous

four monitoring years (see pages 4-7 for

more details). These benefits underscore

the importance of groundwater as the

ecological driver of the Silver Creek

ecosystem.

Winter SnowWater Year

June 1, 2017Idaho Water Supply Outlook Report

Phot

o: S

hutte

rsto

ck/C

SNaf

zger

Page 7: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

100,000Acre Feetof Water

Diverted from the Big Wood

IrrigationCanal

Network

Picabo

Gannett

Bellevue

Silver Creek

Big Wood R

iver

Big WoodWatershed

Area

Silver CreekWatershed

Area

Snowpack conditions, forecast streamflow runoff and groundwater flows were significantly increased in 2017. Major Silver Creek water

inflows or sources:

1) Groundwater inflows, Wood River Valley2) Irrigation diversions from the Big Wood River

3) Precipitation and Snowmelt

3Of the 15 SNOTEL sites in or near the Little Lost, Big Lost, Little Wood, Big Wood, and Camas Creek drainages, 14 sites have received the most precipitation between Oct 1 and April 1 on record. (NRCS, June 2017)

June 1, 2017Idaho Water Supply Outlook Report

In 2017, the Big Wood basin received the most precipitation between Oct 1 and April 1 on record.

Big Wood River stream flows (measured in acre-feet) for 2017 as compared to the most recent 30 year mean (1981-2010).

Big Wood Basin

319%of mediansnowpack

Big Wood Basin

165%of average

precipitation

Streamflows up to

250%of average

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Stre

amflo

w V

olum

e (a

cre-

feet

)

Big Wood River at Hailey

Stream Flow 2017 Stream Flow 1981-2010

2017

1981-2010

Page 8: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Chaney Grove Stalker Loving Silver CkS Turns

Silver CkDouble R

Silver CkSusie Q

32 F

40 F

50 F

60 F

70 F

80 F

90 F

4

Stream Temperature of groundwater for agricultural use,

therefore maintaining higher spring flows

year-round. As a spring-driven system,

these springs are critical to the health and

persistence of Silver Creek.

Temperature monitoring within Silver

Creek and its tributaries found average

and maximum stream temperatures had

decreased at most locations, as compared

to temperatures measured from 2013-

2016. This illustrates the connection

between the very high water-year, which

led to an increase in the duration and

quantity of groundwater, and lower overall

changes in air temperature and climatic

conditions. For the 13 spring head

loggers, median temperatures stayed

near 49.9°F throughout the summer

of 2017. As opposed to the past four

monitoring years,no springheads dried up

mid-summer. The record 2016-17 water

year increased groundwater levels and

allowed for both a longer duration of high

springhead flows and reduced extraction

Summer Stream Temperatures: The graph above indicates the maximum, average and minimum summer water temperatures on selected areas of Silver Creek over a four year period (2011-2017). This year, 43 stream temperature loggers and 13 springhead loggers were monitored throughout Silver Creek and on each tributary to record critical information and track changes in the system.

In 2017, we deployed 13 springhead

and 43 stream temperature loggers in

key locations throughout the Silver Creek

Watershed. It is important to monitor the

springs that feed Silver Creek because

they are the primary source of water to

the system and these springs provide

consistent, cool water to Silver Creek’s

tributaries that can mitigate against

Page 9: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Hayspur Rd.

