HomeMy WebLinkAboutU.S. Geological Services Joint Funding Agreement for Water Quality Monitoring and Memorandum of Understanding for Joint FundingRESOLUTION 20214
BY THE COUNCIL: BISTERFELDT, CLEGG, EBERLE,
JORDAN, SHEALY AND TIBBS
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY
OF BOISE CITY (PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT), THE CITY OF MERIDIAN,
THE CITY OF NAMPA AND THE CITY OF CALDWELL FOR JOINT FUNDING OF
A USGS CONTRACT FOR CONTINUOUS WATR QUALITY MONITORING OF
THE SNAKE AND BOISE RIVERS; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY
CLERK TO EXECUTE AN'D ATTEST SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF BOISE
CITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF BOISE CITY, IDAHO:
Section 1. That the Agreement by and between the City of Boise City, the City of
Meridian, the City of Nampa and the City of Caldwell, a copy of said Agreement marked
Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, be, and the same is
hereby, approved as to both form and content.
Section 2. That the Mayor and City Clerk be, and they hereby are, authorized to
respectively execute and attest said Agreement for and on behalf of the City of Boise
City.
Section 3. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon
its adoption and approval.
ADOPTED by the Council of the City of Boise City, Idaho this 19th day of
August ,2048.
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Boise City, this 19th day of
August , 2008.
,ATTEST: APPROVED:
~ ~
CI LERK- John E. Faw MAYOR - Davi Bieter
I:\Legal\L.egal Divisions\Enterprise DivUtesos 2008\USGS joint funding for cities Reso.doc R-305-OS
CITY OF BOISE
To: Mayor and (d:ouncl
FROM: Robbin W. ~ inch, Boise City Public Works Department
RESOLUTION NUMBER: R-305-08
DATE: August 1, 2008
SUBJECT: U.S. Geological Survey Joint Funding Agreement .to Operate Continuous
Water Quality Monitors in the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers, Idaho; and
Water Quality Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding Municipal
Cost Share for FY2008
ACTION REQUIRED:
Review of (1) a Joint Funding Agreement with the U. S. Geological Survey and (2) a
Water Quality Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding Cost Share with the Cities of
Meridian, Nampa, & Caldwell for FY2008.
RECOMMENDATION.:
Approval of both the Joint Funding Agreement with the U. S. Geological Survey for the
proposal to operate continuous water quality monitors in the lower Boise River and
Snake Rivers, Idaho and the Water Quality Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding
Cost Share for FY2008.
FISCAL IMPACTBUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
These agreements implement the first of at least six years of the plan, beginning in 2008
and continuing through 2013. Total costs for the first year is $158,476 (USGS match of
$74,476; local costs of $84,000). In subsequent years, total costs will increase to $250-
300,000 per year. USGS matching fwnds are anticipated to be in the $30,000 to $50,000
range per year.
The project is funded by federal (USGS) and local monies with potential participation by
state (IDEQ, ISDA), local (small municipalities) and private (IPCo) partners. The City of
Boise is coordinating the municipal and non-municipal contributions to minimize
transaction costs.
The following Municipalities have committed fund the first year of the project (FY2008):
Boise ($47,600), Meridian ($6,800), Nampa ($15,900), and Caldwell ($13,800). The
proposed Water Quality Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding Cost Share to be
signed by these four entities is attached. In future years, we anticipate additional
contributions from small municipalities (e.g. Star, Middleton, Parma, Kuna, Avimore...)
and others (e.g. IDEQ, Agriculture, Idaho Power). Cost share funding agreements among
participating partners are planned for each fiscal year.
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Boise River municipalities have been working
on a monitoring plan to collect water quality data on the Snake and Boise Rivers. The
plan is to operate three continuous water quality monitors for multiple years (10-20) to
track improvements in water quality related to TMDL implementation on Lower Boise
and Snake Rivers.
