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San Juan Watershed Program: State and Tribal Projects

Under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, EPA has funded projects across the San Juan Watershed. States and tribes in the watershed have conducted additional EPA-funded monitoring, research, and other projects.

WIIN Act projects:
Additional projects:

Projects funded by EPA under the WIIN Act

Colorado

Residential Groundwater Well Monitoring

  • Project description: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), in cooperation with San Juan Basic Public Health, is evaluating the quality of ground water along the Animas River. CDPHE is collecting water quality samples from 40 private wells adjacent to the Animas River and other tributaries, and presenting results as needed at community meetings. The results of the study will help homeowners understand the quality of their drinking water. The study will also help CDPHE better understand the extent and nature of the impacts of legacy mining contaminants on ground water drinking water sources and inform homeowners of the need for any potential treatment or other safety measures.
  • Scientific questions: What is the quality of ground water used for drinking water along the Animas River? To what extent and how are these sources impacted by legacy mining activities? What actions can homeowners take to ensure their drinking water is safe?
  • Outputs: More information coming soon
  • WIIN Act project funding: $103,179

Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring

  • Project description: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) funded the continued operation and maintenance of two instrument probes, or sondes, in the Animas River. These sondes are part of a larger network of sondes throughout the watershed managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). They provide real-time data on water quality, temperature, flow, and other parameters that may help CDPHE make immediate decisions about water management (e.g., whether to close drinking water intakes in the case of a contamination incident). The sonde data can also inform long-term evaluations of anticipated metals concentrations from legacy mining operations and other sources.
  • Scientific questions: What is the condition of the Animas River? How can states and tribes along the river make informed decisions on public health and environmental protection, based on real-time data?
  • Outputs: Locations of and data generated by the sondes are available on the San Juan Watershed interactive map.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $124,575

Natural Annual Variability of Upper Animas Macroinvertebrates

  • Project description: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is contracting with the Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) in to analyze three sequential years of benthic macroinvertebrate data collected in 2016 through 2018.
  • This project will characterize the responses of benthic macroinvertebrates, as measured by metric categories such as community richness, functional feeding groups, and pollution tolerance, to heavy and trace metals being released from mines in the Bonita Peaks Mining District. Although concentrations of metals peaked suddenly immediately after the Gold King Mine spill and then ultimately diminished over time, the effect to the aquatic community has not been fully studied in the Upper Animas River basin. This project presents an opportunity to evaluate if long-term exposure to heavy and trace metals could seriously impact the aquatic community in this basin.
  • Scientific questions: What is the natural annual variability of Upper Animas River benthic macroinvertebrates? What is the correlation between benthic macroinvertebrate metrics and metals exposure?
  • Outputs: More information coming soon
  • WIIN Act project funding: $30,000

Assessment, Outreach, and Collaboration

  • Project description: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has established a Silverton, CO-based communications and outreach liaison position. The liaison is responsible for evaluating historical and new watershed monitoring data and develop associated outreach materials to inform local, regional, and state stakeholders about the condition of the watershed. The liaison is also supporting development and implementation of a communications strategy, participating in relevant workgroups, and coordinating with EPA staff working on San Juan Watershed and Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site initiatives.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: N/A
  • WIIN Act project funding: $165,000

Animas River Canyon Sampling – Analytical Services

  • Project description: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will provide analytical services (including sample submittal and analysis, data management, and reporting) for the Bonita Peak Mining District Community Advisory Group. Services will be provided for samples collected in the middle Animas River Canyon, for which little to no sampling data has historically been available. The project will provide a refined understanding of appropriate stream segments for future water quality segmentation and standard setting.
  • Scientific questions: Where in the Animas River canyon does analytical water quality begin to meet state standards?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act project funding: $13,260

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Navajo Nation

Water Quality Standards for Livestock and Irrigation

  • Project description: The Navajo Nation EPA is evaluating existing standards for water used for livestock and agricultural irrigation to evaluate the need for new or revised standards. This study will give the Tribe an enhanced understanding of whether San Juan River waters can be safely used for livestock and agricultural watering. This effort will also help the Tribe to determine the need for appropriate revised standards that are legally defensible and adequately protective of farmers and livestock owners in the San Juan River Basin.
  • Scientific questions: Can the San Juan River be safely used for livestock watering and agricultural irrigation? Is it necessary to revise existing standards to ensure they are legally defensible and adequately protective?
  • Outputs: A preliminary report has been completed and will be finalized in 2020.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $316,500

