I. PROJECT NAME:  Grande Ronde Basin Gauging Station Monitoring

II. APPLICANT:  

La Grande Ranger District, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
3502 Highway 30, La Grande, OR  97850
(541) 963-7186

III. PARTICIPATING LANDOWNER(S) AND AGENCIES

Watermaster Office
10507 N. McAlister, Island City, OR  97850
(541) 963-1031

GRMWP
10901 Island Ave., Island City, OR  97851
(541) 962-6590

CTUIR
P.O. Box 638, Pendleton, OR  97801
(541) 962-3043

IV.  PROJECT CONTACTS:

Technical Contact: Teena Ballard, District Hydrologist  (541) 962-8571
Administrative Contact: Paul Boehne, Fisheries and Watershed Staff (541) 962-8521

V.  PROJECT LOCATION:  

The locations of the five gauging stations are (see attached figure):  
Site 86: 13317850: Grande Ronde River below Clear Creek near Starkey (Grande Ronde River @ Woodley Campground) - T.06S, R.36E, Sec. 4;
Site 15: 13318060: Meadow Creek above Bear Creek near Starkey (Upper Meadow Creek) - T.03S, R.34E, Sec. 26;
Site 89: 13318210: Meadow Creek below Dark Canyon Creek near Starkey (Lower Meadow Creek) - T.03S, R.35E, Sec. 36;
Site 88: 13318920: Five Point Creek at Hilgard - T.02S, R.37E, Sec. 31; and,
Site 87: 13319900: North Fork Catherine Creek near Medical Springs T.05S, R.41E, Sec. 13.

All of the above sites are located in Union County and managed by the La Grande Ranger District, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.

VI. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: T

he gauging stations are permanent sites that are designed to continuously measure streamflow.  The data will characterize the hydrographs for long term monitoring of the potential effects of management activities on streamflow and the effectiveness of restoration activities directed at meeting Desired Conditions.  Streamflow data will be used to correlate monitoring parameters such as air temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity and yearly variation in instream habitat parameters.
These data, in conjunction with historical records of streamflow for the Grande Ronde River located at La Grande, Oregon (USGS gauge 13319000), provide for long term, comprehensive characterization of streamflow for the UGRR Drainage.  Additional data collected at each gauging station are year round stream temperature; air temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation.  The equipment was upgraded in water year 2002.  Oregon Water Resources Department (District 6) produces an annual report that includes the following data for each gauging station: analysis; daily discharge; hydrograph; rating table and, rating curve.

VII. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Introduction:  The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds identifies data collection and inventory as key prerequisites for prioritizing streamflow activities and developing a baseline for monitoring.  These monitoring sites consist of permanent gauging stations with recorders and telemetry, producing instantaneous water depth measurements every 15 minutes.  Frequent physical flow measurements must be made to ensure that a river stage accurately correlates to the amount of water in the system and the other water quality parameters sampled.  La Grande Ranger District's water quality monitoring plan requires physical streamflow measurements be made every four to six weeks, while the gauging station records a stage height continuously every 15 minutes.

Existing Conditions:  The five stream gauging stations listed above have been in operation for nine water years.  Cooperators in this program of operation include USFS - La Grande Ranger District, OWRD Watermaster's District 6 office and the Confederated Tribe of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.  The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) was instrumental in the installation of the gauging stations.  Due to increasing malfunctions in equipment, and related errors, the OWRD District 6 Watermaster replaced all existing stage sensing and recording equipment through Grande Ronde Model Watershed grant assistance program in September 1998.  Funding for federal projects has been steadily decreasing in the last eight years.  This is the sixth year that full funding was not available from the Forest Service to operate and maintain these gauging stations.

Deliverable: Annual report for each gauging station

Benefits:  A more accurate representation of actual streamflow and water quality at the stream gauging station will be accomplished through continual monitoring and obtaining physical streamflows to correlate with the continuously recorded stage heights.  These correlations will assist in calculating the hydrograph for the watersheds, along with the intensity and timing of peak flows, and total water production.  Accurate hydrographic information of flows and water quality parameters will be available for prioritization of watershed restoration activities and will serve to establish baseline conditions.  This information will be critical to implementing the Upper Grande Ronde Water Quality Management Plan, developing watershed restoration activities relative to water quantity and quality and assessing compliance with the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act.  The data collected, flow, water quality and weather data will be instrumental in continuing long term trend data which will be a cornerstone for the GRMWP Monitoring Program.

Project Maintenance:  The cooperative partners, USFS - La Grande Ranger District fisheries and watershed personnel or OWRD employees, will complete all maintenance of digital instrumentation at all gauging stations.  

Permits:   No permits are required.