Gannett Road

45 F

50 F

55 F

70 F

Cain CrkSpring Head

70 F to 78 FStress Band

47.6 F

50.5 F

W. ForkChaney

Spring Head

48.7 F 48.2 F

50.1 F

N. ForkChaney

Spring Head

Mud CrkSpring Head

49.2 F49.6 F

N. ForkGrove Crk

Spring Head

56.1 F

52.1 F

53.3 F

Wilson CrkSpring Head

E. ForkGrove Crk

Spring Head#1

48.5 F

E. ForkGrove Crk

Spring Head#2

49.1 F

50.1 F

51.2 F

50.5 F

E. ForkGrove Crk

Spring Head#3

ThompsonSpring Head

48.3 F

50.3 F

N. ForkLoving Crk

Spring Head#1

55.3 F

N. ForkLoving Crk

Spring Head#2

52.6 F

45 F

50 F

55 F

49.9 FAvg.

51.7 F

49.1 F

49.9 FAvg.

49.8 F

60 F

49.6 F48.3 FMedian

49.1 F

49.8 F50.3 F

50.1 F

49.1 F49.1 F49.1 F

60 F

50.3 F

52.8 F

50.3 F

49.2 F49.9 F

Grove Ck.

Lower Silver Ck.

Mud Ck.

Stalker Ck

Wilson Ck. Loving Ck.

Cain Ck.

Chaney Ck.

Upper Silver Creek

Lower Silver Ck.

HWY 20 - 26

Punkin Center Rd.

Price Lane

Springs of Silver Creek2017 Spring Head Temperatures

Cain CrkSpring Head

W. Fk Chaney CrkSpring Head

N. Fk Chaney CrkSpring Head

N. Fk Grove CrkSpring Head

Wilson CrkSpring Head

E. Fk Grove CrkSpring Head #1 E. Fk Grove Crk

Spring Head #2

E. Fk GroveSpring Head #3 Thompson Crk

Spring Head

N. Fk Loving CrkSpring Head #1

N. Fk Loving CrkSpring Head #2

Mud CrkSpring Head

Stream temperature bands The above graphic depicts the summarized spring head temperature data for the entire summer season. The data were analyzed for the summer season to illustrate the spring temperatures that occurred for the period of June through September 2017. Each graph displays the total temperature range from June 1 to September 30; the absolute high and low temperatures are given, and the median water temperature is shown for that particular spring.

5

temperatures. The most notable decrease in

temperature was measured in Cain Creek,

which for the first time since 2012 remained

below the stress band (70°F) for trout

throughout the monitoring period in 2017;

average temperatures decreased by 2-4°F

and maximum temperatures decreased by

4-10°F from those measured in 2013-2016. In

contrast, water temperatures in both Stalker

and Grove Creek increased, by about 3°F

and 1°F respectively, as compared to the

2014-2016 monitoring years.

A possible explanation for this increase

in stream temp is that in lower run-off years

a larger percentage of the creek water

is coming from springs that bring deep,

confined aquifer water to the surface. In

2017, there was more shallow groundwater

(warmer) entering the stream leading to

higher temperatures.

Page 10: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

45 F

55 F

65 F

75 F

85 F

78 F

70 F

56.5 FMedian

48 Days

70 F to 78 FStress Band

44.6 F

77.9 F

65.5 FMedian

43.5 F

69.6 F

57.7 FMedian

67.4 F

53.8 FMedian

>78 FThreshold

43.1 F

56.8 FMedian

42Days

68.8 F

46.9 F

72 F

62.6 FMedian

6Days

53.1 FMedian

60.9 F

54.4 FMedian

66.5 F

41.4 F

71.9 F

56.8 FMedian

14Days

45.3 F

69.8 F

55.8 FMedian

47.4 F

42.9 F

69.4 F

56.9 FMedian

45.3 F

70.8 F

58 F Median

2Days

44.9 F

71.9 F

61.1 FMedian

7Days

43.5 F

72.5 F

59 F Median

14Days

48 F

67.7 F

60.2 FMedian

46.5 F

77.1 F

65 F Median

47Days

47.1 F

78.3 F

66.5 F Median

46Days

2Days

45 F

55 F

65 F

75 F

85 F

78 F

70 F

70 F to 78 FStress Band

>78 FThreshold

45.6 F43.6 F

46.4 F

77.9 F

60.5 FMedian

44 F

75 F

41.6 F

77.9 F

58.7 FMedian

47Days

UpperStalker

LowerCain

UpperChaney

LowerChaney

Silver Creek@ Hwy 20

Grove Crk. @Punkin Rd.

