Watershed Approach – Powder Basin Powder Basin Status Report and Action Plan November 2013 Water Quality Division Watershed Management 811 SW 6th Avenue Portland, OR 97204 Phone: (503) 229-5696 (800) 452-4011 Fax: (503) 229-6762 Contact: John Dadoly www.oregon.gov/DEQ DEQ is a leader in restoring, maintaining and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land and water. Last Updated: 11/07/13 By: John Dadoly Powder Basin Status Report and Action Plan This report prepared by: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 811 SW 6th Avenue Portland, OR 97204 1-800-452-4011 www.oregon.gov/deq Contact: John Dadoly (541) 278-4616 Alternative formats (Braille, large type) of this document can be made available. Contact DEQ’s Office of Communications & Outreach, Portland, at (503) 229-5696, or toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011, ext. 5696. Powder Basin Status Report and Action Plan Oregon Department of Environmental Quality iii Powder Basin Status Report and Action Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... vii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 2. Basin Description ........................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Geographic Area ..................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Climate ................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Current Land Uses/Cover and Land Ownership ...................................................... 4 2.4 Fisheries ................................................................................................................. 6 2.4.1 Fish Species Status .......................................................................................... 6 2.4.1 Redband Trout ................................................................................................. 8 2.4.3 Bull Trout ......................................................................................................... 9 2.5 Hydrology and Beneficial Water Use ..................................................................... 11 2.5.1 Hydrology ....................................................................................................... 11 2.5.2 Dams and Diversions ..................................................................................... 12 2.5.3 Surface Water Beneficial Use ........................................................................ 15 2.5.4 Groundwater Beneficial Use ........................................................................... 28 References ..................................................................................................................... 29 3. Pollutant Sources ...................................................................................................... 30 3.1 Point Sources ....................................................................................................... 30 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) ..................................... 30 General Permits ....................................................................................................... 33 Water Pollution Control Facilities (WPCF) ................................................................ 34 3.2 Nonpoint Sources ................................................................................................. 35 3.2.1 Urban/Rural Residential ................................................................................. 36 3.2.2 Forestry .......................................................................................................... 37 3.2.3 Agriculture ...................................................................................................... 39 3.2.4 Recreational ................................................................................................... 42 3.2.5 Reservoirs and Diversions .............................................................................. 42 3.2.6 Transportation ................................................................................................ 44 3.2.7 Invasive Plant Species ................................................................................... 45 3.2.8 Mining ............................................................................................................ 46 3.2.9 Landslides/Stream Channel Stability ............................................................... 48 References ..................................................................................................................... 52 4.0 SURFACE WATER QUALITY STATUS AND TRENDS........................................... 54 4.1 Water Quality Monitoring ...................................................................................... 54 4.1.1 DEQ Ambient Sites ......................................................................................... 54 4.1.2 Oregon Water Quality Index ........................................................................... 54 4.1.3 Flow/Temperature Monitoring Sites ................................................................ 58 4.1.4 TMDL Bacteria, Nutrient and Sediment Sampling Sites ................................. 59 4.1.5 Biomonitoring Sites ........................................................................................ 62 4.2 Water Quality Limited Streams ............................................................................. 63 4.3 Pollutant-Specific Surface Water Quality Conditions and Water Quality Standards 66 4.3.1 Bacteria........................................................................................................... 66 4.3.2 Sedimentation ................................................................................................. 73 Oregon Department of Environmental Quality iv Powder Basin Status Report and Action Plan 4.3.3 Turbidity .......................................................................................................... 74 4.3.4 Chlorophyll ...................................................................................................... 75 4.3.6 pH ................................................................................................................... 87 4.3.8 Temperature .................................................................................................. 96 4.3.9 Toxics ...........................................................................................................103 4.3.10 Altered Hydrology .......................................................................................109 4.3.11 Habitat Modification (i.e. Sumpter Valley and other channelized and dredged streams) ....................................................................................................110 4.3.12 Biocriteria ....................................................................................................112 4.3.13 Hazardous Algae Blooms ............................................................................114 References ....................................................................................................................116 5. Groundwater Quality Status and Trends ................................................................117 5.1 Groundwater Monitoring ......................................................................................117 5.2 Groundwater Quality and Support of Beneficial Uses ..........................................118 Haines Groundwater Investigation ..........................................................................118 Baker Landfill Groundwater Data ............................................................................118 Northern Malheur County Groundwater Management Area ....................................118 Real Estate Transaction Database ..........................................................................119 6. General Water Quality Priorities in the Powder Basin ...........................................120 7. Status of Current DEQ Water Quality-Related Actions ..........................................121 7.1 TMDL Program ....................................................................................................121 7.2 Waste Water Control – Point Source Program .....................................................121 7.2.1 Domestic Waste Water Permitting .................................................................121 7.2.2 Pre-Treatment Program ................................................................................121 7.2.3 Stormwater Program .....................................................................................121 7.2.4 Biosolids Program .........................................................................................122 7.2.5 Water Re-Use Program .................................................................................123 7.2.6 Underground Injection Control Program ........................................................124 7.2.6 On-Site Septic Program ................................................................................125 7.3 Compliance and Enforcement ..............................................................................125 7.4 Groundwater Program .........................................................................................126