Lower Truckee River Bioassessment Symposium Kathy Sertic Bureau of Water Quality Planning Nevada Division of Environmental Protection January 5, 2009

Bureau of Water Quality Planning ~ Truckee River Basin Activities ~ Monitoring Water Quality Standards Total Maximum Daily Loads Bioassessment

~ Truckee River Basin Monitoring ~ Main stem—DRI and TMWRF Tributary streams Evans, Dry, Thomas, Brown, Whites, Galena, Ophir, Franktown, Winters, Steamboat, Lagomarsino Creeks Truckee River Snapshot Day Memorandum of Understanding Directive of Legislative Oversight Committee for Western Regional Water Commission Develop coordinated monitoring plan Make data accessible to public

~ Truckee River Basin Water Quality Standards ~ 2008 NAC Reorganization Dismantled Class Waters format Established separate table for each waterbody Establish/Revise standards for tributary streams Evans, Dry, Thomas, Brown, Winters Galena, Ophir, Franktown, Steamboat, Lagomarsino Creeks Potentially revise select TR WQS

~ Truckee River Basin Total Maximum Daily Loads ~ 3 rd party review of existing N & P TMDLs initiated by Reno, Sparks, Washoe County and Truckee Meadows Water Authority Workplan to guide process being developed by 3 rd parties, NDEP and USEPA Extensive stakeholder input

~ BWQP Bioassessment Program ~ Program started in 2000 to collect data to better evaluate aquatic life beneficial use attainment Initiated in Truckee, Carson and Tahoe Basins Ramped up by 2003 to 300+ sites statewide Collected macroinvertebrates and limited physical habitat measurements using EPA/California Riffle Protocols

~ BWQP Bioassessment Program ~ In 2005 began using Multi-Habitat Monitoring Protocols Consistent with EPA National Rivers and Stream Assessment Protocols and revised California Protocols Reach length = 40x wetted width 11 transects within each reach Collect Macroinvertebrates Periphyton Water chemistry Sediment metals Fish at some sites Expanded physical habitat parameters

~ Truckee River Basin Bioassessment Program ~ Established Sites Above Verdi (2005 & 2008) Below Verdi Patagonia (2005 & 2008) McCarran Bridge Lockwood (2005 & 2008) Painted Rock Below Tracy-Clark (2005 & 2008) PLPT Reservation 2005/2008 used Multi-Habitat Monitoring Protocols at select sites (limited p-hab) Continue to monitor current sites and incorporate historic sites if possible

~ Truckee River Basin Bioassessment Program ~ In 2005 developed Indices of Biological Integrity (IBIs) Macroinvertebrates (Tetra Tech) Periphyton (Desert Research Institute) Fish (Dynamac Inc.) 2007 Recalibration of Macroinvertebrate IBI by Tetra Tech for the Truckee, Carson and Walker Rivers

~ Truckee River Basin Bioassessment Program ~ Evaluate potential of using the Observed/Expected Macroinvertebrate Model (RIVPACS) in combination with the Macro IBI Coordinate with USEPA, PLPT and other agencies to conduct a Stressor Identification Case Study using the Causal Analysis Diagnosis Decision Support System or CADDIS

~ Truckee River Basin Bioassessment Program ~ Coordinate with PLPT and other agencies on a pilot project to develop and test a Tiered Aquatic Life Use Model Extend knowledge obtained and tools developed from all these Truckee River projects to other river basins in Nevada

~ Bureau of Water Quality Planning Truckee River Activities ~ Commend all the local, state and federal agencies and other entities working to address the multitude of environmental issues that exist in the Truckee Rive Basin We look forward to continuing and completing these collaborative efforts to improve water quality and watershed health for all uses and users of the Truckee River

~ Bureau of Water Quality Planning Truckee River Activities ~ Contact Information Kathy Sertic Glen Gentry Karen Vargas Randy Pahl Birgit Widegren