EESSCCAALLAANNTTEE RRIIVVEERR USE ATTAINABILITY ANALYSIS Prepared For: Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Quality Carl Adams Harry Lewis Judd Project Manager Project Supervisor Prepared By: MSE Millennium Science & Engineering, Inc. Pocket Water Inc. ESCALANTE RIVER WATERSHED USE ATTAINABILITY ANALYSIS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and Document Organization.................................................................... 1 1.2 The TMDL Process...................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Utah’s Watershed Approach ........................................................................................ 2 1.4 Watershed Characterization......................................................................................... 4 1.4.1 Location and Population................................................................................ 4 1.4.2 Surface Water Hydrology.............................................................................. 6 1.4.3 Land Use/Ownership and Land Cover .......................................................... 7 1.4.4 Vegetation Characteristics............................................................................. 8 1.4.5 Climate........................................................................................................... 8 1.4.6 Hydrogeology ................................................................................................ 9 1.4.7 Fisheries Information..................................................................................... 9 2.0 WATER QUALITY CRITERIA...................................................................................... 11 2.1 Beneficial Uses and 303(d) Listed Section ................................................................ 11 2.2 Water Quality Standards ............................................................................................ 12 3.0 IMPAIRMENT ANALYSIS............................................................................................. 13 3.1 Geographic Extent of the Water Quality Management Plan...................................... 13 3.2 Water Quality and Flow Data .................................................................................... 13 3.2.1 Water Quality Data in STORET.................................................................. 13 3.2.2 USGS Flow Data ......................................................................................... 16 3.3 Water Quality Analysis.............................................................................................. 17 3.3.1 Summary of Water Temperature Data Collected in 2003 ........................... 17 3.3.2 Climate and Flow Considerations................................................................ 21 3.3.3 Utah State University Data Series ............................................................... 23 4.0 USE ATTAINABILITY ANALYSIS............................................................................... 26 4.1 Reach Differentiation................................................................................................. 26 4.2 Use-Attainability........................................................................................................ 26 4.3 Loading Assessment .................................................................................................. 27 5.0 IMPLEMENTATION PLANS AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES............. 29 5.1 Statement of Need...................................................................................................... 30 5.1.1 Project Water Quality Priority..................................................................... 30 5.1.2 Project Goals................................................................................................ 31 5.1.3 Objectives and Tasks ................................................................................... 31 5.1.4 Best Management Practices......................................................................... 33 i 5.1.5 Permits ......................................................................................................... 33 5.1.6 Lead Sponsor............................................................................................... 33 5.1.7 Assurance of Project Operation and Maintenance....................................... 33 5.2 Coordination Plan...................................................................................................... 34 5.2.1 Lead Project Sponsor................................................................................... 34 5.2.2 Local Support............................................................................................... 34 5.2.3 Coordination and Linkages.......................................................................... 34 5.2.4 Similar Activities......................................................................................... 34 5.3 Evaluation and Monitoring Plan ................................................................................ 35 5.3.1 Sampling and Analysis Plan Goals.............................................................. 35 5.3.2 Implementation and Effectiveness Monitoring ........................................... 36 5.3.3 Trend Monitoring.........................................................................................37 5.4 Long-Term Funding Plans for Operation and Maintenance ...................................... 38 5.5 Public Involvement .................................................................................................... 38 6.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 39 7.0 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 43 LIST OF TABLES Table 1-1 Watershed Characteristics within the Escalante Study Area ........................................ 6 Table 1-2 Landownership Patterns in the Escalante Study Area .................................................. 7 Table 1-3 Monthly Climate Summaries for Escalante Utah Station 1971 to 2000....................... 8 Table 2-1 303(d) Listed Section of the Escalante River ............................................................. 11 Table 2-2 303(d) Criteria for Assessing Aquatic Life - Beneficial Support Class 3A................ 12 Table 3-1 Available Water Temperature Data from STORET Stations within or Near the Listed Section ............................................................................................................. 14 Table 3-2 Applicable Water Temperature Data from STORET Stations Within or Near the Listed Section ....................................................................................................... 15 Table 3-3 USGS Gaging Stations in the Escalante Study Area .................................................. 16 Table 3-4 2003 Temperature Monitoring Stations with Acceptable Data Quality ..................... 17 Table 3-5 Comparison of 2003 Summer Water Temperature Results to Water Quality Criteria........................................................................................................................ 19 Table 3-6 Average Monthly Maximum Air Temperature for Escalante, Utah........................... 22 Table 3-7 Aquatic Monitoring Center Water Temperature Monitoring Stations........................ 23 Table 3-8 Escalante River at Escalante, Utah Comparison of Daily Maximum Water Temperature and Temperature Criteria ...................................................................... 24 Table 5-1 Suggested Station Locations for Temperature Monitoring......................................... 38 ii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1 Location of the Escalante River ................................................................................... 5 Figure 1-2 Annual Hydrograph at Escalante River near Escalante, Utah...................................... 7 Figure 1-3 Trout Habitat and Distribution of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout in the Upper Escalante River Drainage (from Hepworth, et al., 2001) ........................................... 10 Figure 3-1 Water Temperature for Escalante River below North Creek, Summer 2003............. 18 Figure 3-2 Water Temperature for Escalante River below Sand Creek, Summer 2003 .............. 18 Figure 3-3 Example of Flow and Riparian Conditions - Escalante River above Death Hollow .............. 20 Figure 3-4 Example of Flow and Riparian Conditions - Escalante River below Death Hollow.............. 20 Figure 3-5 Forty Year Monthly Average Maximum Air Temperature for Escalante, Utah ........ 21 Figure 3-6 Historical Flows Compared to 2003 Flows................................................................ 22 Figure 3-7 Escalante River Temperature near Escalante, Utah and USGS Gage Data................ 24 Figure 3-8 Escalante River Temperature near Highway 12 Bridge ............................................. 25 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1: List of Contributors Appendix 2: Map 1 Watershed Overview Map 2 General Topography Map 3 Vegetation Map 4 Land Ownership Map 5 STORET Sites and USGS Stream Gaging Station Locations Appendix 3: STORET Station Data and Statistical Summaries Appendix 4: 2003 Temperature Monitoring Plan and Results Appendix 5: USGS Stream Gage Station Monthly Flow Summaries