Wilson Crk.@ Hwy 20

LowerThompson

LowerGrove

North Fk.Loving Crk

UpperLoving Crk

LowerLoving Crk

Silver CrkS Turns

Purdy PondLower Kilpatrick

Silver CrkSusieQ

Silver Creek@ Hwy 93Mid Mud Lower Mud

Lower West FkLoving Crk

44.6 F

68.2 F

56.1 FMedian

Grove Ck.

Lower Silver Ck.

Mud Ck.

Stalker Ck

Wilson Ck. Loving Ck.

Cain Ck.

Chaney Ck.

Upper Silver Creek

Lower Silver Ck.

North Fork Loving Creek

Upper Loving Crk

Lower Loving Crk

Lower Thompson

Grove Crk @Punkin Cntr. Rd

Wilson Crk @ Hwy 20

Lower Grove Crk

Lower Mud

Lower Stalker

Sullivan Pond Visitor Center

Silver Crk S Turns

Kilpatrick BridgeLower Chaney

Upper Chaney

Lower Cain

UpperStalker

Lower W. Fk. Loving Crk

HWY 20 - 26

Gannett Road

Hayspur Rd.

Stalker Creek Rd.

Punkin Center Rd.Price Lane

Mid Mud

Purdy PondLower Kilpatrick

6

Stream temperature bands The above graphic depicts the summarized stream temperature data for the entire summer season for a selected group of data loggers and locations. The data were analyzed for the summer season to illustrate the high temperatures that occurred throughout the stream system for the period of June through the end of September 2017. Each graph displays the total temperature range for the period of record; the absolute high and low temperatures are given, and the median stream temperature is shown for that particular stream.

2017 Stream Temperatures Summary

Page 11: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

45 F

55 F

65 F

75 F

85 F

78 F

70 F

56.5 FMedian

48 Days

70 F to 78 FStress Band

44.6 F

77.9 F

65.5 FMedian

43.5 F

69.6 F

57.7 FMedian

67.4 F

53.8 FMedian

>78 FThreshold

43.1 F

56.8 FMedian

42Days

68.8 F

46.9 F

72 F

62.6 FMedian

6Days

53.1 FMedian

60.9 F

54.4 FMedian

66.5 F

41.4 F

71.9 F

56.8 FMedian

14Days

45.3 F

69.8 F

55.8 FMedian

47.4 F

42.9 F

69.4 F

56.9 FMedian

45.3 F

70.8 F

58 F Median

2Days

44.9 F

71.9 F

61.1 FMedian

7Days

43.5 F

72.5 F

59 F Median

14Days

48 F

67.7 F

60.2 FMedian

46.5 F

77.1 F

65 F Median

47Days

47.1 F

78.3 F

66.5 F Median

46Days

2Days

45 F

55 F

65 F

75 F

85 F

78 F

70 F

70 F to 78 FStress Band

>78 FThreshold

45.6 F43.6 F

46.4 F

77.9 F

60.5 FMedian

44 F

75 F

41.6 F

77.9 F

58.7 FMedian

47Days

UpperStalker

LowerCain

UpperChaney

LowerChaney

Silver Creek@ Hwy 20

Grove Crk. @Punkin Rd.

Wilson Crk.@ Hwy 20

LowerThompson

LowerGrove

North Fk.Loving Crk

UpperLoving Crk

LowerLoving Crk

Silver CrkS Turns

Purdy PondLower Kilpatrick

Silver CrkSusieQ

Silver Creek@ Hwy 93Mid Mud Lower Mud

Lower West FkLoving Crk

44.6 F

68.2 F

56.1 FMedian

Grove Ck.

Lower Silver Ck.

Mud Ck.

Stalker Ck

Wilson Ck. Loving Ck.

Cain Ck.

Chaney Ck.

Upper Silver Creek

Lower Silver Ck.

