Nutrient Loading in the Klamath Basin K.A. Rykbost B.A. Charlton Oregon State University Klamath Experiment Station

Source: USGS --- Snyder & Morace

U.S. Department of Interior --- Bureau of Reclamation

Environmental Issues are Driven by Political/Regulatory Forces Federal Clean Water Act °303D Lists of Water Quality Impairments °TMDL Process --- Oregon DEQ Oregon Senate Bill 1010 °Private Property Agriculture Management Plans °Local Advisory Committees --- Oregon D.A. Endangered Species Act °Listed Species --- Suckers and Salmon

Water Quality Concerns in Upper Klamath Lake Phosphorous Enrichment supporting Blue-Green Algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aqaue) pH > 9.0 (following algae bloom crashes) Dissolved Oxygen below 4.0 mg/l High Ammonia concentration (up to 0.9 ppm) High chlorophyll – a High temperature (up to 23C)

Sucker Springs, Upper Klamath Lake --- USGS BRD Klamath

Source: USGS --- Snyder & Morace

Lake-Wide Mean Nutrient Concentrations in Upper Klamath Lake Source: Klamath Tribes --- Kann & Walker

Major Studies of Nutrient Loading of Klamath/Agency Lakes Miller & Tash: USGS °Ag. Drainage contributes 26% of TP Inflow °Top 1” of sediment = 60 years of Inflow P °Springs in lake contribute 25% of TP Inflow °Canals contribute 5% of TP Inflow °Major rivers contribute 43% of TP Inflow

Major Studies of Nutrient Loading of Klamath/Agency Lakes Snyder & Morace: USGS °Estimated 80 tons N/year, 15 tons P/year °Monitored drainage from Ag. Lands °Noted potential for natural sources °Reported high P in artesian wells °Suggested conversions to wetlands based on loading data

Major Studies of Nutrient Loading of Klamath/Agency Lakes Kann & Walker: Klamath Tribes °Modeled Loading Data from: °Miller and Tash; Snyder and Morace °Monitored Lake-wide Nutrient Concentrations °Reported Sediment P = 61% of Load °Suggested data used as basis for retiring Ag. Land to Wetlands

Source: Klamath Tribes --- Kann & Walker

Objectives of Klamath Experiment Station Studies Determine nutrient content in background sources °Major Springs and Artesian Wells Determine nutrient content in water flooded onto and drained from Ag. Lands Determine nutrient loading to Klamath Irrigation Project from Klamath Lake and Klamath River

KES Water Quality Analysis Methods All samples were grab samples -- duplicate Samples frozen & stored for batch delivery Kjeldahl digestion -- analyzed for: °Total P and Total Kjeldahl N OSU Dept. of Crop and Soil Science °Central Analytical Laboratory

Phosphorus Concentration in Major Springs Wood River Source [P] = 0.06 and 0.07 ppm Spring Creek Source [P] = 0.08, 0.09, and 0.09 ppm Fort Creek Source [P] = 0.06 and 0.09 ppm Crystal Creek Source [P] = 0.07 and 0.11 ppm Barkley Spring [P] = 0.08 ppm Malone Spring [P] = 0.06 ppm

P and N Concentration Artesian Wells Wood River Ranch Well #1 Snyder & Morace 3 samples °Total P = 6.7 ppm °Total N = 6.2 ppm Klamath Experiment Station 4 samples °Total P = 5.3 ppm °Total N = 6.2 ppm Well #2 Snyder & Morace 1 sample 1995 °Total P = 2.0 ppm °Total N = 8.7 ppm Klamath Experiment Station 4 samples °Total P = 2.4 ppm °Total N = 8.1 ppm

P and N Concentration Artesian Wells Fort Klamath Area foot aquifer °#1 (2 samples) [P] = 0.31 ppm, [TKN] = 0.25 ppm °#2 (2 samples) [P] = 0.70 ppm, [TKN] = 0.50 ppm °#3 (2 samples) [P] = 0.74 ppm, [TKN] = 0.55 ppm °#4 (3 samples) [P] = 0.75 ppm, [TKN] = 0.50 ppm °#5 (2 samples) [P] = 1.17 ppm, [TKN] = 1.13 ppm °#6 (1 samples) [P] = 1.56 ppm, [TKN] = 1.90 ppm