The project will install and operate continuous water quality monitors on the lower Boise
River and on the Snake River above and below Boise River confluence and collect and
report water quality data. USGS will generate data reports every other year and more
extensive reports every five years to coincide with TMDL review timeframes.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Joint Funding Agreement with the U. S. Geological Survey
2. Watei Quality Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding Cost Share with the
Cities of Meridian, Nampa, & Caldwell for FY2008
3. USGS Proposal to Operate Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring in the Lower
Boise River and Snake River, Idaho
JOINT FUNDING AGREEMENT
OPERATION OF CONTINUOUS WATER QUALITY MONITORS IN THE LOWER BOISE
AND SNAKE RIVERS BY THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the City of Boise ,hereinafter "Boise",
City of Meridian, hereinafter "Meridian", City of Caldwell, hereinafter "Caldwell" and the City of
Nampa, hereinafter "Nampa" for the purpose of jointly funding the collection of water quality data
on the Boise and Snake Rivers by the United States Geological Survey.
WHEREAS, Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell (collectively "the Cities'') are subject to
NPDES permits issued by the U.S. EPA which regulate discharges to Waters of the US including
the Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined it is their best interests to monitor water quality in
the lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and.
WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has offered to perform
continuous water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers on behalf of the Cities
subject to cost sharing ;and
WHEREAS, for the fiscal year 2008 (ending September 30, 2008) the USGS has agreed to
contribute $74,476.00 for water quality monitoring provided the Cities provide $84,000 iri
matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the USGS will only contract with one of the Cities for the purpose of jointly
funding the water quality study for fiscal year 2008; and
WHEREAS, Boise has agreed to contract with USGS and be the funding conduit for the
Cities to USGS; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined funding contribution amounts for fiscal year 2008
to utilize USGS for water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Cities desire to enter into this agreement to formalize the Cities funding and other
obligations for the USGS water quality monitoring project
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, it is agreed:
1. Boise will enter into a contract with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for the purpose
of jointly funding continuous water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers. The
contract shal'1 be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto, and shall be for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.
2. The Cities agree to the following cost sharing amounts for the joint funding of the Cities fiscal
year 2008 share (through Boise) of the USGS agreement:
Boise $47,600
Meridian $6,800
Caldwell $13,800
Nampa $15,900
3. Boise shall invoice each of the Cities for their funding share within 30 days of finalizing the
USGS agreement. The Cities shall pay their invoiced share to Boise within 30 days of invoice
receipt.
4. The Cities agree to seek additional funding from other sources including the State, other
municipalities and private utilities to potentially defray the costs of this agreement. Any money
received will be distributed to the Cities for their pro rata share. In the event the USGS terminates
the USGS contract resulting in a return of funds the returned funds will be distributed to the Cities
for their pro rata share.
5. The term of this agreement from the signature date to September 30, 2008. Any City may
withdraw from this agreement by providing notice to the other Cities but shall remain obligated for
payment of their share set forth in Section 2.
CITY O
BI'~ David. 008 Dated
Its: Mayor
CITY OF MERIDIAN
BY: Dated
Its:
CITY OF NAMPA
BY: Dated
Its:
CITY OF CALDWELL
B~': Dated
Its:
END OF AGREEMENT
'~E~EIVED
~~~ SFgt o~ ~.:F~ ~ ~ ZQU~
* -- x, * City of Nampa ~ub~ic works
:~
:: a
~' ~'~ ' P PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE (208) 468-5420
o~TY °F ~ CITY HALL 411 THIRD STREET SO. NAMPA, IDAHO 83651 FAX (208) 468-5487
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
DATE: September 11, 2008
TO: City of Boise
ATTN: Johanna M. Bell, P.E.
RE: Joint Funding Agreement - USGS Collection of Water Quality Data
Transmitted herewith is the following:
1 copy Executed Joint Funding Agreement for the Operation of Continuous
Water Quality Monitors in the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers by the
United States Geological Survey
{Ifthe enclosures a-e no1 attached, please nol~ us)
Being sent for your information ^ Please set time when we may discuss
^ For your review and comment Please take action indicated
Comments:
Upon the final execution of all Cities regarding this agreement, please provide this office with
copies of all signatures for our records.