Temperature preferences Fish occupy a variety of stream habitats with myriad niches and environmental conditions that allow them to tolerate different temperature ranges under a variety of conditions. Stream temperatures can become lethal to trout as they approach 85°F. These temperatures will cause mortality if the fish cannot find refugia. The latest research indicates that trout begin exhibiting stress at about 70°F. Although that temperature will not induce mortality, long term exposure can affect growth rates and other physiological factors. Consequently, we have selected a conservative temperature threshold of 78°F and a stress band of

>70°F to consider trout health over the long-term. Short-term exposure to higher temperatures can be tolerated

without adverse affects, as long as fish can escape to cooler areas and exposure

to high temperatures are not prolonged.

This map illustrates the Silver Creek stream and tributary system along with the locations of the stream temperature loggers. The temperature loggers are expressed in two categories for discussion and analysis purposes:

Location of stream temperature loggers illustrated in bottom graphic of seasonal temperatures

Location of all other stream temperature loggers

Stream temperatures are logged at one-hour intervals over a twenty-four-hour period for as long as the logger is left in place. The array of stream temperature loggers in the Silver Creek system is designed to capture temperature differences for each stream and tributary segment, from the spring source to Lower Silver Creek at the Highway 93 crossing.

Locations of Stream Temperature Logger Array

Silver Crk @Hwy 20

Susie Q

Silver Crk @Hwy 93

HWY 20 - 26

Picabo

7

The overall median temperatures throughout the summer were within the preference range for trout (around 55-60 degrees) in Cain, Chaney, Mud, Wilson, Grove, Thompson, and the upper reaches of Loving Creek. Stalker Creek, Lower Loving Creek and Silver Creek all had median temperatures above 60°F. However, the number of days that temperatures were within the stress band for trout (70°F-78°F) decreased significantly compared to measurements taken in 2013-2016. In 2017, Silver Creek at Highway 93 was the only site where temperatures exceeded the upper stress threshold (78°F) for trout.

Phot

o: P

at C

layt

on

Page 12: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

0

20 40 60

80

100

120

140

160

CFS

2013

2014

Annual Average Flows in Silver Creek at Sportsmans Access (USGS gage)

0

50

100

150

200

250

1975

1980

1990

2000

2010

2017

2015

2016

2017

0

20 40 60

80

100

120

140

160

CFS

2013

2014

Annual Average Flows in Silver Creek at Sportsmans Access (USGS gage)

0

50

100

150

200

250

1975

1980

1990

2000

2010

2017

2015

2016

2017

8

Annual average streamflows (cfs) at USGS gage (Sportsmans Access) 1975 - 2017.

Stream HydrologyMonitoring streamflows is important,

as it helps build our understanding of

the volume and origin of water entering

Silver Creek’s tributaries and its potential

influence on water temperature,

dissolved oxygen and other water quality

parameters.

Total annual discharge at Sportsman’s

Access in 2017 was historically high

and flows were well above the 30-

year average. Silver Creek’s tributaries

had more flow than at any point since

monitoring began in 2011. It was a

significant water year for Silver Creek and

it’s tributaries. Similarly, the Big Wood

River had a large increase in annual

discharge in 2017.

Big Wood River Average Annual

Discharge (cfs):

2013 299.0

2014 309.7

2015 311.5

2016 406.4

2017 1,003.0

The 2017 water year resulted in above-

average flows in the Wood River, Silver

Creek, and its tributaries. These systems

are connected by a common groundwater

system that is dynamic and complex.

However, in 2017 the connection is clearly

evident; all of these systems had above-

average flows.

Silver Creek annual average streamflows (cfs) at USGS gage (Sportsmans Access) 1975 - 2017.

Page 13: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Stalker Creek16 cfs

Chaney Creek

Mud Creek

Grove Creek

Loving Creek

Sullivan Pond2 cfs

Grove Creek 72 cfs

WilsonCreek

CainCreek

Chaney Creek24 cfs

Stalker Creek

Sullivan Pond

39%

9%

1%

Chaney Creek

13%

Mud Creek

7%

Loving Creek

19%

The flow diagram shows the mean stream flows incubic feet per second (cfs) per tributary. The relativesize of each tributary creek represents the amount offlow it contributes to the Silver Creek system.

