Water Quality Monitoring

With grant funding from the State Water Regional Control Board (SWRCB) the UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) worked with local producers to conduct field research and water quality monitoring above and below irrigated agriculture in the UFRW from May 2005-October 2008 to "bracket" the impacts of irrigated agriculture. Monitoring took place in four of the main UFRW privately held agricultural valleys: Sierra Valley, American Valley, Indian Valley, and Goodrich Creek.

WHAT WERE THE MONITORING RESULTS?
Sierra Valley
American Valley
Indian Valley
Goodrich Creek

Lab results from water and sediment samples in 2005-2006 showed no significant pesiticide, metal, or nutrient water quality concerns related to irrigated ag in the UFRW. Water column and sediment/substrate toxicity assessments were conducted in 2006 and 2007. There was no evidence of toxicity below any of the four agricultural valleys. In the summers of 2006 & 2007 aquatic macroinvetebrate sampling was conducted above and below irrigated agriculture. During the summer of 2008 only the outlet sites in the three larger valleys were sampled. Overall there were E. coli exceedances (>235 cfu/100mL) at a few locations at different times throughout the irrigation seasons. Later in the season, when flows were low & slow, the DO levers were below the standard of 7 mg/L.

Constiuents Monitored