East Canyon Water Quality Steering Committee
Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District
December 1st, 2004
9:30 am
AGENDA
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Report on Free Haz-Mat Disposal Day @ Recycle Utah
- Update on Hazardous Material disposal facility – Insa Riepen
- Report on Green Building Seminar - Insa Riepen
3. Introduce Tina Quale – Swaner Nature Preserve
- East Canyon Creek Restoration Project – Tina Quale/Lee Duncan
4. Update on field work in the Watershed – Lee Duncan
5. Additional EPA funding for East Canyon stream rehab – John Whitehead
6. Information and Education Program Survey for the East Canyon - Karen Nichols
7. Update on Summit County’s stormwater control efforts and ordinance revisions
8. East Canyon Creek In-stream Feasibility Flow Study and USGS seepage study updates – Mike Luers
- Update on SBWRD phosphorus optimization study
9. Next Meeting
PDFMINUTES
East Canyon Watershed Technical Advisory Committee
Meeting Notes for 12/1/2004
Attendees:
Lee Duncan (UACD), Ray Loveless (UACD, Mountainland AOG), Mike Luers (Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District), Larry London (Morgan County Commission), Mary Perry (Friends of E. Canyon Cr.), Tim Hawkes (Trout Unlimited), Carol France (East Canyon Resort), John Whitehead (DEQ Division of Water Quality), Ross Anderson (MacFarlane Ranch), Bill Bradwisch (Division of Wildlife Resources), Russ Lawrence (Division of Wildlife Resources), Kent Wilkerson (Morgan County), Shannon Herstein (Bio-West), Insa Riepen (Recycle Utah), Melissa Stamp (Bio-West), Karen Nichols (Stantec), Kent Wilkerson (Morgan Co. Engineering), Kathy Kinsman (CARG), Lee Broadbent (NRCS)
Agenda Item – Ray Loveless thanked everyone for coming and asked everyone to introduce themselves and state what organization they represent. He stated the minutes from the previous committee meeting were on the East Canyon website.
Agenda Item – Ray introduced Insa Riepen and apologized for not writing the letter of support she had requested at the previous meeting. Insa gave a report on the annual Free Hazardous Material Disposal Day which took place at the Recycle Utah facility on October 8th. She informed the committee the free event started in 1999 in response to the illegal dumping of hazardous material at their facility. The amount of material has increase from 2000 lbs in 1999 to 18,000 lbs this year. Insa pointed out that residence will make the effort to properly dispose of their hazardous material if there is a facility to take it to. At this point Insa restated the need for a permanent Haz-Mat trailer. Recycle Utah would most likely be the best place for the trailer because they can properly dispose of the material and because they are a non-profit there could be a cost reduction. The trailer would be emptied every 28 days as required by federal law. Mike Luers asked what would be the cost of the trailer. Insa said the trailer would be about $15,000 and would meet all state and federal requirements. There would also be a cost for disposal. The disposal cost for the free disposal day was $9,000 and Recycle Utah is not sure how they will pay for it. The Haz-Mat trailer would be free to residence and businesses would pay a fee of 50 cents per lb. Residence and businesses would make an appointment to dispose of materials. Mary Perry questioned if people would make an appointment or just drop off materials at the fence. Insa stated that they drop off hazardous materials at the fence now but if there was a proper disposal facility people would take advantage of it. Insa said she would like the committee to give her a letter of endorsement in order to try an obtain funding for the facility. Summit County and Park City endorse the idea but would like more participation. Ray stated he would write a letter by the end of the week.
Insa also gave a report on the Green Building Seminar which was held on Nov 19th at Deer Valley Resort. The goal of the seminar was to educate contractors and building professionals on environmentally sound building materials, increasing energy efficiency and how to incorporate renewable energy strategies and efficient water use among other topics. The seminar sponsors were hoping for 25 participants and 5 participants for the trade show. There where 160 people of attended the seminar and 30 trade show participants. Needless to say the event was a major success and follow up events will be held each year.
Agenda Item – Ray introduced Tina Quayle from the Swaner Nature Preserve. Tina gave a brief description of the preserve. She informed the committee that the preserve has 700 acres of land on the south side of I-80 which historically was drained and used for grazing. The preserve has restored many on the wetlands and has created several frog and duck ponds. A nature center is planned for this portion of the preserve. The preserve also has 500 acres on the north side of the interstate which includes about a 1.5 miles of East Canyon Creek. Tina presented a map which showed most of this land was platted for development but because of the preserve the 1200 acres will forever be open space. Lee Duncan described the stream restoration project he developed, along with help from NRCS, for the preserve. The project will include stabilizing 3000 ft of eroding banks, plant approximately 25,000 willow cuttings and planting 1400 rooted stock trees and shrubs. Three-nineteen money will be used for the project with the required matching funds coming from the preserve mainly in the form of equipment and volunteers. Lee also informed the committee he has developed restoration plans for the Red Barn Trees Nursery and the Bitner Farm. He stated that Tina has good relationships with most of the property owners on the upper portion of the creek and with her help hopes to get most of them involved in some type of restoration efforts. Bill Bradwisch asked about the stream alteration permit needed for the creek and Ray said the permit has been submitted and it will cover all of the stream above the reservoir. Ray asked Lee Broadbent about the 910 Cattle Company project. Lee stated the cattle company does not really want to fence the stream off. If they do they want to build a fence that would not be damaged by wildlife which could be very expensive. Bill stated Russ Lawrence could give some guidance for the fencing. Ray said it is important for the cattle company to do something because they owner a large section of the creek. Ross Anderson informed Lee the Rocky Mountain Elk Association could help with the cost of the fencing.