Also, please send the invoice for the City of Nampa's share of cost regarding this matter to:
Jaimie Hiskey
Budget Technician
City of Nampa
Public Works Department
411 Third Street South
Nampa, ID 83651
Your assistance is appreciated, Johanna. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call
me at 4 -5420.
herd Murray
Executive Assistant
JOINT FUNDING AGREEMENT
OPERATION OF CONTINUOUS WATER QUALITY MONITORS 1N THE LOWER BOISE
AND SNAKE RIVERS BY THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the City of Boise, hereinafter "Boise",
City of Meridian, hereinafter "Meridian", City of Caldwell, hereinafter ``Caldwel]" and the City of
Nampa, hereinafter "Nampa" for the purpose of jointly funding the collection of water quality data
on the Boise and Snake Rivers by the United States Geological Survey.
WHEREAS, Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell (collectively "the Cities") aze subject to
NPDES permits issued by the U.S. EPA which regulate discharges to Waters of the US including
the Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined it is their best interests to monitor water quality in
the lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has offered to perform
continuous water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers on behalf of the Cities
subject to cost sharing ;and
WHEREAS, for the fiscal yeaz 2008 (ending September 30, 2008) the USGS has agreed to
contribute $74,476.00 for water quality monitoring provided the Cities provide $84,000 in
matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the USGS will only contract with one of the Cities for the purpose of jointly
funding the water quality study for fiscal yeaz 2008; and
WHEREAS, Boise has agreed io contract with USGS and be the funding conduit for the
Cities to USGS; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined funding contribution amounts for fiscal year 2008
to utilize USES for water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Cities desire to enter into this agreement to formalize the Cities funding and other
obligations for the USGS water quality monitoring project
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, it is agreed:
1. Boise will enter into a contract with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for the purpose
of jointly funding continuous water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers. The
contract shall, be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto, and shall be for
the fiscal yeas ending September 30, 2008.
2. The Cities agree to the following cost sharing amounts for the joint funding of the Cities fiscal
year 2008 share (through Boise) of the USGS agreement:
L\Public Works\Executivc AssistentlShenlCOMRAC'['S\USGS -Joint Funding Agreement - MOU.doc
49l0?108
Boise $47,600
Meridian $6,800
Caldwell $13,800
Nampa $15,900
3. Boise shall invoice each of the Cities for their funding share within 30 days of finalizing the
USGS agreement. The Cities shall pay their invoiced share to Boise within 30 days of invoice
receipt.
4. The Cities agree to seek additional funding from other sources including the State, other
municipalities and private utilities to potentially defray the costs of this agreement. Any more
received will be distributed to the Cities for their pro rata share. In the event the USGS terminates
the USGS contract resulting in a return of funds the returned funds will be distributed to the Cities
for their pro rata share.
5. The term of this agreement from the signature date to September 30, 2008. Any City may
withdraw from this agreement by providing notice to the other Cities but shall remain obligated for
payment of their share set forth in Section 2.
CITY OF BOISE
BY:
Its:
Dated
CITY OF MERIDIAN
BY:
Its:
Dated
CITY OF NAMPA
BI' `'~'`--~ Dated
Its:
CITY OF CALDWELL
BY:
Its:
END OF AGREEMENT
Dated
I:\Public Works\Exeeutive Assistant\Sheri\CONTRACTSIUSGS -Joint Funding Agnxment - MOU.doc
09!07/08
.~-
~~~CC~LE~ML~ D
j~
AUG i 3 2008
-~mental Division
August 8, 2008
Mr. Robin Finch
City of Boise
Public Works Department
PO Box 500
Boise, Idaho 83701-0500
Re: U.S. Geological Survey Joint Funding Agreement to Operate Continuous
Water Quality Monitors in the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers,
1- Idaho; and Water Quality Monitoring Memorandum of
' ~- ~ Understanding Cost Share for FY2008
., Q Ql~~a.
.. ~ ..®
Dear Mr. Finch,
•o: asae°a~m_
The Council of the City of Caldwell, Idaho, on the evening of August 4, 2008
` ~ Q'~a authorized the Caldwell Mayor and City Clerk to sign the above mentioned
° ~~a~~. " agreement. Signed counter-parts of the approved agreement are enclosed for your
";~a ~~°~~~= further processing.