San Juan River Fish Tissue Contamination Study

  • Project description: The Navajo Nation EPA will conduct a study to evaluate the concentrations of metals and select organic compounds in fish intended for human consumption and compare concentrations of select analytes to known human health risk screening values. This effort will help the Tribe better understand the levels of potentially harmful concentrations of compounds in fish within tribal waters and evaluate the need for additional safety precautions to protect public health.
  • Scientific questions: What levels of metals or other potentially harmful compounds are found in fish in the San Juan River? Are additional safety precautions needed to protect public health?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act project funding: $500,000

Investigations of Sources of Contaminants of Concern in the San Juan River

  • Project description: The Navajo Nation EPA will conduct a study to identify sources of metals in the San Juan River Basin and assess how sources of metals contribute to metals loading in the San Juan River. Results of the study will help the Tribe evaluate the nature, distribution, and impacts of source of metals on water quality, human health, and aquatic life in the San Juan River.
  • Scientific questions: What are the sources of metals in the San Juan River? How do they impact watershed condition and human health?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act project funding: $2,000,000

Outreach and Communications

  • Project description: The Navajo Nation EPA will be conducting outreach and communications to tribal members on watershed condition and use of the San Juan River and tributaries for agricultural, cultural, and other uses. The Navajo Nation EPA will also continue to participate in watershed-wide outreach and communications activities.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: N/A
  • WIIN Act project funding: $50,000

Tributary Stream Gaging

  • Project description: The Navajo Nation EPA, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, will install, operate, and maintain stream gages to monitor flow, pH, temperature, and specific conductance for two years near the mouth of four San Juan River tributaries—the Chaco River, Mancos River, McElmo Creek, and Chinle Creek. The goal of the project is to determine when and how much flow these tributaries contribute to the San Juan River and better understand load contributions from these tributaries.
  • Scientific questions: What is the real-time discharge of major tributaries to the San Juan River, and how are these flows informed by storm events vs. snowmelt?
  • Outputs: All USGS stream gages report flow in near real time. Once installed, these gages will provide data integrated in 15-minute increments via the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). Once appropriate surrogate relationships are established, real-time modeled concentrations and loads of sediment and other constituents (i.e., lead, copper, zinc, nutrients, etc.) will be available from the USGS National Real Time Water Quality (NRTWQ) website.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $210,000

Closure of Abandoned Artesian Well Adjacent to San Juan River

  • Project description: The purpose of this project is to close a nuisance well that is contributing high concentrations of salts to the San Juan River on the Navajo Nation in Aneth, UT. The well was targeted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to be plugged in the late 1990s, but the work was never completed. EPA sampled the well in 2018 and confirmed to have arsenic concentrations above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Flow estimates range from 50 to 100 gallons per minute. However, flow rate is difficult to estimate because water surfaces in several areas due to a failed attempt to stop the flow using explosives in the early 1990s. Most of this flow reaches the San Juan River, which is located approximately 150 yards away. Elevated arsenic concentrations have been measured downstream in the San Juan River. Therefore, plugging this well will reduce loading.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act project funding: $100,000

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New Mexico

Analysis of the Effects of Contaminants in Animas and San Juan River Water on Attainment of Livestock Watering and Crop Irrigation Uses

  • Project description: The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) monitored for nine heavy metals in San Juan River irrigation water, irrigation ditch sediment, cropland soil, and agricultural crops and analyzed the potential impacts of direct and indirect exposure to these metals on humans and livestock. River water has historically been applied to agricultural crops and soil, and metals contaminants from river water have also been found in irrigation ditch sediment. NMED has collected samples of irrigated sediment, soil, and crop biomass affected by the Gold King Mine release. The results of the sample analysis were presented at various conferences and shared with community stakeholders through state and Navajo Nation public outreach opportunities. The results will help inform future decisions on the safety of agricultural crops and the appropriateness of existing standards for using Animas and San Juan River waters for agricultural and irrigation activities.
  • Scientific questions: Are existing agricultural standards adequate to protect the safety of crops irrigated and livestock watered from the San Juan River?
  • Outputs: A preliminary project report, presentations, and data are available from NMED on request.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $124,193

