A Collaborative Effort to Evaluate Water Resources in the Lower

Siuslaw Watershed

Suzanne Moellendorf, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.Mike Miller, City of Florence

Dennis Nelson, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.Dave Livesay, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.

Siuslaw Estuary Partnership (SEP)Interdisciplinary team of 19 local, state, and

federal agencies

Objectives:Protect water quality and quantityProtect and restore wetlands and riparian areasProtect and restore key estuary wetlandsPlan for ecological growthUse collaboration and scientific investigationFoster public education and stewardship

3-Year project funded by project partners and EPA

Why form the SEP?

Unique features of the Lower Siuslaw watershed

North Florence Sole-Source Dunal Aquifer Designated a sole source

aquifer by EPA Only sole source aquifer

in OregonRapid infiltration rates Shallow water tableHydrologic connection Study Area Map. (Project Overview 2010)

Why form the SEP?Water Contamination

ConcernSurface activity

Example: Dunes City

Management and Planning NeedsCurrent and future

drinking water sources

Lack of water quality and quantity data (excluding the municipal well field)

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2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030

MD

D (

mg

d)

MDD within UGB

Range of MDDs within UGB

MDD within City Limits Range of MDDs within City Limits

Projected Maximum Day Demands for the City of Florence City Limits and UGB (City of Florence Water Management and Conservation Plan 2010).

SEP’s Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring ProgramSAMPLING

Well sites chosen by zoning Commercial &

industrial Hwy 101 corridor Residential – Sewer Residential – Septic

Stream sites chosen to evaluate water as it progresses downstream

SEP’s Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring ProgramSAMPLING

In-situ

Water TemperaturepHConductivityDissolved OxygenOxidation Reduction

Potential (GW)Turbidity (SW)Static water level (GW)Stream Discharge (SW)

*SW=Surface water only*GW=Groundwater only

Lab

Total coliform/E. coliTotal PhosphatesNitrateAlkalinityTotal Organic CarbonCommon IonsZinc & Copper (SW)Lead (SW)VOCsIOCsGlyphosate/2,4-DCaffeine

SEP’s Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring ProgramSAMPLING

Sampling Frequency October 2010-November 2012,

Monthly & Storm Events

Staff TrainingProvided by DEQ, OWRD,

Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians, and GSI

Data ManagementFor stream data: DEQ

Volunteer Monitoring Program Technical support QA/QC support and verification Data accessible to the public

PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Groundwater

Depth to Water Table

PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Groundwater

Water Table Elevation Contours (feet above

sea level)

Contours vary from 20-100 ft in 20 ft intervals Individual #s at well site = water table elevation at

site Red arrows show approximate groundwater flow

direction Contours and directions will likely change seasonally

PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Parameter Date Result

Nitrates

10/18/201011/22/2010

Detected in 1 Well* (B-2)

2/28 & 3/1 2011

Not Detected

Caffeine 2/28/2011Detected in 1 Well

(B-3)

E. coli

11/22/2010Detected in 1 Well

(B-2)1/6 & 1/7

20112/1 & 2/2

20112/28 & 3/1

20114/4 & 4/5

20115/2 & 5/3

2011

Not Detected

Groundwater: Summary of Lab Results

*Well B-2 did not pump properly on 10/18/10.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS: Surface water

Summary of Surface Water Lab Results:

• E.coli: Detections below level of concern

• No other detections

Streamflow in Munsel CreekTemperature

How to Use the Information To develop sustainable water management practices

What is “Sustainable?” Amount of water that goes out = Amount of water that goes in Contamination is not exacerbated

To address any sources of contaminationPossible sources:

Private septic systems: North of the City of Florence within UGB

Stormwater Commercial/Industrial chemical use and disposal Fuel storage tanks Pesticides and fertilizers

How to Use the Information To build a water quality/quantity data record

Compare data over time To identify any changes of concern To note any suspected effects of climate change

To develop a Groundwater Flow model• To evaluate interaction between groundwater and surface water• To identify capture zones for future municipal supply wells

To determine habitat protection and/or enhancement needed for fish and wildlife

To plan for potential future impacts of climate change

To educate the community

Climate ChangePotential impacts

Sea level riseLand inundationSaltwater

intrusion Making wells

unusable

(Freeze and Cherry 1979) Areas Potentially impacted by sea level rise.

(Weiss, Overpeck and Strauss 2010)

Climate ChangePotential impacts

Change in precipitation patterns

Increase in winter, decrease in summer

Increase in air and water temperature

Increase in storm intensity and frequency

Potential strategiesContinue water

monitoringDevelop a Source Water

(Aquifer) Protection plan

Maintain and restore wetlands and riparian areas

Integrate potential climate change impacts into infrastructure planning

Tsunami

Land inundationWater quality impacts

SEP as a Model for OthersCollaboration: City, Tribes, Agencies, Stakeholders…

Public Outreach & InvolvementOpen Houses Website & mailingsCommunity Stakeholder GroupElected Officials Stakeholder GroupYouth workshops & field trips

Science-basedData collection and analysis

Holistic: Groundwater and Surface waters

Funding OpportunitiesEPA

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/grants.htmBoise State University Directory of Watershed

Resourceshttp://efc.boisestate.edu/Default.aspx?

alias=efc.boisestate.edu/watershedLeague of Oregon Cities

http://www.orcities.org/Network of Oregon Watershed Councils

http://oregonwatersheds.org/events/funding/Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/GRANTS/index.shtml

For more information:Siuslaw Estuary Partnership

websitewww.siuslawwaters.org

Suzanne Moellendorf, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.smoellendorf@gsiws.com541-753-0745 ext. 204

References Freeze, R.A. and J.A.Cherry. 1979. Groundwater. Prentice-Hall,

Englewood Cliffs. Pg 376. Siuslaw Estuary Partnership. 2010. Project Overview and Study Area

Map. Weiss, J.L., J.T. Overpeck, and B. Strauss. 2011. Implications of recent

sea level rise science for low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A. Climate Change DOI.

Also in the Siuslaw Estuary Partnership’s Climate Change Report, 2011.

Munsel Greenway Park