USGS/COE Proposal for Long-Term Sediment & Water Quality Monitoring Network

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Proposal

A Conceptual Proposal to Establish a Long-Term Suspended-Sediment and Solid-Phase Chemistry Monitoring Network in the Mississippi River Basin to Generate System-wide Sediment and Sediment-Associated Chemical Budgets and to Determine Temporal Trends

Prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey - Ad Hoc Committee on Sediment Data, Monitoring and Trends in the Missouri/Mississippi River System

POC’s

► USGS – John R. Gray, Reston, VA

► COE – Chuck Shadie, Vicksburg, MS

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Objectives Establish quantifiably accurate suspended-sediment budgets for the

entire MRB including the mainstem, subbasins, and major tributaries; and

Using appropriate historical data, estimate annual fluxes to establish long-term temporal trends in suspended-sediment concentrations, chemistry, and fluxes.

Process historical data for trend determinations within known error limits and to establish baseline conditions, and

Establish a consistent and coherent long-term monitoring network that will permit, at a minimum, the determination of site-specific mean daily discharges and suspended-sediment concentrations for the determination of suspended-sediment and sediment-associated chemical fluxes at various levels of spatial and temporal resolution.

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Actions to Date John Gray, USGS presented initial concept to HQ-level USACE/USGS

Coordination Meeting in July 09. Senior Leaders from both agencies asked that a proposal for the monitoring network be developed

John Gray and others drafted proposal paper.

USGS contacted MVD requesting meeting to discuss proposal

COE/USGS mtg held at MVD on 22 Sep 09. Attendees incl NWD & ERDC.

► General agreement that monitoring network and associated program was needed.

► Concern that existing budgets could not support this program. Need a new authority and funding source that does not take from existing funds

John Gray, USGS presented draft proposal to USACE/USGS Coordination Meeting on 6 Oct 09. Senior Leaders supported concept and requested a more detailed proposal (scope and costs) for next Coordination Meeting.

Meeting held in Kansas City on 3 Nov 09 with US EPA, NRCS, NWS, USGS, COE and others to discuss the proposal and determine if their agencies might support it. General agreement on benefits of monitoring network. Not sure they could support financially.

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Next Steps

Expand scope of proposal to include range of magnitude costs for long-term monitoring program

Include short-, medium-, and long-term benefits of such a program

Identify basic “skeleton” of stations needed for which full monitoring would be conducted

Present Detailed Conceptual Proposal to USACE/USGS Coordination Meeting – Feb 10

Look for Senior Leadership to support the proposed program and seek authority and funding sources

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Potential Monitoring Sites Upper Mississippi River Basin

► Minnesota River @ Jordan, MN (05330000)

► Mississippi River @ Hastings, MN (05331570)

► Mississippi River @ Clinton, IA (05420500)

► Iowa River @ Wapello, IA (0546500)

► Illinois River @ Valley City, IL (05586100)

Missouri River Basin► Yellowstone River nr Sydney, MT (06329500)

► Missouri River nr Culbertson, MT (06185500)

► Missouri River bl Garrison Dam, ND (06338490)

► Missouri River @ Pierre, SD (6440000)

► Missouri River @ Yankton, SD (06467500)

► James River @ Scotland, SD (06478500)

► Missouri River @ Omaha, NE (06610000)

► Platte River nr Louisville, NE (06805500)

► Kansas River @ DeSoto, KS (06892350)

► Missouri River @ Hermann, MO (06934500)

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Potential Monitoring Sites Ohio River Basin

► Ohio River @ Bentwood nr Wheeling WV (03112510)

► Kanawaha River @ Winfield, WV (03201300)

► Ohio River @ Greenup, KY (03216600)

► Great Miami River @ New Baltimore, OH (03274600)

► Kentucky River @ Lockport, KY (03290500)

► Ohio River @ Cannelton Dam, Cannelton, IN (033003280)

► Wabash River @ Mt. Carmel IL (03377500)

► Wabash River @ New Harmony, IN (03378500)

► Cumberland River @ Grand Rivers, KY (03438220)

► Cumberland River @ Smithland, KY (03438500)

► Tennessee River @ South Pittsburg, TN (03571850)

► Tennessee River @ Paducah, KY (03609750)

► Ohio River @ Grand Chain, IL (03612500)

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Potential Monitoring Sites

Middle Mississippi River Basin► Mississippi River @ Grafton, IL (05587450)

► Mississippi River @ St. Louis, MO (07010000)

► Mississippi River @ Thebes, IL (07022000)

► Mississippi River @ ? (Between Cairo and Memphis to assess Ohio River contributions)

► Mississippi River @ Vicksburg, MS (07289000)

► White River @ DeValles Bluff, AR (07077000)

► Arkansas River @ Tulsa, OK (07164500)

► Arkansas River @ D. Terry Dam bl Little Rock, AR (07263620)

► Yazoo River @ Shell Bluff nr Morgan City, MS (07287120)

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Potential Monitoring Sites Lower Mississippi River Basin

► Old River Outfall @ Knox Landing, LA (07294800)

► Red River @ Alexandria, LA (07355601)

► Mississippi River @ Tarbert Landing, LA (07373290)

► Mississippi River @ St. Francisville, LA (07373420)

► Mississippi River @ Baton Rouge, LA (07374000)

► Mississippi River @ Belle Chasse, LA (07374525)

► Mississippi River @ Venice, LA (07374550)

► Atchafalaya River @ Simmesport, LA (07381490)

► Atchafalaya River @ Melville, LA (07381495)

► Wax Lake Outlet @ Calumet, LA (07381590)

► Lower Atchafalaya River @ Morgan City, LA (07381600)