Silver Creekat S Turns

ThompsonCreek

Loving Creek35 cfs

Mud Creek12 cfs

Flow: 182 CFS

0

20

40

60

80

Stalker Cheney Mud Grove Loving

CFS

2011 2017 2011 2017 2011 2017 2011 2017 2011 2017

Grove Creek

9

Annual average streamflows by creek for 2011-2017. Data collected from 2011 - 2017 shows each creek’s average flow. The overall increase in streamflows (2017) affects many critical components of the aquatic ecosystem. Measurements were not continuous, but were distributed throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Percent of Flow Contribution by Creek. Data collected in 2016 indicates each creek’s cfs and percent contribution of Silver Creek’s flow.

2017 Streamflows

Page 14: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Grove Ck.

Lower Silver Ck.

Mud Ck.

Stalker Ck

Wilson Ck. Loving Ck.

Cain Ck.

Chaney Ck.

Upper Silver Creek

Lower Silver Ck.

Chaney CreekPond

HWY 20 - 26

Price Lane

10

Water QualityDuring the summer of 2016 dissolved

oxygen (DO) was measured continuously

from June through October at 6 sites. In

2017, an additional sensor was placed

in Upper Loving Creek. These data were

recorded using optical DO sensors that

record the DO and temperature value

every 15 min.

Similar to last year’s results, the data

indicated that not all of Silver Creek’s

waterways exhibit the same pattern of

DO values and that DO levels stress fish

in certain locations at certain times of the

day. Seasonal fluctuations also occur, as

changes in sunlight, temperature, flow and

aquatic plant growth vary throughout the

year.

In many areas of the Silver Creek

system the daily fluctuations in DO are

significant, which points to a productive

biological engine in the aquatic ecosystem.

As aquatic plant life within the stream

utilizes photosynthesis to create energy,

they produce oxygen. This raises DO

levels, which peak in the afternoon.

Overnight, plants continue to respire

without photosynthesis, which requires

oxygen (this demand is called biological

oxygen demand) which they take from

the water. This daily process causes DO

levels to be lowest just before dawn and

highest in the afternoon exhibiting a distinct

diurnal cycle. As shown by the diurnal

graphs presented, not all cycles are the

same. The new sensor placed at Upper

Loving Creek is in close proximity to the

Butte Creek sensor location. Despite their

close proximity in geographic space, their

DO levels vary significantly (see diurnal

plots on the facing page). This is due to a

combination of factors, including volume,

temperature, nutrient concentrations, and

aquatic plant life, among others.

When DO readings fall into the stressful

range for fish they will seek refuge in areas

that have higher DO concentrations. Fish

eggs are buried in gravels and lack the

mobility to escape these conditions. At

selected sites, 25% of all measurements

made were at stressful to lethal levels for

fish and their eggs (1st quartile at Suzie

Q and Butte: 5.3mg/L; Lower SC at the

Trestle: 6.5mg/L). The seasonal graphs

present all data points taken during the

2017 season.

Dissolved Oxygen

Page 15: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

0 0

5 5

10 10

15 15

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

Midnight Midnight Midnight MidnightMidday Midday

Optimal

Stressful

Lethal

15

10

5

0

Butte CreekUpper Loving Creek

Grove Ck.

Lower Silver Ck.

Mud Ck.

Stalker Ck

Wilson Ck. Loving Ck.

Cain Ck.

Chaney Ck.

Upper Silver Creek

Lower Silver Ck.

Hayspur Rd.Upper Loving Crk

Grove Crk

Butte Crk

Lower Silver Crk @Trestle

Susie Q

HWY 20 - 26

Gannett Road

Stalker Creek Rd.

