Selenium Concentrations in Crow Creek, Snake River Basin, 2008 …deq.state.wy.us/wqd/watershed/Program Documents/9... · 2014-12-15 · Snake River Basin . 303(d) Waterbody ID :

Selenium Concentrations in Crow Creek, Snake River

Basin, 2008-2012

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality-Water Quality Division

Selenium Concentrations in Crow Creek, Snake River Basin, 2008-2012

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WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

WATER QUALITY DIVISION

CHAPTER 1 STANDARDS ATTAINMENT/NON-ATTAINMENT

QUICK SUMMARY

Waterbody ID Crow Creek, HUC 170401050102

Basin Name Snake River Basin

303(d) Waterbody ID Not Applicable

Waterbody Classification Class 2AB

Location Lincoln County, Wyoming

Extent of Assessment From the border with Idaho to the confluence with the Salt River

Years assessed 2008-2012

Assigned Designated Uses Fisheries (cold water game fish and non-game fish), fish consumption, aquatic life other than fish, drinking water, recreation, wildlife, agriculture, industry, scenic value

Chapter 1 Standards Attainment

Non-attainment of Section 21(b) (Protection of Aquatic Life) due to exceedances of the aquatic life chronic criterion for total selenium within two years of a consecutive three year period.

Extent of Chapter 1 standards non-attainment

From the border with Idaho to the confluence with the Salt River

Pollutants/Pollution that Result in Designated Use Non-Attainment

Selenium

Source(s) of Pollutants/Pollution

phosphate mining in Idaho, possible natural sources

Cover Page: Crow Creek Fairview, 2012


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Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 3

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 3

PURPOSE AND SCOPE ................................................................................................................................... 4

DESCRIPTION OF ASSESSMENT AREA ........................................................................................................... 4

STREAM CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGNATED USES ....................................................................................... 6

SURFACE WATER HYDROLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 6

FACTORS THAT AFFECT WATER QUALITY ..................................................................................................... 6

METHODS AND ANALYTICAL APPROACHES .................................................................................................. 7

Site Selection ................................................................................................................................................. 7

Data Collection .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................................. 9

RESULTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Chemical Quality ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Selenium ............................................................................................................................................. 10

Physical Condition ................................................................................................................................... 11

CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 11

CHAPTER 1 STANDARDS ATTAINMENT/NON-ATTAINMENT ...................................................................... 11

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................ 12

Appendix 1. Water Quality Results from Crow Creek Watershed, 2008-2012. .................................. 13

Appendix 2. Selenium Results from USGS station 13025500, Crow Creek, Near Fairview, WY. ........ 14

FIGURES Figure 1. Crow Creek investigation area with associated WDEQ/WQD monitoring sites. ........................... 5 Figure 2. Crow Creek selenium concentrations, 2008-2012. ...................................................................... 10

TABLES

Table 1. Descriptive information for WDEQ/WQD monitoring sites on Crow Creek. ................................. 8 Table 2. Selenium concentrations for Crow Creek and additional waterbodies, 2008-2012. ...................... 9

Author: Tavis Eddy, WDEQ/WQD.

This document was peer reviewed by Jeremy Zumberge.


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) § 305(b) requires States to describe the water quality condition of all their waters including all designated use determinations. In addition, CWA § 303(d) directs each State to develop a list of all waters which do not fully support designated uses and require development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The Watershed Monitoring Program of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality-Water Quality Division (WDEQ/WQD) monitors water quality and evaluates attainment of water quality standards for streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and wetlands in Wyoming.

Crow Creek is classified as a Class 2AB stream along its entire length in Wyoming. Class 2AB streams are protected for the following designated uses: drinking water, fisheries (cold water game fish and non-game fish), fish consumption, aquatic life other than fish, recreation, wildlife, agriculture, industry, and scenic values (WDEQ/WQD 2008).