Regional Groundwater Monitoring and Surface Water Connectivity along the Animas River

  • Project description: The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) installed monitoring equipment in wells to monitor water level, temperature, and specific conductance. Further, NMED collected and analyzed ground water samples from 140 wells to evaluate the quality of ground water along the Animas River and the extent of connectivity between ground water and surface water along the river The study will help NMED better understand the extent and nature of the impacts of the Gold King Mine release and legacy mining contaminants in the river and the Animas River shallow aquifer, and options for mitigating future spills and improving ground water and surface water protection in the watershed. Sampling was conducted in October 2018 and April 2019.
  • Scientific questions: What is the extent and nature of impacts of the Gold King Mine release and legacy mining contaminants in the Animas River and Animas River shallow aquifer? How can the state mitigate the impact of future spills and better protect ground and surface waters in the watershed?
  • Outputs: NMED has obtained preliminary study results. A final report will summarize key findings of the study.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $189,414

Agricultural Communications and Outreach Activities

  • Project description: The New Mexico Environment Department established a communications and outreach campaign designed to alleviate the unfounded stigma against agricultural products irrigated with water from the Animas and San Juan Rivers. Further, the campaign is designed to communicate and emphasize the cultural, economic, and health benefits associated with buying locally grown produce. The project was led by the San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District, with input from federal, state, tribal, county, and municipal agencies, as well as farmers, ranchers, and agricultural associations. The effort included: development of public relations strategies and approaches to assess strategy effectiveness; evaluation of public outreach options (e.g., videos, billboards, radio and television ads, bus ads, brochures, and public events); implementation of multiple public outreach options; and assessment of summary of project results.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: More information coming soon
  • WIIN Act project funding: $50,000

Farmington Lake Coring Study

  • Project description: The New Mexico Environment Department is conducting a sediment coring study to identify constituents of concern in the sediment of Farmington Lake. The study aims to provide a better understanding of: metals contamination in the Animas and San Juan River watersheds over time; the potential impacts of metals contamination to water treatment processes, public health, and aquatic life; and potential considerations for improved operations, maintenance, and sediment disposal. Sediment coring in Lake Farmington has been completed.
  • Scientific questions: What metals are present in Lake Farmington sediment? What impacts do they have on human health and watershed condition, and how can these impacts be managed?
  • Outputs: The results of the study will be available as a publication and data release in USGS Science Base.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $298,014

San Juan and Animas River Watershed Informational Conferences

  • Project Description: The New Mexico Environment Department supported the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) at New Mexico State University in continuing to host annual informational conferences to exchange monitoring study results, data, and ideas among states, tribes, EPA and other federal agencies, academic researchers, numerous local and municipal agencies and public water systems, and citizens. The conferences also feature forums for addressing concerns and questions related to impacts of current and historical mining in the watershed, as well as field trips. The 2018 and 2019 conferences were funded under the WIIN Act, and conference planning for 2020 is underway. As part of the 2019 conference, WRRI organized a Teach-In at the Navajo Shiprock Chapter House, with Navajo translation provided, where conference presenters gave “Flash Talks” to the Navajo community.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: WRRI is working with planning members from the 2016 through 2018 conferences on a collaborative forward for the proceedings, which are slated to be completed soon. Papers and project summaries from the conferences are posted on the conference website.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $215,242

Surrogate Monitoring of Real-time Metals Concentrations in the Animas and San Juan Rivers

  • Project description: The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) will develop a model for estimating suspended metals concentration from real-time (15-minute data) turbidity and sediment corrected backscatter (hydroacoustic) measurements paired with sampled metals data. Additionally, NMED will explore the potential applicability of the model to function as a predictive tool to forecast metals concentrations in the Animas and San Juan Rivers based on precipitation data in the watershed, using machine learning data analysis techniques, looking for patterns and regressions, and predicting new values of metals concentrations. This three-year project will be conducted in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, City of Farmington, and City of Aztec.
  • Scientific questions: How can metals concentrations in the Animas and San Juan Rivers be estimated and predicted, to improve watershed management decisions?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act project funding: $740,000