~ q., n~`
° ~ ~ 9.°~ Please forward one set of the fully executed documents to the City of Caldwell
z
~'" ea
k;ti ~ ~ ~ when complete.
If you have any questions concerning the action of City Council, please feel free
to contact Larry Osgood at 455-4734.
,,,_ •
v~"~ Sincerely,
$ , ~;
a,~
~,~~ p b~ Rd
~r~~, ~ Larry oo , P.E.
° k• ` ~ Caldwell City Engineer
LO/tf
Enclosure
QarsERle
AMERICA
CitU Hoi4 • 411 Bloine St, • P.O. Box 1179 • Caldwell, ldoho 83606 • (Q08} 455 3000 • fRX: (QOS) 455-3003 • www.cityofcoldwell.com
Boise $47,600
Meridian $6,800
Caldwell $13,800
Nampa $15,900
3. Boise shall invoice each of the Cities for their funding share within 30 days of finalizing the
USGS agreement. The Cities shall pay their invoiced share to Boise within 30 days of invoice
receipt.
4. The Cities agree to seek additional funding from other sourcestncluding the State, other
municipalities and private utilities to potentially defray the costs of this agreement. Any money
received will be distributed to the Cities for their pro rata share. In the event the USGS terminates
the USGS contract resulting in a return of funds the returned funds will be distributed to the Cities
for their pro rata sharc.
5. The term of this agreement from the signature date to September 30, 2008, Any City may
withdraw from this agreement by providing notice to the other Cities but shall remain obligated for
payment of their share set forth in Section 2.
CITY OF BOIS£
BY:
Its:
CITY OF MERIDIAN
BY:
Its:
CITY OF NAMPA
I3Y:
Its:
CITY CALDWELL
BY:
Its: Mayor
END OF AGREEMENT
Dated
Dated
llated
Dated V.~
JOINT FUNDING AGREEMENT ,~4 SFp S ~ V~
OPERATION OF CONTINUOUS WATER QUALITY MONITORS IN THE OISEIQO
AND SNAKE RIVERS BY THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVE ~''"~l~ks B
O
~~~ta~ epa~
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the City of Boise ,hereinafter "Bois~~~;~si n~nt
City of Meridian, hereinafter "Meridian", City of Caldwell, hereinafter "Caldwe]1" and the City of
Nampa, hereinafter "Nampa" for the purpose of jointly funding the collection of water quality data
on the Boise and Snake Rivers by the United States Geological Survey.
WHEREAS, Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell (collectively "the Cities") are subject to
NPDES permits issued by the U.S. EPA which regulate discharges to Waters of the US including
the Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined it is their best interests to monitor water quality in
the lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has offered to perform
continuous water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers on behalf of the Cities
subject to cost sharing ;and
WHEREAS, for the fiscal year 2008 (ending September 30, 2008) the USES has agreed to
contribute $74,476.00 for water quality monitoring provided the Cities provide $84,000 in
matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the USGS will only contract with one of the Cities for the purpose of jointly
funding the water quality study for fiscal year 2008; and
WHEREAS, Boise has agreed to contract with USGS and be the funding conduit for the
Cities to USGS; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined funding contribution amounts for fiscal year 2008
to utilize USGS for water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Cities desire to enter into this agreement to formalize the Cities funding and other
obligations for the USES water quality monitoring project
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, it is agreed:
1. Boise will enter into a contract with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for the purpose
of jointly funding continuous water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers. The
contract shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto, and shall be for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.
2. The Cities agree to the following cost sharing amounts for the joint funding of the Cities fiscal
year 2008 share (through Boise) of the USGS agreement:
Boise $47,600
Meridian $6,800
Caldwell $13,800
Nampa $15,900
3. Boise shall invoice each of the Cities for their funding share within 30 days of finalizing the
USGS agreement. The Cities shall pay their invoiced share to Boise within 30 days of invoice
receipt.