Source: USGS --- Snyder & Morace

Nutrient Content of Inflow and Drainage from Agricultural Lands Wocus Snyder & Morace (9 samples) °Drainage: TP = 0.21 ppm and TN = 4.2 ppm KES (19 inflow, 24 drainage) °Drainage: TP = 0.18 ppm and TKN = 3.8 ppm °Inflow: TP = 0.13 ppm and TKN = 2.8 ppm

Nutrient Content of Inflow and Drainage from Agricultural Lands Caledonia Snyder & Morace (3 samples) °Drainage: TP = 0.24 ppm and TN = 4.2 ppm KES (10 inflow, 16 drainage) °Drainage: TP = 0.24 ppm and TKN = 3.7 ppm °Inflow: TP = 0.06 ppm and TKN = 1.1 ppm

Nutrient Content of Inflow and Drainage from Agricultural/Wetlands Wood River Ranch Snyder & Morace (12 samples) °Drainage: TP = 0.96 ppm and TN = 3.0 ppm KES (52 inflow and 32 drainage) °Drainage: TP = 0.78 ppm and TKN = 3.25 ppm °Inflow: TP = 0.17 ppm and TKN = 1.25 ppm * Note: Cattle removed in 1995

U.S. Department of Interior --- Bureau of Reclamation

Klamath Project Plumbing Diversions into the Klamath Project °A Canal – Out of Klamath Lake °North and ADY Canal – Out of Klamath River °Lost River from Gerber and Clear Lake Reservoirs Klamath Irrigation Project Drain °Straits Drain from Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge

Methods for Estimating Nutrient Loading to Klamath Irrigation Project Sample at diversions - 2 week intervals °grab samples - usually duplicate BOR flows for midway between samples Load = volume x concentration

Nutrient Concentrations at A Canal Diversion

Nutrient Concentrations at A Canal Diversion

Total Phosphorus Loading at A, North, and ADY Canals

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen Loading at A, North, and ADY Canals

Total Phosphorus Loading at A, North, and ADY Canals

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen Loading at A, North, and ADY Canals

Seasonal Mean Nutrient Concentrations at A, North, and ADY Diversions A Canal °1999TP = ppmTKN = 2.11 ppm °2000TP = ppmTKN = 2.23 ppm North Canal °1999TP = ppmTKN = 1.72 ppm °2000TP = ppmTKN = 1.82 ppm ADY Canal °1999TP = ppmTKN = 1.95 ppm °2000TP = ppmTKN = 1.93 ppm

Nutrient Loading Summary KES data were well within range of observations from previous studies Natural background sources are not limiting in Phosphorus for blue-green algae Loading from Ag. Drainage must consider nutrients in floodwater

Nutrient Loading Summary Nutrient concentration in Wood River Ranch drainage 80% of value, 5 years after cattle removed Total nutrient loading in Irrigation Project from Klamath Lake and Klamath River °Approximately 180,000 Total P and 2,000,000 Total N P increases from Klamath Lake to ADY Canal

Nutrient Loading Summary Monitoring Nutrient Loading at Straits Drain °UC Davis Study °Preliminary Analysis shows P discharge = 100,000 lb Klamath Irrigation Project °Net sink for Phosphorus including affects of municipalities and wildlife refuges

Wetland/Storage Restoration Projects Wood River Ranch – 3,000 Ac - Wetlands Goose Bay Farms – 2,187 Ac - Wetlands Agency Lake Ranch – 7,123 Ac – Storage, Wetland Tulana Farms – 4,600 acres Wetlands Caledonia Marsh – 550 acres - Wetlands Barnes Ranch – 2,700 Ac – Storage – Refuge?

Nutrient Loading in The Klamath Basin: Agricultural and Natural Sources Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Special Report 1023 K.A. Rykbost and B.A. Charlton Available at:

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