Crow Creek was included in the WDEQ/WQD Watershed Monitoring Program in 2008 because data collected by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) indicated elevated levels of selenium on Crow Creek within Idaho. The documented values in Idaho exceeded the Wyoming aquatic life chronic criterion of 5 μg/L (0.005 mg/L) for total selenium. The state of Idaho entered into discussions with Simplot Mining (owner of the Smoky Canyon phosphate mine), and other entities, to understand and regulate the influences of open-pit phosphate mining on the surface water within Idaho. Multiple stream reaches in Idaho that drain the mining activity, and contribute to Crow Creek, are on the Idaho 303(d) list of impaired waters for elevated selenium values (IDEQ 2011).

IDEQ is currently considering site-specific selenium criteria for the streams draining the Smoky Canyon Mine, which contribute to Crow Creek, as well as Crow Creek itself. The proposed criteria are for fish egg/ovary thresholds, with a translation to both a wholebody tissue selenium value and an aqueous trigger value intended to correspond to water-column values (Formation Environmental and Habitech, Inc. 2012).

Water quality samples collected by the Wyoming DEQ between 2008 and 2012 indicate that there are elevated selenium concentrations in Crow Creek and corroborate the IDEQ’s findings within Idaho. The concentrations of multiple samples exceeded the 0.005 mg/L aquatic life chronic criterion for total selenium. These results translate to non-attainment of Chapter 1, Section 21(b) of Wyoming Water Quality Rules and Regulations.

INTRODUCTION The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) § 305(b) requires States to describe the water quality condition of all their waters including all designated use determinations. In addition, CWA § 303(d) directs each State to develop a list of all waters which do not fully support designated uses and require development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The Watershed Monitoring Program of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality-Water Quality Division (WDEQ/WQD) monitors water quality and evaluates attainment of water quality standards for streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and wetlands in


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Wyoming. Findings from these studies are then incorporated into the State’s biennial 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Statewide Water Quality Assessment Report that is submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

PURPOSE AND SCOPE Crow Creek was targeted for monitoring by the Watershed Monitoring Program beginning in 2008 because data from various sources showed elevated selenium concentrations for Crow Creek in Idaho. Concentrations within Wyoming were largely unknown at that time. IDEQ and other agencies continued monitoring various locations on Crow Creek and its tributaries within Idaho during the study period of this report.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSESSMENT AREA The portion of Crow Creek under investigation extends from the Idaho-Wyoming border, downstream to the confluence with the Salt River (Figure 1).

Crow Creek originates in the Caribou National Forest of southeastern Idaho. The creek flows to the northeast through montane and foothill environments, confluencing with multiple tributaries prior to entering Wyoming near the small community of Fairview, Wyoming (Figure 1). Once the system enters Star Valley near Fairview, Crow Creek decreases its gradient and become more sinuous. It flows to the north, where water is withdrawn by numerous irrigation diversions and joins the Salt River northwest of Afton. Crow Creek’s valley length within Wyoming is approximately 8 miles, with a channel length of approximately 15 miles. The entire Crow Creek watershed, including the major tributary of Spring Creek, is 149 square miles.

The primary land uses in the Crow Creek watershed are mining, recreation, wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. Once Crow Creek enters the Salt River valley, the land uses are predominantly livestock grazing and hay production. Lower Crow Creek, below the Spring Creek confluence, is entirely on private land.


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Figure 1. Crow Creek investigation area with associated WDEQ/WQD monitoring sites.


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STREAM CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGNATED USES Crow Creek is classified as a Class 2AB stream along its entire length. Class 2AB streams are protected for the following designated uses: drinking water, fisheries (cold water game fish and non-game fish), fish consumption, aquatic life other than fish, recreation, wildlife, agriculture, industry, and scenic values (WDEQ/WQD 2008).