Picabo

Lower Loving Crk

Diurnal Dissolved Oxygen - Comparison of Two Sites. These graphs display the diurnal change in dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature for two sites over the period of one day. In Butte Creek, DO ranged from a low of around 3.1 mg/L to a high 16.4 mg/L, with a median of 7.3 mg/L. This large daily fluctuation in DO is significant and points to a productive biological engine in the aquatic ecosystem. Compare this with Upper Loving Creek (located in close proximity, low of 4.7 mg/L to a high 11.0 mg/L ) and the contrast in the daily fluctuation is very noticeable. Upper Loving Creek and Butte are therefore in close proximity but have contrasting DO patterns.

Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring Locations. This map displays the location of dissolved oxygen (DO) continuous monitoring sites for 2017. The array of monitoring locations was selected to monitor the watershed at many different points and the different variables in each tributary including flow volume and water temperatures.

Page 16: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

0

5

10

15

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

DO 4 Grove Creek

0

5

10

15

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

DO 6 Chaney Creek Pond

Chaney Creek Pond

Grove Creek

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0

Trout Eggs(Developing Embryos)

Juveniles and AdultsTemp ≤ 59° F Temp ≥ 59° F

Average Dissolved Oxygen Requirements for Salmonids

Optimal

Optimal

Optimal

Stressful

Stressful

Stressful

Lethal

Lethal

Lethal

15

10

5

0

0

5

10

15

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

DO 7 Upper Loving Creek

Upper Loving Creek

12

Dissolved Oxygen Results

Average Dissolved Oxygen Requirements for Salmonids. Trout, depending on thier particular life stage (egg, Juvenile, Adult), have differing requirements and thresholds for dissolved oxygen levels. Water temperature also plays a major role in dissolved oxygen levels. (Adapted from EPA’s Chapman, 1986, and USFWS’s

Raleigh et al 1984, and Raleigh et al 1996).

Page 17: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

0

5

10

15

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

DO 2 Butte Creek

0

5

10

15

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

DO 5 Lower Silver Creek at Trestle

0

5

10

15

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

DO 3 Lower Loving Creek

0

5

10

15

Jul Aug Sep Oct

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (M

g/L)

DO 1 Sussie Q Lower Silver Creek

Lower Loving Creek Susie Q

Butte Creek Lower Silver Creek at Trestle

13

Page 18: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

14

Macroinvertebrate Communities

Silver Creek supports a wide diversity

of aquatic life and is a world-renowned

trout fishery. To protect this resource,

Ecosystem Sciences Foundation worked

with The Nature Conservancy and local

stakeholders to develop the Restoration

and Enhancement Strategy for the

Silver Creek Watershed in 2011. The

Enhancement Strategy identified the

impounded reach upstream of Purdy

Dam as a top enhancement priority due

to increased sediment accumulation and

elevated water temperatures. The dam

itself also blocked fish passage.

Following the publication of the

Enhancement Strategy, The Nature

Conservancy worked with multiple partners

to develop a plan to replace Purdy Dam

and dredge portions of Purdy Pond

(upstream) to improve habitat conditions.

Many stakeholders were concerned about

how the restoration project might affect

local macroinvertebrate communities.

Healthy macroinvertebrate communities

serve as an indicator of good water quality

and general stream health.

Macroinvertebrates are also an important

food source for trout and other resident fish

species. To address these concerns, the

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed

a study to evaluate macroinvertebrate

communities before and after the channel

restoration project (MacCoy and Short

2017).

Two trend sites were established in

2001 to provide base-line monitoring data.

These two sites were located at the Silver

Creek Nature Preserve and at Silver Creek

at Sportsman Access, which is also the

location of USGS Gage#13150430 - a

gage that provides continuous discharge

and temperature data. Five synoptic

sites were also established upstream of

Purdy Dam: one upstream of Kilpatrick

1 MacCoy, D.E., and Short, T.M., 2017, Macroinvertebrate communities evaluated prior to and following a channel restoration project in Silver Creek, Blaine County, Idaho 2001–16: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017–5126, 25 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175126.

