a living river Tracking changing Conditions along the effluent stretches of the Santa Cruz River Eric Wieduwilt Deputy Director of Engineering James DuBois Permit and regulatory compliance officer

12,000 years of rich history Cloudy water, May 2013 Clear water, June 2014 Santa Cruz River near “A” Mountain – artist’s depiction in the State of the Santa Cruz River

Santa Cruz River near “A” Mountain, 1904

Much of the streasmside vegetation along the SCR was cleared for farming beginning in the early 1900s, when the water table was near the surface. Agricultural pumping had substantially lowered the water table, eliminating river flows by the 1940s. In the 1950s, the first discharges of treated sewage to the river began. Graphics: Pima County

Santa Cruz River near Ina Road, 2014 Tumacácori, 2015 Santa Cruz River near Ina Road, 2014 T. Moody

How do we document changes? Pima County

Living River report series tracks improvements on river near Nogales Effluent stretch in Santa Cruz County 2008-2010 water years 2008-2014 water year online summary

Living River reports expand to Tucson reach in partnership with Pima County 2013 Water Year Baseline 2014 Water Year 2015 Water Year 2016 Water Year

Monitoring Programs Vary By Reach Nogales Reach Tucson Reach Water quality Friends of Santa Cruz River, ADEQ, National Park Service, Sonoran Institute Pima County Aquatic Wildlife National Park Service, Sonoran Institute* Pima County, Sonoran Institute* Riparian Vegetation Sonoran Institute Groundwater AZ Department of Water Resources, Sonoran Institute na Flow Extent Friends of Santa Cruz River, USGS Pima County, USGS Social Impacts (odor) New Data Existing Data *Sonoran Institute is coordinator for multi-partner annual fish survey

Santa Cruz near Tucson

Pima County’s Living River Project $300,000 EPA grant to Pima County for a 4-year study, to document changes in wetland condition following treatment plant upgrades – EPA hoped for us to document a 1st ever before/after riparian assessment Pima County (B. Powell) photo— to study the effects of treatment plant upgrades on the river and wetland habitat Pima County got grant money from EPA and engaged a local environmental NGO to assist in generating a report card on the stream.

Pima County

ROMP Upgrade Completed in 2013 for $620 million The old Roger and Ina Road water reclamation facilities treated the sewage of over half a million people. They were burdened with treating over 50 miilion gallons of sewage a day. In particular the Roger Road facility was antiquated. ROMP upgrade completely replaced Roger Rd with a new Bardenpho WRF named Agua Nueva with capacity of 32 MGD, which also supplies reclaimed water to City of Tucson system. The old Ina Rd plant was converted into two Bardenpho systems with combined capacity of 50 MGD (renamed Tres Rios WRF). An interconnect pipeline allows sewage to be directed from Agua Nueva to Tres Rios. With the upgrade, an older plant at Randolph Park is now in cessation so that more effluent is generated at the two new plants.

ROMP UPGRADES CHANGE WATER QUALITY To fix the effluent quality problem, Pima County upgraded to new treatment facilities. This slide shows some of the constituents and the removals expected of the new facilities. Nitrogen removal was the primary regulatory issue that drove the process, but removal of other pollutants – phosphorous, pollutants creating biological oxygen demand, and total suspended solids – has greatly benefited the effluent quality. ROMP UPGRADES CHANGE WATER QUALITY

Study Reaches Three Rivers Cortaro Narrows Marana Flats For our study, we divide the length of the effluent-dependent SCR into three reaches that reflect different land uses or other characteristics that can affect wetland conditions, including water quality. Photos of what these reaches look like follow– a mini-tour of the lower Santa Cruz River

Water Clarity – sediment transport indicator Before One of the most immediately noticeable changes is that the clarity of the water has greatly improved. The new treatment process is much more effective at removing nutrients and solids from the effluent, which improves the clarity of the water in the river. Another important change you may not have noticed is that the smell of the old Roger Road treatment facility no longer assails one as one enters Tucson on I-10. This makes being along the river much more pleasant. After Photos: Pima County

Water quality and clarity improved Pima County Pima County Cloudy water, May 2013 Clear water, June 2014

Little to no ammonia Ammonia, average mg/L

Sustained increase in recharge reduces flow extent Flow In June Dry Days At Trico Rd 2013 23 miles 2014 19 miles 94 2015 16 miles 244 2016 22 miles 109