SURFACE WATER HYDROLOGY Crow Creek is a perennial stream with flows derived primarily from mountain snowmelt and springs. Irrigation practices in the lower extent of the watershed strongly influence the flow regime. There are streamflow data from US Geological Survey (USGS) stream gage #13025500, which operated from April 1946 until September 1967 (but inactive from 1950 through 1961). This is the same gage that was reactivated in 2012 to include selenium monitoring, as discussed later in this report. The station is at an elevation of 6,240 feet above sea level, and has a drainage area of 115 square miles (Figure 1). The mean annual flow for this station from 1946 to 1967 ranged from 47 to 85 cubic feet per second (cfs). The peak flows typically occurred from mid-May into early June. These values ranged from 120 to 346 cfs. There are no flow records that overlap with the data collection time-frame in this study. However, the flow recordings were resumed on November 30th 2012 and are presently ongoing.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT WATER QUALITY Selenium is a naturally occurring mineral element that is widely distributed in most rocks and soils. At elevated levels it can be toxic to aquatic life, such as fish and invertebrates. Selenium is known to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms, mainly through a dietary route of exposure. Toxic effects to fish include limitations on the growth and survival of juvenile fish as well as deleterious effects on the larval offspring of adults that were exposed to excessive selenium. Elevated selenium levels can also cause skeletal deformities and depressed immune systems.

Elevated selenium concentrations have been identified in the Idaho extent of Crow Creek and its tributaries through extended monitoring over many years (Formation Environmental and Habitech, Inc. 2012). Through the removal of phosphate ore, as documented at the open-pit Smoky Canyon Mine west of Sage Valley (Figure 1), the seleniferous overburden has historically been placed in specified disposal areas. The material is exposed to the infiltration of precipitation and snowmelt. The selenium released from the overburden in these disposal areas has the potential to migrate downward into the Wells Formation aquifer. The groundwater from the Wells Formation discharges to multiple springs which flow into tributaries of Crow Creek. Many of the highest recorded selenium values for the IDEQ study were documented from these spring sources (Formation Environmental and Habitech, Inc. 2012).


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METHODS AND ANALYTICAL APPROACHES

Site Selection WDEQ/WQD sampling of Crow Creek for this study began in 2008. The initial objective was to monitor selenium concentrations within Crow Creek as it enters Wyoming. The three sites that have been consistently used throughout this study were established in the first year and include: Crow Creek Stateline (Stateline), Crow Creek Fairview (Fairview), and Spring Creek State Crossing (Spring Creek) (Table 1). The Stateline site was chosen to monitor the selenium concentrations where Crow Creek crosses into Wyoming. The Fairview site has been used to understand any changes in Se concentration with distance downstream. Spring Creek has no phosphate mining activities within the watershed and was used as a control. The Stump Creek site was only visited in 2009 and 2010 to confirm the findings of the IDEQ. This creek lies to the north of Crow Creek, flows east into the Salt River, and similarly to Spring Creek, does not capture the mining influences from Idaho. Our selenium values at this site were relatively low, corroborating IDEQ results from their sites upstream in Idaho and the site was abandoned for continued monitoring.

After elevated selenium values were documented in 2010, WDEQ added more sites at the outlet of the Crow Creek watershed to determine the spatial extent of these high values and the influence, if any, on the Salt River. This led to the establishment of the following sites: Crow Creek outlet, Salt River Below Crow Creek Confluence, and Salt River Above Crow Creek Confluence. The latter site was needed to determine the selenium concentrations in the Salt River independent of Crow Creek. These sites were used in 2011 and 2012. Additional one-time sites were used and are indicated in Table 1.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) started collecting selenium samples in November 2012 at what had been a discontinued gage location. This is located upstream of the Fairview site, right before Crow Creek enters Salt River valley (Figure 1). The station is identified as ‘USGS 13025500 Crow Creek Near Fairview’ (USGS, 2001).

WDEQ sampled in June and October from 2008 through 2012. These two sampling periods were selected to characterize the selenium concentrations during high flow and base flow conditions. To approximate the four day average concentration specified in Chapter 1 for chronic aquatic life criteria, samples were taken four days apart (typically a Monday and Thursday). Following the establishment of USGS gage station 13025500 on Crow Creek, only one day of sampling was conducted by the WDEQ, in October 2012.


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Table 1. Descriptive information for WDEQ/WQD monitoring sites on Crow Creek.

