Fremont River Watershed Water Quality Management Plan
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FFrreemmoonntt RRiivveerr WWaatteerrsshheedd Water Quality Management Plan September 27, 2002 Includes TMDLs for: Johnson Valley Reservoir Forsyth Reservoir Mill Meadow Reservoir UM Creek Upper Fremont River Lower Fremont River i FREMONT RIVER WATERSHED WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The TMDL Process ........................................................................................ 1 1.2 Utah’s Watershed Approach .......................................................................... 3 2.0 WATERSHED DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 5 2.1 Historic Perspective ....................................................................................... 5 2.2 Climate........................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Geology / Soils............................................................................................... 8 2.4 Land Use / Land Cover ................................................................................ 11 2.5 Hydrology..................................................................................................... 12 2.5.1 Reservoirs ....................................................................................... 12 2.5.2 Subbasins ....................................................................................... 18 2.5.3 Irrigation Canal System................................................................... 18 3.0 CURRENT MONITORING PROGRAM ................................................................ 19 3.1 Locations...................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Frequency .................................................................................................... 20 3.3 Parameters .................................................................................................. 21 4.0 WATER QUALITY................................................................................................ 22 4.1 Upper Fremont River Watershed – Reservoirs and Tributaries ................... 25 4.1.1 Applicable Water Quality Standards................................................ 27 4.1.2 Reservoir Water Quality Assessment.............................................. 31 4.1.3 Nonpoint Sources............................................................................ 34 Livestock Grazing Allotments...................................................... 34 Logging ....................................................................................... 35 Recreation................................................................................... 36 Loading Calculations................................................................... 36 Best Management Practices ....................................................... 43 4.1.4 Point Sources.................................................................................. 45 4.1.5 Water Quality Goals and Targets .................................................... 45 4.2 Upper Fremont River – Fremont River near Bicknell to USFS Boundary.... 46 4.2.1 Water Quality Assessment .............................................................. 46 4.2.2 Nonpoint Sources, Identification and Loading ................................. 47 Cropland ..................................................................................... 47 Livestock Grazing Allotments...................................................... 48 Dairies......................................................................................... 49 Feedlots ...................................................................................... 49 Urban (stormwater and septic systems)...................................... 49 Loading Calculations................................................................... 49 Best Management Practices ....................................................... 58 4.2.3 Point Sources.................................................................................. 59 4.2.4 Water Quality Goals and Targets .................................................... 61 ii FREMONT RIVER WATERSHED WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 4.3 Lower Fremont River Watershed ................................................................. 61 4.3.1 Applicable Water Quality Standards................................................ 61 4.3.2 Water Quality Assessment .............................................................. 63 4.3.3 Nonpoint Sources............................................................................ 65 Cropland ..................................................................................... 65 Upland and Streambank Erosion ................................................ 65 Loading Calculations................................................................... 65 Best Management Practices ....................................................... 67 4.3.4 Potential Point Sources................................................................... 68 Artesian Wells ............................................................................. 68 4.3.5 Water Quality Goals and Targets .................................................... 69 5.0 TMDL...................................................................................................................... 1 6.0 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLANS .............................................................. 70 6.1 Statement of Need ....................................................................................... 70 6.1.1 Project Water Quality Priority .......................................................... 71 6.1.2 Project Goals................................................................................... 71 6.1.3 Objectives and Tasks...................................................................... 72 6.1.4 Permits............................................................................................ 76 6.1.5 Lead Sponsor.................................................................................. 76 6.1.6 Assurance of Project Operation and Maintenance .......................... 76 6.2 Coordination Plan......................................................................................... 77 6.2.1 Lead Project Sponsor...................................................................... 77 6.2.2 Local Support .................................................................................. 77 6.2.3 Coordination and Linkages.............................................................. 78 6.2.4 Similar Activities .............................................................................. 78 6.3 Evaluation and Monitoring Plan ................................................................... 78 6.3.1 Sampling and Analysis Plan............................................................ 78 6.3.2 General Design and Parameters..................................................... 79 6.3.3 Data Management, Storage, and Reporting.................................... 81 6.3.4 Models used.................................................................................... 81 6.3.5 Long-Term Funding Plans for Operation and Maintenance............. 81 6.4 Public Involvement....................................................................................... 81 7.0 FUTURE LAND USE............................................................................................ 82 8.0 RECOMMENDED WATER QUALITY MONITORING PLAN ............................... 84 8.1 Upper Fremont River Reservoir and Tributary Monitoring............................ 85 8.2 Upper Fremont River.................................................................................... 86 9.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................... 88 10.0 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................... 95 iii FREMONT RIVER WATERSHED WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Annual Average Temperature ..................................................................... 6 Table 2.2 Mean Annual Precipitation........................................................................... 7 Table 2.3 Fish Lake Characteristics and Morphometry ............................................. 13 Table 2.4 Johnson Valley Reservoir Characteristics and Morphometry .................... 14 Table 2.5 Forsyth Reservoir Characteristics and Morphometry................................. 15 Table 2.6 Mill Meadow Reservoir Characteristics and Morphometry......................... 17 Table 4.1 303(d) Listed Segments and Waterbodies in the Upper Fremont River Watershed ....................................................................................... 23 Table 4.2 303(d) Listed Segments in the Lower Fremont River Watershed .............. 24 Table 4.3 Morphometry Data for Fremont River Watershed Reservoirs.................... 27 Table 4.4 Numeric Criteria for Aquatic Life................................................................ 28 Table 4.5 Narrative Criteria for Assessing Aquatic Life Beneficial............................. 28 Table 4.6 Initial Evaluation Criteria............................................................................ 29 Table 4.7 Summary Statistics