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Project Description:
This project intends to develop methodology to more adequately
measure base flow augmentation in stream restoration projects by
using environmental tracers. Traditionally it is attempted to
measure base flow augmentation by means of physical stream flow
measurements. Unfortunately, physical stream flow measurements are
of limited use in quantifying base flow augmentation due to the
probabilistic nature of the stream flow data record. To help
overcome this problem this project will test the application of
environmental tracers. In particular the stable isotopes of hydrogen
and oxygen (deuterium and oxygen-18) will be used together with
selected major dissolved ions in stream water and groundwater. The
methods will be tested in three different stream reach settings,
settings with varying levels of hydrologic complexity and varying
levels of surface-to-groundwater interactions.
Environmental isotopes are a common tool in the
hydrologic sciences, with a long track record of successful
resolution of hydrologic problems.
Three locations in Last Chance Creek are selected
will be used due to their unique hydrologic settings. An advantage
of these locations is that they are part of ongoing and/or proposed
restoration efforts. All three locations have either been subjected
to intense data collection efforts in the past and/or will be
covered by future data collection efforts. Most field data for this
project will be “piggybacked” onto the ongoing monitoring programs
conducted by Plumas Corporation, thereby saving significant costs
and increasing the benefit-to-cost ratio of the ongoing monitoring
programs. It will therefore be possible to tie the isotope data
collected for this project into the larger hydrologic data matrix
that will already be developed for other purposes.
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Streamflow measurements will be conducted at the upper and lower
end of each reach.
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Upland
recharge signatures will be obtained by sampling springs in the
surrounding highlands.
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Year
round streamflow isotope and major ion chemistry will be
characterized during several sampling events. The stream flow
sampling will be accompanied with stage measurements.
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Ground
water will be sampled from selected existing piezometers and
characteristics of late season ground water and ground water
recharged by flood events will be identified by at least 4
sampling events.
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Snow
core sample will be collected from at least 2 high elevation
sites to characterize the current ground water recharge signal.
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A
monitoring program will be established and data analysis will be
conducted while data are collected
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