Stream Site Crow Creek State

Line Crow Creek

Fairview Hardmans Hollow Spring Creek State

Crossing Stump Creek

Auburn Crow Creek Outlet Salt River Above

Crow Creek Salt River

Below Crow Creek

Salt River Public Access

Site ID MRW0162 MRW0163 MRW0164 MRW0189 MRW0191 MRW0190

Stream Classification

2AB 2AB 2AB 2AB 2AB 2AB 2AB 2AB

Latitude 42.655697 42.692439 42.656464 42.665299 42.787232 42.745550 42.745710 42.748430 42.757668

Longitude -111.044014 -110.997438 -111.045084 -110.997683 -111.033549 -110.973968 -110.972524 -110.974362 -110.973130

Watershed area (mi2)

87.6 134.6 3.2 42.6 67.1 148.9 179.34 328.24 330

Elevation 6,290 6,182 6,295 6,265 6,070 6,080 6,080 6,077 6,073

Legal SWNW Sec. 19-T31N-R119W

SWSE Sec.4-T31N-R119W

NWNW Sec. 19-T31N-R119W

SESE Sec. 16-T31N-R119W

SENE Sec. 6-T32N-R119W



SWSW Sec. 14-T32N-R119W

SWNW Sec. 14T32N-R119W

Level III Ecoregion Middle Rockies Middle Rockies Middle Rockies Middle Rockies Middle Rockies Middle Rockies Middle Rockies Middle Rockies Middle Rockies

Level IV Ecoregion Partly Forested Mtns Cold Valleys Partly Forested Mtns Partly Forested Mtns Partly Forested Mtns Cold Valleys Cold Valleys Cold Valleys Cold Valleys

Soilsa WY42 WY42 WY42 WY42 WY42 WY42 WY42 WY42 WY42

Dominant Bedrock Geologyb

Qa – Alluvium and colluvium









Description and Objective

State boundary, to capture initial condition

in Wyoming.

First site within the Salt River Valley topography.

One time 2011 sampling event, while

it was flowing. Typically dry.

Watershed unaffected by phosphate mining, serves as background

value.

Alternative drainage from mining activities,

sampled to confirm Idaho DEQ findings.

To assess contributions to Salt River, at base of

watershed.

To assess Salt River background values, above Crow Creek

influence.

To assess Salt River values, with

Crow Creek influence.

Single 2011 sample, to get below Crow Creek confluence

on public land.

Years Sampled 2008-2012 2008-2012 2011 2008-2012 2009-2010 2011-2012 2012 2011-2012 2011

a Munn and Arneson (1998) b Love and Christenson (1985)


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Data Collection Selenium was the pollutant of concern this study. Field parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, temperature and turbidity) and discharge were also measured to characterize each site. Data collection procedures followed approved WDEQ/WQD methods (WDEQ/WQD 2011).

Data Analysis The WDEQ/WQD makes use-support determinations through an evaluation of ‘credible data’ using a weight-of-evidence approach based on all applicable narrative and numeric criteria (WDEQ/WQD 2013). For this selenium-focused study, the analysis mainly entails comparing selenium concentrations to Wyoming water quality standards.

RESULTS

Chemical Quality Between 2008 and 2012, 79 sampling events occurred on Crow Creek, Spring Creek, and the Salt River. The selenium results are documented in Table 2, with all results in Appendix 1. The field parameters of temperature, pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity were within expected ranges for the context and season. No values in excess of Wyoming criteria were indicated through field parameter monitoring. The conductivity from Spring Creek tended to be slightly less than the sites on Crow Creek.

Table 2. Selenium concentrations (mg/L) for Crow Creek and additional waterbodies, 2008-2012.

