Supplemental Materials - Livestock Management and Water Quality on US Forest Service Grazing Allotments |
Contact Person: Dr. Kenneth W. Tate Participants: Leslie Roche, Rob Atwill, Randy Dahlgren, Lea Kromschroeder, Kristin Oles, USDA Forest Service – Region 5, Stanislaus National Forest, Plumas National Forest, Tahoe National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Klamath National Forest. Comment or Questions?-Back to Surface Water Quality Study- |
Background Studies
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Pilot Study We conducted a pilot monitoring study of 3 grazing allotments in July 2010 on the Stanislaus National Forest. The purpose of the pilot study was to inform studies to address Objectives 1 and 2 in summer 2011. Specifically our objectives were to: 1) develop a watershed scale pollutant source search methodology for grazing allotments; 2) determine water sample collection, sample handling and transport, and laboratory analysis challenges and solutions for sampling in remote forest locations; and 3) provide preliminary data on the levels of FIB and nutrients to be expected in samples. >>More |
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Sample Hold Time Analysis During the summer of 2010, we also evaluated the effect of holding samples on ice up to 24 hours on fecal indicator bacteria analysis and found no effect. Ideally, sample holding time, the time from collection until processing in the laboratory, for fecal indicator bacteria analysis is less than 8 hours. >>More |
Methods
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Standard Laboratory Methods Collected surface water samples were analyzed for concentrations of indicator E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria, total nitrogen and phosphorus, nitrate, ammonium/ammonia, and phosphate via standard laboratory methods and sample handling protocols. >>More |
Stream Flow and Temperature Stream flow and temperature were measured at a representative lower, mid, and upper watershed sample site in each allotment. Stream temperature was measured every half hour with automatic data loggers, and stream flow was measured at the time of water sample collection via the area velocity method (Tate et al. 2005). >>More |
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Utilization Annual livestock utilization was measured using standard methods. >>More |
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Meadow and Riparian Condition Ecological and hydrological condition of each meadow and associated stream reach were evaluated based on plant community composition. >>More |
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Hydrologic Function Hydrologic function was measured using the standard method to assess Proper Functioning Condition. >>More |
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Hydrologic Function In-stream habitat quality was measured using standard methods. >>More |