Upper Salmon Basin Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions, P5

Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)

Monitoring Research
Project ID010 19 SA
Recovery DomainsSnake River
Start Date07/01/2020
End Date03/31/2022
Year2019
StatusCompleted
Last Edited02/27/2024
 
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Description    


The Upper Salmon Basin Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions Phase V project, sponsored by Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), continued to evaluate the groundwater-surface water interactions in the Upper Salmon and Lemhi Basins in support of salmon recovery efforts. This multi-phase effort began in 2011.



The majority of data collection and analysis was focused on the Lemhi River Subbasin, which has been a focal point of many habitat improvement projects in the last 15+ years. Data collected under this project contributes to effectiveness monitoring at a watershed scale, or Intensely Monitored Watershed (IMW) efforts, in the Lemhi Basin.



Data collection in both basins included streamflow; in the Lemhi Basin data collection also included groundwater levels, soil moisture tension, and surface water quality. Analyses of each of these datasets were conducted to better characterize hydrogeologic trends and their impacts on in-stream salmonid habitat. Newly collected data, watermaster records, and agricultural practices (e.g. crop and irrigation type) were also incorporated into the Lemhi River Basin Model (LRBM) to improve streamflow modelling. LRBM data was included in the Data Atlas, which is an Excel spreadsheet tool that can be used by the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Program Technical Team and other stakeholders to quickly ascertain relevant water right, diversion, and water usage data.



Streamflow data collected through this project are located on the IDWR public streamflow database (https://research.idwr.idaho.gov/apps/hydrologic/aquainfo/Home/Data#!/). Groundwater level measurements are available at the IDWR public groundwater level database (https://maps.idwr.idaho.gov/agol/GroundwaterLevels/). A final report, the “Upper Salmon Basin Groundwater – Surface Water Interactions Study, Phase 5 Final Project Report” presents the full extent of data collected and its analysis has been uploaded to the NOAA database, and is available to the public from IDWR or OSC, upon request.



This project received an extension to 3/31/22 to allow for additional work to be completed.

Project Benefit    


This work supports the overarching objective to improve salmonid recovery efforts in the Upper Salmon Basin by measuring and analyzing streamflow and streamwater temperature, two of the limiting factors to salmon recovery according to the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation (OSC) and collaborators (OSC et al., 2019). As such, this project supplies data and information that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of both ongoing and future salmonid habitat restoration efforts. Additionally, as a member of the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Program (USBWP) Technical Team, IDWR provides technical expertise and advisement on matters concerning the hydrogeology of the Upper Salmon Basin.

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed
Research and Monitoring
  Stream Miles Monitored 183.90 183.90

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$315,609
State$1,981
Other$103,222
Report Total:$420,812


Project Map



Worksites

WS-1    


  • Worksite Identifier: WS-1
  • Start Date: 07/01/2020
  • End Date: 12/31/2021
Area Description
Lemhi Basin

Location Information

  • Basin: Salmon (170602)
  • Subbasin: Lemhi (17060204)
  • Watershed: Lower Lemhi River (1706020408)
  • Subwatershed: Lemhi Valley-Lemhi River (170602040809)
  • State: Idaho
  • Recovery Domain: Snake River
  • Latitude: 45.187125
  • Longitude: -113.89165

ESU

  • Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS
  • Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • E.0 Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
    •      . . E.0.a RM&E Funding 388,933.00
    •      . . E.0.b
      Complement habitat restoration project
      None
    •      . . E.0.c
      Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.
      NMFS. 2017. ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchustshawytscha) & Snake River Steelhead (Oncorhynchusmykiss); ID Governor’s Office of Species Conservation, Biomark Applied Biological Services, U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy. 2019. Upper Salmon Subbasin Habitat Integrated Rehabilitation Assessment.
    •      . . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations 0
    •      . . E.0.d.2
      Name Of Cooperating Organizations.
      None
    •      . . E.0.e.1 Number of reports prepared 1
    •      . . E.0.e.2
      Name Of Report
      Upper Salmon Basin Groundwater – Surface Water Interactions Study, Phase 5 Final Project Report
    •      . . E.1 MonitoringY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . E.1.a Monitoring funding 259,780.00
      •      . . . . E.1.b.1 Stream Miles Monitored 171.30
      •      . . . . E.1.b.2 Acres of Watershed Area Monitored 65,000.0
      •      . . . . E.1.c.8 Water quality monitoringY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.8.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) of stream monitored for water quality 171.30
      •      . . . . E.1.c.9 Water quantity (flow) monitoringY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.9.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for water quantity (flow) monitoring 171.30
      •      . . . . E.1.c.15 Intensively monitored watershed (IMW)Y (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.15.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) of stream or streambank monitored 171.30
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.15.c # acres (to nearest 0.1 acre) monitored 65,000.0
        •      . . . . E.1.d
          Name Of Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy/Program
          None
      •      . . E.2 ResearchY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . E.2.a Research Funding 129,153.00
        •      . . . . E.2.b.1 Modeling and data analysisY (Y/N)
          •      . . . . . . E.2.b.1.a
            Key issues addressed by modeling and data analysis research
            The Lemhi River Basin Model (LRBM) used MIKE Hydro Basin software to determine the impacts of proposed water use scenarios on streamflow, as well as to determine how irrigation practices affect the location, timing, and volume of streamflow. The LRBM was coupled with a fish habitat model to enable running water use and climate change scenarios to determine both hydrologic and biological impacts of changes to the system. IDWR also analyzed temporal changes to irrigation practices using aerial imagery and that data will be used to investigate the hydrologic and biological (physical fish habitat) impacts of changes to irrigation patterns during the next project.

WS-2    


  • Worksite Identifier: WS-2
  • Start Date: 07/01/2020
  • End Date: 12/31/2021
Area Description
Lemhi Basin

Location Information

  • Basin: Salmon (170602)
  • Subbasin: Middle Salmon-Panther (17060203)
  • Watershed: Owl Creek-Salmon River (1706020313)
  • Subwatershed: Colson Creek-Salmon River (170602031303)
  • State: Idaho
  • Recovery Domain: Snake River
  • Latitude: 45.312829
  • Longitude: -114.593144

ESU

  • Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS
  • Snake River Sockeye Salmon ESU
  • Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • E.0 Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
    •      . . E.0.a RM&E Funding 31,879.00
    •      . . E.0.b
      Complement habitat restoration project
      None
    •      . . E.0.c
      Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.
      NMFS. 2017. ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchustshawytscha) & Snake River Basin Steelhead (Oncorhynchusmykiss); Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation, Biomark Applied Biological Services, U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy. 2019. Upper Salmon Subbasin Habitat Integrated Rehabilitation Assessment
    •      . . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations 0
    •      . . E.0.d.2
      Name Of Cooperating Organizations.
      None
    •      . . E.0.e.1 Number of reports prepared 1
    •      . . E.0.e.2
      Name Of Report
      Upper Salmon Basin Groundwater – Surface Water Interactions Study, Phase 5 Final Project Report
    •      . . E.1 MonitoringY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . E.1.a Monitoring funding 31,879.00
      •      . . . . E.1.b.1 Stream Miles Monitored 12.60
      •      . . . . E.1.b.2 Acres of Watershed Area Monitored .0
      •      . . . . E.1.c.8 Water quality monitoringY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.8.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) of stream monitored for water quality 12.60
      •      . . . . E.1.c.9 Water quantity (flow) monitoringY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.9.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for water quantity (flow) monitoring 12.60
        •      . . . . E.1.d
          Name Of Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy/Program
          None


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Scientific Data Management
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Technical Support: (206) 860-3433
Version 2.1 February 24, 2014
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