4. The Cities agree to seek additional funding from other sources including the State, other
municipalities and private utilities to potentially defray the costs of this agreement. Any money
received will be distributed to the Cities for their pro rata share. In the event the USGS terminates
the USGS contract resulting in a return of funds the returned funds will be distributed to the Cities
for their pro rata share.
S. The tenor of this agreement from the signature date to September 30, 2008. Any City may
withdraw from this agreement by providing notice to the other Cities but shall remain obligated for
payment of their share set forth in Section 2.
CITY OF BOISE
BY:
Its:
CITY OF MERIDIAN
BY:
Its:
Dated
Dated ~" O~~' ~~
CITY OF NAMPA
BY:
Its:
Dated
CITY OF CALDWELL
BY:
Its:
Dated
END OF AGREEMENT
JOINT FUNDLNG AGREEMENT
OPERATION OF CONTIN[JOUS WATER QUALITY MONITORS IN'1'HE LOWER BOISE
AND SNAKE RIVERS BY THE UNITED STATES GF,OLOGICAL S.iJRVEY
"THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the City of Boise ,hereinafter '`Boise",
City of Meridian, hereinafter `'Meridian'",City of Caldwell, hereinafter "Caldwell'' and the City of
Nampa, hereinafter "Nampa" for the purpose of jointly funding the collection of water quality data
on the Boise and Snake Rivers by the United States Geological .Survey.
WHEREAS, Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell (collectively "the Cities"} are subject to
NYDES permits issued by the U.S. F,PA which regulate discharges to Waters of the ilS including
the Boise and Snake Rivers: and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined it is their best interests to monitor water quality in
the lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS} has ofTered to perform
continuous water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers on behalf of the Cities
subject to cost sharing ;and
WHEREAS, for the fiscal year 2008 (ending September 30, 2008} the USGS has agreed to
contribute $74,476.00 for water quality monitoring provided the Cities provide $84,000 in
matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the iJSGS will only contract with one of the Cities for the purpose of jointly
funding the water quality study for fiscal year 2008; and
WHEREAS, Boise has agreed to contract with USGS and be the funding conduit for the
Cities to USGS; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have determined funding contribution amounts for fiscal year 2008
to utilize USGS for water quality monitoring of the Lower Boise and Snake Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Cities desire to enter into this agreement to formalize the Cities funding and other
obligations for the USGS water quality monitoring project
NOW, 'THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, it is agreed:
1. Boise will enter into a contract with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for the purpose
of jointly funding continuous water quality monitoring of the bower Boise and Snake Rivers. "The
contract shall be in substantially the form set i~~rth in (/xhibit "A", attached hereto, and shall be for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.
2. 'The Cities agree to the following cost sharing amounts for the joint funding of the Cities fiscal
year 2008 share (through Boise} of the i.7SGS agreement:
£HT O~
Q,4~ ry
~~ _ "y~ United States Department of the Interior
3 z
U.S. CiEOLOGIC:AL. SURt~Y
~'4gcH 3^~BA~ IDA.H4 Vv~T.ER SCIFNC) CENTER
230 Colons Road
,Boise, Idaho $37{)2-4520
June .27, 2(}08
Mr. Robbi:n :Finch
City of Boise
Public Works Department
I'.U.:T3ox 500
Boise, :Idaho 837C):1.-050()
Dear Mr. Finch:
Irnclosed are two documents. The first is entitled "A Proposal to Operate Continuous Water-Qualaity
Monitors in the Lower Boise and Snake Rioters, Idahd'. This document provides technical and. funding.
details for a. proposed project. that. would provide continuous water-quality monitoring at. three sites -one
on the LoN=er l3oi.se and two on the Snake River, one above and one below the confluence with the Boise
River. The proposal describes the monitoring approach that would be used and the associated costs
beginning in 2008 and continuing through 2013. As outlined in table 2 of the proposal. the costs for first
year of the project are ~ 158,476.