Page 19: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

15

Pond in a free-flowing stretch of Silver

Creek, three within Kilpatrick Pond and,

one within Purdy Pond. The two trend

sites also serve as synoptic sites. At all

sites, macroinvertebrate samples were

taken along with measurements of water

depth, velocity, temperature, pH, specific

conductance, and dissolved oxygen. The

methods to obtain these data differed

between trend and synoptic sites. For

example, macroinvertebrate samples were

collected from naturally occurring stream-

bottom substrates at trend sites, while

artificial substrates were used at synoptic

sites. Trend sites were sampled once every

3 years (2001–16) in early to mid-June.

Synoptic sites were sampled seasonally

(spring, summer, and autumn) at all site

locations in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

The following metrics were evaluated:

total taxonomic richness (taxa richness);

total macroinvertebrate abundance (total

abundance); Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera,

and Trichoptera (EPT) richness; EPT

abundance; Simpson’s diversity and;

Simpson’s evenness. A statistically

significant decrease in one or more metric

values following the project implementation

in 2014 would indicate impairment of

Mayflys (Ephemeroptera) were abundant at all monitoring sites pre- and post-restoration.

macroinvertebrate populations.

After establishing temporal patterns

to identify impairment thresholds in

macroinvertebrate communities in the

years preceding restoration, trend site

results found no significant decrease in

any metric parameter for communities

sampled in 2016 as compared to

previous years. At synoptic sites, there

was no significant change in total

macroinvertebrate abundance from

prior to restoration (2013) and post-

restoration (2015 and 2016). There was

also no statistically significant difference

in EPT abundance, Simpson’s diversity

or Simpson’s evenness among pre- and

post-restoration sampling years. However,

there was a statistically significant

increase in EPT richness.

The study results indicate that the

channel restoration project, which included

the removal of Purdy Dam and dredging

within Purdy Pond, did not negatively

affect macroinvertebrate communities

in Silver Creek. Additional post-project

macroinvertebrate monitoring is planned

by the USGS to assess long-term effects.

Page 20: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

16

Working in Cooperation

An important objective of our Silver

Creek Program is to make our monitoring

data easily accessible and available to

anyone who would like to learn more about

Silver Creek, and to add to the body of

knowledge and aid in future research of

Silver Creek. For that reason, the majority

of our monitoring data and all of our

annual reports are available online at the

savesilvercreek.org website.

In early 2018, the U.S. Forest Service

contacted Ecosystem Sciences Foundation

about adding the continuous temperature

data from Silver Creek to their extensive

temperature database and interactive map,

which includes over 5,400 sites across

the United States. While some of our

temperature data is collected seasonally

(summer), many of the sites contain full

year stream temperature data. All these

data were provided to the U.S. Forest

Service to add to their monitoring network.

The collection and mapping of this

comprehensive temperature monitoring

network has widespread research

applications. For example, the temperature

database was used to develop and update

the U.S. Forest Service’s Climate Shield

website, which provides geospatial data

that can 1) identify current locations of cold

USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station Boise Aquatic Sciences Lab

Page 21: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

17

water refuge streams for native cutthroat trout and bull trout,

and 2) forecast locations under varying climate scenarios

that can aid in the protection of species and the prioritization

of restoration activities, among other applications.

In response to this data request, ESF is considering

deploying some of it’s temperature monitoring loggers year-

round at set locations to aid in the long-term collection of

year-round stream temperature information in this area.

Full Year Stream Temperature Monitoring Sites; USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station Boise Aquatic Sciences Lab

The Dynamic Mapping Tool provides a spatial index to over 5,500 sites on streams and rivers in the U.S. and Canada where full year stream temperatures are currently being monitored by numerous agencies. The primary goal is to portray a comprehensive set of sites across all agencies to facilitate data sharing and avoid redundancies, as new monitoring sites are added to the regional network. Raw temperature data are not downloadable through this site, but typically reside with the local data stewards, whose contact information is displayed by clicking on a point in the map. The map is updated once each winter to maintain an accurate description of current monitoring locations.