Date

Crow Creek

Stateline

Crow Creek

Fairview

Crow Creek Outlet

Salt River Above Crow Creek

Salt River Below Crow

Creek

Spring Creek State Crossing

Hardmans Hollow

Stump Creek

Auburn

Salt River Above Fishing Access

6/9/2008 0.004 0.003 <0.001

6/12/2008 0.004 0.003 <0.001

10/13/2008 0.004 0.004 <0.001

10/16/2008 0.004 0.005 <0.001

6/8/2009 0.004 0.003 <0.001

6/11/2009 0.003 0.002 <0.001

10/12/2009 0.005 0.004 <0.001 <0.001

10/15/2009 0.004 0.003 <0.001

6/14/2010 0.0052 0.0048 <0.001 <0.001

6/17/2010 0.0058 0.0045 0.0008 0.0008

10/18/2010 0.01 0.007 <0.001 <0.001

10/21/2010 0.009 0.008 <0.001 <0.001

6/27/2011 0.0032 0.0017 <0.001 <0.001

6/30/2011 0.0033 0.0021 0.0007 <0.001 0.0014 <0.001

10/10/2011 0.0104 0.0086 0.0074 0.0038 <0.0005

10/13/2011 0.0103 0.009 0.0071 0.004 <0.0005

6/18/2012 0.013 0.009 0.002 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005

6/21/2012 0.011 0.01 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 10/9/2012 0.019 0.015 0.013 <0.001 0.003 0.001 June 2012 results from Wyoming DEQ lab; the remainder from Energy Labs in Casper. Bold values indicate a value >/= 0.005 mg/L <' denotes a non-detect sample. Note the variation in detection limit (either 0.001, 0.005 or 0.0005 mg/l) All blank samples returned non-detect values.

Total Selenium EPA Method E200.8 (2008, 2010, Oct. 2011, 2012) and A3114B (2009, June 2011)


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Selenium Of the 79 selenium samples collected by WDEQ/WQD, 19 exceeded the aquatic life chronic criterion of 0.005 mg/L for total selenium (Table 2 and Figure 2). All of these exceedances were measured at the three sites on the mainstem of Crow Creek. In both 2010 and 2011 there were six concentrations in excess of the criterion (3 sites), and seven in 2012 (3 sites). No concentrations greater than 0.005 mg/L were documented In Spring Creek, Stump Creek or the Salt River. In 2008, 2009, and 2011 selenium concentrations were the highest in October at base flow. However, in 2010 and 2012, high concentrations were documented during both the high flows of June and base flows of October.

Selenium concentrations in Crow Creek decreased in a downstream direction, which was likely attributable to dilution from tributaries. The highest concentrations for a given sampling date were typically at the Stateline site. The October 9th, 2012 selenium concentration of 0.019 mg/L at the Stateline site was the highest recorded value for this study. This concentration approaches the Wyoming aquatic life acute criterion of 0.020 mg/L (WDEQ/WQD 2007). Selenium concentrations for a given location, taken 4 days apart, were highly similar to one another. Both the USGS station 13025500 (November 2012) and the nearby WDEQ Crow Creek Fairview (October 2012) samples resulted in a concentration of 0.015 mg/L. The January 16th 2013 concentration of 0.0172 mg/L at the USGS gage suggests elevated concentrations during the low flow winter months (Appendix 2).

Figure 2. Crow Creek selenium concentrations, 2008-2012.

0

0.0025

0.005

0.0075

0.01

0.0125

0.015

0.0175

0.02

Sele

nium

Con

cent

rati

on (

mg/

L)

Samlping Dates

Crow Creek Selenium Concentrations 2008-2012

Spring Creek

Salt River Above Crow

Salt River Fishing Access

Salt River Below Crow

Crow Creek Outlet

Crow Creek Fairview

Crow Creek Stateline

Average of samples collected 4 days apart. 1/2 of reporting limit was used for non-detect values.


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Physical Condition The only physical parameter measured was discharge (Appendix 1). During June of 2011 the streamflows were unsafe to wade at various locations in Crow Creek and Salt River and discharge measurements were not taken (Appendix 1). The streamflows tend to increase between the Stateline and Fairview sites, and can increase or decrease at the Outlet site, depending on irrigation practices of the season. The flows in Spring Creek were much less than that of Crow Creek, ranging from 1.65 to 88.8 cfs.