The i).S. Geological Survey (USGS} is prepared to contribute ~74,47G towards the FY 20()8 costs as
outlined in the second enclosed docunacnt ~-hich is a Joint Funding t~greernent {JFA}. In subsequent years
the USGS matching funds contribution will be at least x30,000 with the possibility of being as couch as
~SO,U00 depending upon availability. lf'this proposal meets with your approval please obtain appropriate
signatures on both copies of the agreement, retain one for your files, and return the other to us.
Work performed with funds from this agreement ~+ill be conducted on a fixed-price basis. The results oP
all work under this agreement will. be available for publication by the U.S. Geological. Survey. Questions
concerning this proposal should. be addressed to Mark Hardy at (208} 387-1.352 or mhard,t@usgs.gov.
Si.ncerel
Kathy D. Peter, I',E.
Dissector. I~'SC
1/nclosures
Copy to: Greg Clark, USES, Boise
M-ark Hardy; USES, Boise
Steve Lipscomb, USGS, Boise
Sally Thompson, L?SGS, T3oise
A Proposal to Operate Continuous Water-Quality Monitors in the Lower Boise and
Snake Rivers, Idaho
BACKGROUND
The USEPA approved Total Maximum Daily Load for Snake River/Hells Canyon reach (SR-HC TMDL)
recognizes excess phytoplankton production in the Hells Canyon reservoirs. To protect the designated
beneficial uses in the reach, maximum-seasonal-average and maximum chlorophyll-a concentrations have
been set at 14 mg/L and 30 mg/L, respectively. To attain these conditions, maximum total-phosphorus
(TP) concentration at the mouth of the Boise River have been set at 0.07 mg/L; significantly lower than
past monitored and modeled TP concentrations.
The relations between chlorophyll-a concentrations and phosphorus concentrations in the SR-HC TMDL
reach are unknown. Also unknown are the effects of nitrogen concentrations on algal production; effects
of the algal communities on other key water-quality properties related to beneficial uses such as water
clazity (turbidity), pH, and dissolved-oxygen content; and the significance of Boise River contributions of
TP, total nitrogen (TN), and chlorophyll-a to the loads transported by the Snake River into Brownlee
Reservoir. Finally, limited work using automatic samplers suggests that TP concentrations in the Boise
River may change significantly and more rapidly than monthly monitoring frequencies were able to show.
To determine if concentrations of chlorophyll-a and TP are truly improving or meeting established
targets, and to address the unknown information and data variability issues discussed above, intensive
monitoring in the Boise and Snake Rivers is necessary. To make such monitoring cost effective, use of
automated methods is desirable.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this project are to:
Install and operate continuous water-quality (WQ) monitors on the lower Boise River and on the Snake
River above and below Boise River confluence,
Evaluate how well data from continuous wQ monitors (particulazly chlorophyll-a) represent conditions in
the cross sections of the Rivers,
Evaluate relations between concentrations of chlorophyll-a and those of phosphorus and nitrogen species,
Evaluate the relative importance of Boise River TP and TN loads to the Snake River loads,
Estimate TP, TN, and chlorophyll-a loads to Brownlee Reservoir,
Operate an automatic sampler to determine the short-term variations in TP and TN concentrations in the
Boise River near Parma.
APPROACH
Four commercial multiparameter water-quality monitors will be purchased capable of continuous
monitoring of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductance, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a. Three of the
instruments will be installed at the Boise River near Parma, ID; the Snake River near Nyssa, OR (about 9
miles below the confluence with the Boise River); and the Snake River near Adrian, OR (about 7 miles
above the confluence with the Boise River). The fourth instrument will be used when servicing the
installations to collect comparative data for evaluating installation fouling and for making necessary
corrections to the data record. This instrument will also be a backup if an installation completely fails. A
refrigerated automatic sampler will be reactivated at the Boise River near Parma, ID.
Sampling frequency of the multiparameter instruments will be 15-minute intervals. Although this
relatively high frequency will probably be more than necessary to capture significant stream processes, it
may provide necessary information for interpreting and correcting the data record as well as verifying
data trends that occur over diet cycles. Water samples for laboratory analyses of chlorophyll-a,
orthophosphate, TP, ammonia, nitrite-plus-nitrate, and TN will be collected during most site visits.
