Mike Bolt stepped into the water and scooped up what the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (WATR) hopes will be the first of many such jars of river water to go off to the lab.

WATR is starting data collection along the length of the Tuckasegee for a long-term river monitoring project. Data gathered from the sites will enable the group to locate any acute water quality problems and to identify larger trends and changes in water quality as they take place.

Bolt is the chair of WATR’s River Monitoring Action Group. Working closely with Callie Dobson, basin planner for the N.C. Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, Bolt has designed a monitoring system that will give a good overall picture of the river’s condition.

Because sedimentation is the greatest threat to water quality in the mountains, one of the main tests is for total suspended solids (TSS), or the amount of silt being carried by the water. Suspended solids is one of the most important, and also one of the most volatile water quality indicators.

“One good rainstorm can wash a lot of sediment from a poorly done construction site or roadbed, which in turn can have a detrimental effect on the stream below,” said Bolt. “This stream in turn will carry water colored like cafe latte into the main stem of the river.”

Fecal coliform bacteria tells if human wastes are present in the water. These do not harm aquatic organisms, but can greatly limit human use of the river. Therefore, this is another important test of the water quality.

The temperature and the level of dissolved oxygen are two determining factors in the quality of the aquatic habitat. Using a meter given to the organization by the Tennessee Valley Authority, WATR monitoring volunteers will test for these parameters, which give a clue to how many and what type of aquatic inhabitants the river can support.

Another important index of overall water quality is the presence of benthic invertebrates. These are small animals and insect larvae that live on stream bottoms, the same creatures that children love to turn over rocks to find. Small as they are, these tiny organisms are the foundation of the aquatic food cycle. They are also very sensitive to changes in water quality conditions. Thus, the number and kind of these organisms present in a given area of stream give an indication of the condition of the water and its ability to support wildlife.

“As important as the river is to the natural, social, and economic life of the valley, the information developed through the river monitoring program should prove invaluable,” said David Wheeler, president of the watershed association.

WATR’s mission is to mobilize the people of the river valley to come together in support of the river. The group believes that one of the best ways to do this is to bring people into direct contact with the river for learning, recreation, and service work. WATR feels that if people interact with the river, they begin to appreciate it and feel a sense of our responsiblity for maintaining it and passing it along in good condition.

“A monitoring program such as this is the basis for any comprehensive conservation program,” said Wheeler. “Knowledge is the key to understanding the watershed and the river. Understanding is the key to care and appreciation. These two go together, for good care is the best way to express our appreciation for this great gift we have been given: pure water.”

WATR is currently looking for volunteers to aid its monitoring program. The group will initially establish seven testing sites along the length of the river, but more will be added as the volunteers to keep them become available.

To join WATR’s monitoring effort, call Mike Bolt at 828.488.1645. To join WATR or to find out more about the organization, call 828.631.1500 or write the group directly at Box 452, Sylva, N.C., 28779.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News