CONCLUSIONS Selenium concentrations in surface water are a growing problem of global concern. Identified by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) as a ‘contaminant of potential concern’, Elevated concentrations of selenium in surface waters are often the result of various industrial activities including mining (coal, hard rock, uranium, phosphate), power generation and oil refineries (Chapman et al 2009). It is found in organic-rich marine sedimentary geologic formations, such as black shales, petroleum source rocks and phosphorites. The mining and disturbance of selenium-rich strata greatly enhances the exposure, leaching and transport of selenium into surface waters. Selenium toxicity is primarily manifested as reproductive impairment due to maternal transfer, resulting in embryotoxity in egg-laying vertebrates. The most sensitive toxicity endpoints in fish larvae are skeletal, craniofacial and fin deformities. Diet is the main pathway of selenium exposure for both invertebrates and vertebrates (Chapman et al 2009).

Selenium data collected from 2008 to 2012 show concentrations in excess of the Wyoming aquatic life chronic criterion of 0.005 mg/L for multiple sampling events and locations on Crow Creek within at least two separate years of a three year period, within the last five years. Thirteen samples exceeded the criterion during 2011 and 2012. The Wyoming results do not indicate a temporal decrease in selenium for Crow Creek.

CHAPTER 1 STANDARDS ATTAINMENT/NON-ATTAINMENT Based on a weight-of-evidence evaluation of the Crow Creek data and in accordance with Wyoming Methods for Determining Surface Water Quality Condition and TMDL Prioritization (WDEQ/WQD 2013), and the Rules and Regulations outlined in Chapter 1, the following conclusions regarding standards attainment were made for Crow Creek:

1) Non-attainment of Chapter 1, Section 21(b) of the Wyoming Water Quality Rules and Regulations, for a segment of Crow Creek that extends from the border with Idaho to the confluence with the Salt River.

a. The aquatic life chronic selenium criterion found in Appendix B of Chapter 1 of the Wyoming Water Quality Rules and Regulations was exceeded in Crow Creek for multiple sampling events and locations within at least two separate years of a three year period, within the last five years. Thirteen samples exceeded the criterion within 2011 and 2012.


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REFERENCES Chapman PM, Adams WJ, Brooks ML, Delos CG, Luoma SN, Maher WA, Ohlendorf HM, Presser TS, Shaw DP. 2009. Ecological assessment of selenium in the aquatic environment: Summary of a SETAC workshop. Pensacola FL (USA): Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC).

Formation Environmental and Habitech, Inc. 2012. Proposed Site-Specific Selenium Criterion, Sage and Crow Creeks, Idaho. Prepared for J.R. Simplot. Accessed via http://www.deq.idaho.gov/media/804989-simplot-site-specific-selenium-criterion-proposal-0112.pdf

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. 2011. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Final 2010 Integrated Report. Boise, ID: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Love, J.D. and A.C. Christiansen. 1985. Geologic Map of Wyoming (color poster with map and descriptive text). U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior (map scale: 1:500,000).

Munn and Arneson. 1998. Soils of Wyoming: A Digital Statewide Map at 1:500,000 Scale. Agricultural Experiment Station Report B-1069. University of Wyoming, College of Agriculture, Laramie, WY.

WDEQ/WQD. 2000. Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Beneficial Use Reconnaissance Project (BURP) Water Quality Monitoring. Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

WDEQ/WQD. 2007. Water Quality Rules and Regulations, Chapter 1, Wyoming Surface Water Quality Standards. Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

WDEQ/WQD. 2013. Wyoming’s method for determining water quality condition of surface waters and TMDL prioritization. Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

WDEQ/WQD. 2011. Manual of standard operating procedure for sample collection and analysis. Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2001. National Water Information System data available on the World Wide Web (Water Data for the Nation), accessed May 22nd, 2013, at URL http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wy/nwis/nwisman/?site_no=13025500

http://www.deq.idaho.gov/media/804989-simplot-site-specific-selenium-criterion-proposal-0112.pdf

http://www.deq.idaho.gov/media/804989-simplot-site-specific-selenium-criterion-proposal-0112.pdf

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wy/nwis/nwisman/?site_no=13025500


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Appendix 1. Water Quality Results from Crow Creek Watershed, 2008-2012.

