2. The Portneuf River Story

3. Once upon a time, there was a river.

4. Not a huge river, but a nice one, making a
U-shape through southeastern Idaho.

5. The river flowed free, with trout swimming along the river and spawning in the spring.

6. Bald eagles and osprey hunted the trout, and beavers, elk, and moose ate the willows on the shore.

7. Now that river is divided, diverted, straightened, and controlled by concrete.

8. Trout still swim in some parts, but they don’t spawn in this river anymore.

9. But the carp do.

10. A few beavers live where trees still grow along the bank.

11. Part of the river is still somewhat natural, and is visited by the occasional moose. . .

12. but you’re more likely to see a cow near the river than any wild animal.

13. So, what do we do?

15. Goals of this project: 1. To understand the ecology of rivers
2. To use various measures to determine the health of the Portneuf River
3. To learn how to perform a variety of water tests

16. 4. To understand what the results of these water tests mean
5. To identify ways in which the Portneuf River could be improved

17. 6. To learn how to communicate to the public about the Portneuf River
7. To develop good teamwork skills

18. BURP
Beneficial Use Reconnaissance Project

19. A brief history of BURP In 1972, congress passed the Clean Water Act
DEQ was given responsibility for CWA in Idaho
must answer to the EPA

20. CWA calls for three aspects of water quality: physical, chemical, biological
waters should be swimmable and fishable (those “beneficial uses”)

21. states were required to list waters that were in need of improvement
303d: list of impaired and threatened water bodies

22. Idaho ignored CWA for 20 years, then finally was forced to come up with a list
1st list named 36 bodies of water in Idaho that were impaired

23. There are a lot of rivers, streams, and lakes in Idaho . . .
. . . and only 36 need help?!

24. Idaho Sportsmen’s Coalition and the Idaho Conservation League sued the state and EPA, and forced them to come up with a new list, which included 962 bodies of water

25. So, Idaho decided to BURP
what is a “beneficial use?”
set up to determine which bodies of water may be impaired

26. BURP also would
determine the TMDL (Total maximum daily load) of different pollutants for each lake or stream
look at shade, alterations, dissolved oxygen, habitat for fish, riparian vegetation, etc.

27. There are also other water tests we can do
turbidity, phosphates, nitrates, pH, etc.

28. Next: We need to learn what the tests mean