United States stream temperature and climate map

A Northwest United States temperature and climate map developed from data at more than 16,000 sites that was used to highlight climate refugia for mountain stream species. Credit: Dan Isaak, U.S. Forest Service

Page 22: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Next Steps

eDNA MonitoringIn partnership with the National

Genomics Center for Wildlife and

Fisheries Conservation, Ecosystem

Sciences Foundation would like to

conduct Environmental DNA (eDNA)

sampling in Silver Creek and its

tributaries in 2018. The collection of

eDNA has become a common tool among

researchers to detect the presence

of macrobial species (i.e. fishes,

amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, and

insects) based on the presence of their

DNA in air, water and soil. The use of

eDNA sampling has been found to be a

simple and efficient tool for determining

a species’ presence in an ecosystem

and is often as effective as traditional

sampling techniques. Of interest, eDNA

can be used to detect species that

are rare, difficult to find, or are in low

densities within the ecosystem. For

streams, conducting eDNA sampling

is non-invasive and generally involves

filtering several liters of water from the

area of interest and then testing for DNA

signatures. This permits rapid collection

of large numbers of samples, each with

a high probability of species detection.

In the Silver Creek watershed, eDNA

sampling would be used to estimate

the abundance and distribution of

rainbow trout, brown trout and other fish

species. This study will provide important

information about Silver Creek’s fish

species for both conservation and

recreational purposes. Please consider

a donation to support this innovative

project!

Fish Habitat Analysis and Mapping

Fish habitat features and redd counts

were surveyed on nearly all the tributaries

in Silver Creek in fall 2015 and spring

2016. However, due to lack of funding,

the mainstem of Silver Creek has not

been surveyed yet. ESF is seeking funds

to conduct redd counts in the mainstem

Silver Creek during the spring season

and fall seasons in 2018. Our goal is to

create a database of redd locations for

brown and rainbow trout, as well as a

map that identifies redd locations and

delineates habitat such as: spawning

areas, early rearing and nursery areas,

side channels, pools, undercut banks,

resting and feeding zones, and an

evaluation of streambank conditions.

18

Page 23: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Monitoring and MaintenanceOver the past 7 years, the Silver

Creek Program has monitored

stream hydrology, water temperature,

sedimentation and most recently

dissolved oxygen. Combined, these

parameters are indicators of ecosystem

health, much like checking our own body

temperature and circulatory system.

Monitoring is paramount to understanding

ecological processes and relationships,

identifying trends and establishing

effective strategies for enhancement.

However, monitoring is a long term

scientific tool that must be done consistently

over time; the more data collected, the more

meaningful the results. As our monitoring

program continues, it is necessary to

periodically replace temperature sensors

and redeploy DO sensors, which comes at

a capital cost. We are seeking additional

funding to maintain our monitoring equipment

and to continue these important programs.

FundingTo continue our ongoing monitoring work and

perform new analyses, as described above,

our Silver Creek Program needs additional

funding. Our program is heavily based on

monitoring and data analysis; we have found that

these activities alone are rarely funded through

traditional grant programs. Please consider

a donation to continue this important work. A

substantial volunteer effort goes into the Silver

Creek program each year and your donations

directly support the Program. Thank you for your

support!

Ecosystem Sciences Foundation

202 N 9th Suite 400

Boise, Idaho 83702

19

Page 24: Silver Creek Annual Report 2017 Silver... · Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midday Midday Optimal Stressful Lethal 15 10 5 0 Butte Creek ... analyses of temperature monitoring

Ecosystem Sciences

Foundation

202 N 9th Suite 400

Boise, Idaho

83702

P: 208 383 0226

F: 208 368 0184

www.ecosystemsciences.com www.savesilvercreek.org

Silver Creek Annual Report

2017