Site Collection Date

Collection Time

Discharge (CFS)

pH (SU)

Temperature (◦C)

Specific Conductivity (uS/cm)

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

Dissolved Oxygen (% sat.)

Turbidity (NTU) Total Selenium (mg/L)

2008

June

Crow Creek Stateline 6/9/08 14:48 109.87 8.25 9.55 370 9.81 106.5 21.5 0.004

Crow Creek Fairview 6/9/08 15:47 142.4 8.24 9.45 384.4 9.45 103.3 21.17 0.003

Spring Creek State Crossing 6/9/08 16:33 46.6 8.52 9.74 324.4 8.91 97.4 25.5 <0.001

Crow Creek Stateline 6/12/08 12:54 102 8.65 7.6 452.8 10.17 105 18.3 0.004



Oct

ober

Crow Creek Stateline 10/13/08 14:07 41.4 8.86 6.89 588 11.28 113.4 2.7 0.004

Crow Creek Fairview 10/13/08 14:34 43.16 8.63 5.93 612 11.68 115.6 3.37 0.004

Spring Creek State Crossing 10/13/08 15:17 3.8 8.3 3.69 468 10.41 96.8 4.51 <0.001

Crow Creek Stateline 10/16/08 8:44 44.62 8.78 4.45 708* 10.12 95 6.66 0.004

Crow Creek Fairview 10/16/08 9:42 54.09 8.23 4.5 753* 10.15 96.6 5.36 0.005

Spring Creek State Crossing 10/16/08 10:17 4.3 8.63 2.7 604 11.01 99.7 6.26 <0.001

2009

June

Crow Creek Stateline 6/8/09 13:05 126.35 8.33 9.51 746.2 9.73 106 0.004

Crow Creek Fairview 6/8/09 13:51 163.87 8.23 9.56 749.4 9.35 102.1 0.003

Spring Creek State Crossing 6/8/09 14:30 47.32 8.47 10.08 592.8 9.13 108 <0.001

Crow Creek Stateline 6/11/09 10:25 143.02 8.27 9.54 614.7 9.12 99.6 0.003


Spring Creek State Crossing 6/11/09 11:46 52.7 8.36 9.36 451.5 9.19 100 <0.001

Oct

ober

Crow Creek Stateline 10/12/09 13:23 48.84 8.05 6.32 ** 12.36 126.5 0.005

Crow Creek Fairview 10/12/09 13:47 61.59 7.99 5.58 ** 11.04 110.7 0.004

Spring Creek State Crossing 10/12/09 14:19 6.44 8.29 4.57 ** 10.81 105.3 <0.001

Stump Creek Auburn 10/12/09 14:59 31.27 8.11 6.83 ** 11.18 115.1 <0.001



Spring Creek State Crossing 10/15/09 12:15 9.21 8.03 6.23 655 9.99 99.6 <0.001

2010

June

Crow Creek Stateline 6/14/10 12:32 104.81 6.7 13.39 506 8.51 101.9 0.0052

Crow Creek Fairview 6/14/10 14:07 137.86 7.95 13.12 510 8.54 100.8 0.0048

Spring Creek State Crossing 6/14/10 14:27 43.39 8.16 13.19 425.8 8.73 102.9 <0.001

Stump Creek Auburn 6/14/10 15:20 152.8 7.94 13.73 487.7 8.65 103.9 <0.001



Spring Creek State Crossing 6/17/10 14:22 44.42 8.46 12 524 9.02 103.9 0.0008

Stump Creek Auburn 6/17/10 15:10 133.9 8.25 10.83 583.9 9.32 105 0.0008

Oct

ober

Crow Creek Stateline 10/18/10 13:16 43.03 6.82 8.77 610.4 10.45 111.3 2.41 0.01



Stump Creek Auburn 10/18/10 15:55 23.48 7.82 9.13 890 10.01 107.7 2.28 <0.001

Crow Creek Stateline 10/21/10 10:12 44.53 6.7 4.42 694.6 11.03 105.5 3.94 0.009



Stump Creek Auburn 10/21/10 13:16 20.53 6.99 4.77 1015 11.55 111.6 3.16 <0.001

2011

June

Crow Creek Stateline 6/27/11 12:45 *** 8.36 12.05 469.1 9.61 110.4 0.0032

Crow Creek Fairview 6/27/11 13:47 *** 7.96 12.02 480 9.1 103.69 0.0017


Salt River Public Fishing Access 6/27/11 15:38 *** 7.84 12.31 337.8 9.99 115.4 <0.001


