Current SRWP Monitoring Sites
Early in the development of the SRWP monitoring program, the Monitoring Committee established a set of criteria to evaluate and select the monitoring locations for the SWRP monitoring program. Criteria used for the selection of sites included the following:
- existing sampling station
- site access constraints
- flow gauging station
- sampling access constraints
- magnitude of streamflow
- available water quality data
- critical habitat area
- in existing watershed program
- predominant land use (e.g., agriculture, municipal, industrial, mining, etc.)
- potential water quality impairment, including 303(d) listed waterbodies
After an initial screening using the criteria listed above, the selection was narrowed to include sites along the mainstem of the Sacramento River and at the mouths of major tributaries. Major tributaries were identified based on existing streamflow data.
Mainstem sites were selected to facilitate coordination with existing programs and to provide information below major reservoirs. Major tributaries were selected based on the magnitude of flow into the mainstem. Early in the monitoring effort, the three major
tributaries to Lake Shasta were also included to capture these inputs and large tributary areas.
In addition to the mainstem monitoring, three smaller Sierra Nevada tributaries (Mill Creek, Big Chico Creek, and Deer Creek) were monitored for special studies in 1998-2000. The Committee included these tributaries on a demonstration basis to encourage
monitoring in these areas and to coordinate with the monitoring activities of the Department of Water Resources, Northern District.
For the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 monitoring years, locations were added for mercury monitoring in Cottonwood Creek watershed (three locations), Battle Creek watershed (three locations), Thomes Creek (three locations), Dry Creek (one site), and Little Chico
Creek (one site). All of these locations were added to provide a better understanding of the mercury sources in the Sacramento River Watershed. Cottonwood Creek, Battle Creek, and Thomes Creek are relatively large tributary watersheds for which there were
little or no mercury data, and Dry Creek and Little Chico Creek may be affected by significant historical mining operations in those watersheds.
For 2003-2004, monitoring was reduced to 14 sites (from 31 in the previous year) considered to be the “backbone” of the monitoring program. The reduction in monitoring locations was made in response to budget reductions and to allow a consistent suite
of parameters to continue to be monitored at these sites. Seven of the sites are located on the mainstem of the Sacramento River, from the Sacramento River below Keswick Reservoir to the Sacramento River at River Mile 44. Three sites are located on major
tributaries to the Sacramento River, two sites are located on major agricultural drains, and two sites are located in highly urbanized drainages. All of these locations were continued from previous years of monitoring.
Of the 14 sites monitored in 2003-2004, aquatic toxicity testing with Ceriodaphnia, Pimephales, and Selenastrum was conducted at 11 locations. Fish tissue monitoring for mercury was continued at three locations selected by the SRWP Fish Tissue Focus Group
as the highest priority for continued monitoring for tracking of long-term trends in mercury concentrations. Chemical characteristics and pathogen indicators in water were monitored at 12 locations. Overall, the monitored sites cover over 300 miles of the
Sacramento River system and represent a drainage area of over 23,000 square miles.
Below are the sampling sites for the SWRP 2003- 2004 monitoring program with a description of the location, type of site, and contributing land use percentages.
Below are the site locations shown in map form (click on map for larger version).