Agenda Item – John Whitehead informed the committee he recently obtained an additional $175,000 for stream restoration on East Canyon Creek. $20,000 will be used for mapping the phosphorus formation in the watershed. The mapping will assist contractors and the ski hills from not allowing excess phosphorus from entering the watershed when disturbing the formation. Russ Lawrence asked if any of the money could be used for projects below the reservoir. John said it will need to be used above the reservoir because the TMDL is for the upper watershed.
Agenda Item – Lee Duncan gave the committee a summary of the field work that was done in the watershed this past summer. Five major tributaries to East Canyon Creek were assessed in order to determine any site specific restoration needs which could improve water quality. The streams included McLeod, Spring, Three Mile, Two Mile and Toll Canyon Creeks. John Whitehead and Lee walked each tributary and looked at bank stability, riparian vegetation and channel conditions and identified any negative impacts to the streams. Overall the tributaries are in good condition although some sections have been greatly impacted from residential development, in particular Spring Creek. No site specific restoration recommendations were made for any of the tributaries. At the same time as the tributary assessment sediment samples were taken at 7 locations along East Canyon Creek and several of the tributaries. The samples were analyzed for plant available phosphorus in order to determine in if the channel bottom sediments could be contributing to the excessive amount of macrophyte growth in East Canyon Creek. The preliminary numbers do not indicate excessively high amounts of phosphorus. The numbers were higher in the upper part of the watershed and increased again just above East Canyon Reservoir. In order to further understand the relationship between plant available phosphorus and excessive biological growth in East Canyon Creek sediment sampling should continue as restoration efforts are implemented throughout the watershed in the coming years. In September a macrophyte survey was conducted to help understand the cause of the low dissolved oxygen values in East Canyon Creek. The survey started just above East Canyon Resort and continued upstream to Kimball Creek just on the south side of I-80. The following parameters were noted at 11 location; average water depth, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, % cover of macrophytes/algae present and substrate composition along with other relevant observations. Pictures were taken upstream and downstream at each site. The survey is designed to be used as a monitoring tool and should be conducted annually in August so as to observe the macrophytes during their peak. Because of the dependence on nutrients and sediment, monitoring the level of biological growth in East Canyon Creek may help determine if improvements throughout the watershed are having a positive affect on water quality.
John Whitehead added that along with the above mentioned field work the Division of Water Quality installed Diurnal Dissolved Oxygen probes in East Canyon Creek at 3 locations. This study will continue each summer to monitor improvements in DO levels.
Ray Loveless ask that Sam Rushford be invited to the next meeting to give an update on the algae problem in the reservoir.
Agenda Item – Karen Nichols discussed with the committee a proposed survey of residence in the watershed that will help shape the Information and Education Programs be developed for the watershed concerning impacts to water quality. She passed around a survey which has been conducted in Salt Lake City and County which tracks knowledge and behaviors concerning storm water. The committee agreed they would like to see a draft of the questions to be asked before the survey is conducted. Mike Luers asked what the time frame for the survey is. Lee Duncan stated he is hopeful he will receive $10,800 in 319 funds by next spring and the survey could be done in the spring or summer.
Agenda Item – Melissa Stamp updated the committee on Summit County’s storm water control efforts and ordinance revisions. On September 23rd a seminar was held in Park City for building contracts and planners to present and inform them of the revisions and proper storm water BMP’s. The revisions focus on post construction BMP’s, such as permanent vegetation, parking lot design and structural and non-structural controls. Water quality requirements include treating a ½” per hour storm event for Total Suspended Solids. Ground water recharge requirements include increased volume of runoff more than 1/2” per hour must be recharged. The draft copy of the revisions will go to the county commission on Dec 8th for final approval. Along with the revisions a GIS database is being developed for the County which will map storm water outfalls and detention basins. Melissa stated Summit County is trying to get EPA grants for a storm water BMP demonstration site and to do water quality sampling on some of the tributaries to East Canyon Creek. Mike Luers with Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District indicated that they would be interested in partnering/contributing to the water quality sampling effort. John Whitehead suggested Ray write a letter of support from the committee for the grants. Ray asked Lee Duncan to write the letter and he would sign it. Lee agreed.
Agenda Item – Mike Luers gave an update on the East Canyon In-stream Flow Feasibility Study and the USGS Seepage Study. A draft of the In-stream Flow study was to be delivered to Mike today and he would send out copies for comments to anyone who would like a copy. The final draft is expected after the 1st of the year. He stated the seepage study is complete and will also by out after the 1st of the year.
Mike informed the committee the Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District just completed a 90 day phosphorus optimization study for the plant. During the 90 days the plant operated at its highest efficiency for removing phosphorus. The plant achieved a goal of 50 ppb of total phosphorus concentration which meets the standard set by the TMDL.
Mike also mentioned the SBWRD will be installing a new pipeline from St. Marys Catholic Church to Jeremy Ranch which will parallel the existing pipeline. At the same time they may install a reuse pipe to be used for delivering reuse water to golf courses. If this is done golf courses would be required to replace water in the stream with well water.
Other Items – Ray Loveless stated he has been chairman of the committee for 8years and feels he can no long comment the needed time and energy to the position because of other job duties. He asked if anyone would like to volunteer to replace him. No one volunteered so a nomination committee was formed made up of Lee Duncan, Mary Perry, John Whitehead and Mike Luers. They will present nominations at the next meeting.
The next meeting will be on March 1st at 9:30am at the Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District.