Hardmans Hollow 6/30/11 13:42 not measured 8.07 16.72 546.6 7.49 96 <0.001

Crow Creek Fairview 6/30/11 14:00 *** 8.16 13.38 500.1 8.63 102.8 0.0021

Spring Creek State Crossing 6/30/11 14:12 70.4 8.24 13.57 446.4 8.2 98 0.0014

Crow Creek Outlet 6/30/11 15:33 *** 8.07 13.85 399.9 9.09 109.3 0.0007

Salt River Below Crow Creek 6/30/11 16:00 *** 7.99 10.95 300.8 8.86 99.9 <0.001

Oct

ober




Crow Creek Outlet 10/10/11 16:02 85.84 8 8.88 571.5 12.08 129.5 0.0074

Salt River Below Crow Creek 10/10/11 16:44 145.37 7.78 8.64 507.1 10.62 113.1 0.0038


Crow Creek Fairview 10/13/11 9:05 76.88 8 6.32 598.8 10.17 101.7 0.009


Crow Creek Outlet 10/13/11 10:52 83.77 8.05 6.58 576.7 11.42 115 0.0071

Salt River Below Crow Creek 10/13/11 11:31 153.3 7.67 7.24 508.8 11.23 115 0.004

2012

June



Spring Creek State Crossing 6/18/12 15:05 5.92 8.38 16.75 479 8.2 105.8 <0.005

Crow Creek Outlet 6/18/12 16:05 11.94 7.95 13.77 441.7 9.92 120 0.002

Salt River Above Crow Creek 6/18/12 16:35 163.44 7.72 9.75 324.2 8.95 98.6 <0.005

Salt River Below Crow Creek 6/18/12 17:10 175.34 7.96 10.07 334 9.07 100.8 <0.005




Crow Creek Outlet 6/21/12 15:08 12.58 7.61 15.15 446.2 10.24 127.5 <0.005


Salt River Below Crow Creek 6/21/12 15:50 126.17 8.12 11.84 364.8 8.93 102.8 <0.005

Oct

ober



Spring Creek State Crossing 10/9/12 16:35 1.65 8.43 3.2 519.1 10.25 96 0.001

Crow Creek Outlet 10/9/12 17:40 9.07 8.6 7.88 572.3 10.36 109.7 0.013


Salt River Below Crow Creek 10/9/12 19:00 44.8 7.97 7.71 474 8.6 90.4 0.003

Notes

June 2012 results from Wyoming DEQ lab; the remainder from Energy Labs in Casper.

*Suspect value as cold weather affected meter calibration.

**meter would not effectively calibrate

***unsafe to measure stream flow

‘<' denotes a concentration below the reporting limit. Note the variation in reporting limit (either 0.001, 0.005 or 0.0005 mg/l)

Total Selenium EPA Method E200.8 (2008, 2010, Oct. 2011, 2012) and A3114B (2009, June 2011)

All blank samples returned non-reportable values.

Wyoming DEQ


14

Appendix 2. Selenium Results from USGS station 13025500, Crow Creek, Near Fairview, WY.

Collection Date

Collection Time

Discharge (CFS)

pH (SU)

Temperature (◦C)

Specific Conductivity (uS/cm)

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

Dissolved Oxygen (% sat.)

Total Selenium (mg/L, unfiltered)

11/30/2012 14:00 39 8.1 4.2 606 17.4 169 0.0149

1/16/2013 10:30 32 7.6 0 631 10 85 0.0172

Latitude 42°40'30", Longitude 111°00'25" NAD27