Increased Infiltration Remnant of Clogging Layer ‘Schmutzdecke’ 14,964 acre-feet in 2013 30,889 acre-feet in 2014 34,033 acre-feet in 2015 32,324 acre-feet in 2016 28,845 acre-feet in 2017 Tucson Water has reported a large increase in infiltration rates. In water year 2013, approximately 15,000 af infiltrated into the river bed. This past year, that increased to 29,000 af of effluent of infiltration. This effect has to do with the reduction in solids and nutrients in the effluent, eliminating the algal mat with trapped solids which is less permeable. The calculated infiltration does not include recharge during flooding events when recharge credits aren’t earned. Pima County photo

Change Since Upgrade Slide shows primarily the increase in recharge resulting from cleaner effluent and disappearance of the muck in the channel bottom.

Change Since Upgrade Outflow at Trico 11.6% ET 3.9% 4.0% Cut to Aquifer 42.3% Recharge Credits 42.3%

2017 Data Compared to 2013 Decreased from 63% in 2013 Outflow at Trico 18.2% ET 4.2% Cut to Aquifer 38.9% . Recharge Credits 38.9% Increased from 17% In 2013

Wetland plant cover reduced in drying sections Live Dead Goodding Willow Cover Pima County

Wetland plant cover varies with presence of water 2016 2013 2015 Trico Marana Road Photos: Pima County

Increased Diversity This chart shows the shift to increased diversity of MI species as the water quality improves. In 2014, 5 more families are added to the survey results. Importantly, Mayflies and Damselflies are pollution sensitive organisms. Such insects in the stream provide a food supply for fish.

Increased Fish Diversity Western Mosquitofish Black Bullhead Common Carp Bluegill Sunfish Green Sunfish

Gila Topminnow returns after 70 year absence! Sonoran Institute

2017 – Return of the Native Fish Gila Topminnow Returns Bike Ride Saturday, June 16, 8-10am This year represented the first year with capture of a native fish species, the endangered Gila topminnow, captured at the Three Rivers stretch of the river. Mix of Mosquito Fish and Topminnow

Minimal odor leaving the facility Pima County

Make new discoveries and learn about riparian and aquatic habitats. We are now linked up with a national arts and science program known as River of Words. This program allows kids from our region to learn about rivers in our region, and County has been a sponsor for over a decade. Many of these kids have never seen a flowing river before. This year over 600 students involved, thanks in part to EPA funding. The LROW portion of the project is conducted by County Parks and Rec Dept. They introduce K-12 school children to wetland habitats through a multi-disciplinary series of scientific field observations and testing of river water linked with artist-led poetry and visual arts projects. Kids get heightened learning from a left- and right-brain endeavor. Make new discoveries and learn about riparian and aquatic habitats.

Water Quality & Aquatic Observation Poetry, Art, Photos Water Quality & Aquatic Observation Pima County produces a brochure exhibiting the art and poetry, and these pieces are displayed in a traveling exhibit at public libraries. While LROW aspect of the project focuses outreach/education in the K-12 school system, it is also an effective means of reaching parents and other family members as our message travels home from school. A Living River annual report now features stunning artwork and poems from the LROW.

Summary River health improves Flow extent reduced Continued outreach Community vision Conservation priorities

Acknowledgements our FUnders US Environmental Protection Agency Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Pima County Regional Flood Control District Community Individuals

Living River Project Team Evan Canfield, PC Regional Flood Control District James DuBois and Anna Martin, PC Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Julia Fonseca and Brian Powell, PC Office of Sustainability and Conservation Wendy Burroughs, PC Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Claire A. Zugmeyer, Ian Dowdy, and Amanda Smith, Sonoran Institute Elizabeth Goldmann, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9

Living River Project Technical Committee Plácido Dos Santos, retired water expert Jennifer Duan, University of Arizona Edward Curley, Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (retired) Eve Halper, Bureau of Reclamation Akitsu Kimoto, Stantec John Kmiec, Town of Marana Kendall Kroesen, Tucson Audubon Society (formerly) Michael F. Liberti, City of Tucson, Water Department Christopher Magirl, U. S. Geological Survey Jean E. McLain, University of Arizona Brian Powell, Pima County Office of Sustainability and Conservation E. Linwood Smith, Consulting Ecologist Patrice Spindler, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Juliet Stromberg, Arizona State University Robert Webb, University of Arizona (retired) Claire Zucker, University of Arizona