Chlorophyll-a analyses will be performed by the US Bureau of Reclamation laboratory in Boise, ID;
nutrient analyses will be performed by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory. Unless data
collection needs to cover certain hydrologic events, the automatic sampler will be set to collect samples at
49-hour intervals to ensure that samples are not collected at the same time each day and that both daylight
and dark periods are included. Because nutrient species are not expected to be stable in samples held in
an automatic sampler, these samples will be analyzed only for TN and TP by the USGS National Water
Quality Laboratory. Continuous stream-discharge information will be available from gages near the
Nyssa and Parma sites. However, lack of a gage at Adrian will require that instantaneous discharge
measurements are made during site visits when full cross-section samples are collected.
Significant amounts of quality-control data need to be collected to determine how well instrument-
installation and auto-sampler locations represent the entire river cross sections, and the impacts of
installation fouling on accuracy of the data. To minimize data compromised by fouling, servicing
intervals will vary from weekly during high algal-productivity periods to monthly during low-
productivity periods. Quality~ontrol samples and measurements will include comparisons of
multiparameter-instrument readings using an independent instrument next to the installation, pre- and
post leaning measurements and samples, grab samples at the instrument installation and automatic-
sampler-intake locations, and replicate .samples. Table 1 shows a generalized schedule anticipated for
service on installations and collection of samples.
;TABLE 1.--Generalized tasks and frequencies forservice and sample,colledion _I ~ ~ _
' ~ k
' TASK Octoberthrough May June July through September
Continuous-monitor service Monthly Biweekly Weekly
Multiparameter cross sections Monthly Biweekly Biweekly
Grab samples (chloropphyll) Monthly Biweekly Weekly
EWI samples (chloroph II & nutrients) Monthly Biweekly Weekly
Discharge measurements (Adrian only) Monthly Biweekly Weekly
Parma auotmatic-sampler service Monthly Biweekly Weekly
PRODUCTS
Measurements of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductance, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a will be
recorded at 15-minute intervals. This data will be available to the public on the USGS www site,
generally within 3 weeks after downloading from the instruments. Only data determined to be of poor
quality and uncorrectable due to instrument fouling or other problems will be .omitted. TN and TP
analyses from the automatic sampler at Parma will be reported for automatically-collected samples at 49-
hour intervals (approximately 175-180 samples per full yeaz). Collection of additional quality-control
samples will be done to ensure that samples from the automatic sampler continue to represent the Boise
River.
Starting in the second year of the project, products interpreting some aspect of the project will be
produced. Interpretive reports summarizing the overall monitoring network and resulting data will be
produced every 2 to 3 years with every other one designed to coincide with EPA's reporting
requirements. A smaller product (such as a poster, journal article, or presentation at a technical meeting)
addressing some particular aspect of the network data will be produced in 2009 and in each yeaz that an
interpretive report is not written thereafter.
BUDGET
Table 2 shows the annual costs for the project for the federal fiscal year (October 1 -September 30) 2008
through 2013. The USGS will provide $74,476 in matching funds in fy2008 to cover instrument
purchases and installations. In subsequent years, minimum USGS matching funds will be $30,000, and
could range as high as $50,000, depending on availability and on costs associated with reports, articles,
and other informational projects stemming from this project
TABLE 2.-Project costs in dollars for fiscal years 2008 through 2013
FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013
Project oversi ht 4560 11900 12260 12630 13010 13400
Labor and installations 29220 71500 73650 75860 78130 80480
Instruments 55320
Instrument maintenance 10300 10610 10930 -11260
Su lies 7180 19680 20270 20880 21510 22150
Laborato 6700 18750 19310 19890 20480 21100
Shi in and Misc. 2000 3500 3610 3720 3830 3940
Products 10000 10300 . 10610 10930 11260
Overhead 53496 121770 126700 130500 134480 138510
TOTAL 158476 257100 276400 284700 293300 302.100
USGS share ~ 74476. TBD* TBD TBD TBD TBD
Coo erator share 84000 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
*To be determined