Nitrogen Source Investigation

  • Project description: The New Mexico Environment Department will conduct detailed geochemical analyses of groundwater, surface water, springs, seeps, and alkali and Cretaceous rock to identify, geochemically characterize, and estimate relative watershed contributions of sources of nitrate and other nitrogen species in ground and surface water. The information can inform decisions on management of nitrogen sources in the watershed, which can cause eutrophic conditions in the Animas River and lead to exceedances of the standards for drinking water uses (i.e., state groundwater and EPA drinking water standards). This three-year project will be conducted in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District.
  • Scientific questions: What are the sources of nitrate and other nitrogen species in the watershed? How can the state better manage these sources to limit impacts on watershed condition and human health?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act project funding: $250,000

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Southern Ute Tribe

Ethnographic Study on Cultural Uses of Plants

  • Project description: The Southern Ute Environmental Programs Division, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and Northern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, is conducting an ethnographic study on the cultural uses of plants (which uptake water from the Animas River) by tribal members. The study will identify those plants harvested for cultural purposes, their location, the period of harvest, and how they are used, and the relationship between water sources and those plants. The study will also examine cultural traditions associated with collection of plants or other resources, traditional trailways or paths used to access the plants, how traditional cultural information is passed down through generations, and whether there are any landforms or other places in the project area with Ute place names. The outcomes of the study will provide direction for EPA toxicologists to amend the human health risk assessment to include Ute people who may come in contact with plant tissue contaminated from toxic metals. This study will also highlight and translate the oral traditions of the Ute people to give a better understanding of any potential toxicological risks as a result of coming in contact with plants of interest.
  • Scientific questions: What plants are harvested for cultural purposes, and how are they impacted by Animas River waters (and metals concentrations in particular)? What cultural traditions are associated with these plants? What are the toxicological risks of using these plants for cultural purposes?
  • Outputs: The completed, approved QAPP is available on max.gov. A preliminary Ute plant list was developed in January 2019 and will be made available after completion of study and confidentiality review.
  • WIIN Act Project funding: $380,000

Sonde Telemetry Study

  • Project description: The Southern Ute Environmental Programs Division will conduct a sonde telemetry study on the Animas River to better understand agricultural inputs (e.g., nutrients and sediment) into tribal waters. A mobile telemetry unit and an associated sonde will be installed downstream of an existing sonde deployed in Durango, Colorado and upstream of an existing sonde deployed at Cedar Hill, New Mexico. The deployed telemetry unit and sonde will enable the Tribe to provide accurate, real-time data to Tribal members by relaying data remotely to Tribal servers, which can then be uploaded to a live website to allow for public access to the data.
  • Scientific questions: What are the agricultural inputs into the Animas River? How can this information be used to improve watershed management?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act Project funding: $500,000

Aluminum Source Tracking and Loading Study

  • Project description: The Southern Ute Environmental Programs Division will conduct a three-year monitoring study to determine the sources of elevated aluminum in the Florida and Animas Rivers. Aluminum levels in these rivers downstream of the northern Tribal boundary typically range widely and can be high. Elevated aluminum content poses a concern for Tribal and downstream users.
  • Scientific questions: What are the sources of aluminum in the Florida and Animas Rivers? How can this information be used to improve watershed management?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act Project funding: $150,000

Fish Tissue and Macroinvertebrate Sampling

  • Project description: The Southern Ute Environmental Programs Division will conduct a three-year fish tissue and macroinvertebrate sampling study in the Animas River for metals and organic compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and planar chlorinated hydrocarbons). The study will identify whether bioaccumulation of these contaminants is occurring and affecting the Animas River ecosystem within Colorado.
  • Scientific questions: Is bioaccumulation of certain metals and organics compounds occurring in the Animas River? How and to what extent is this affecting the river ecosystem?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act Project funding: $50,000

Spill Event Response Plan – Phase I

  • Project description: The Southern Ute Environmental Programs Division will conduct a feasibility planning study to evaluate potential courses of action in response to future Bonita Peak Mining District release events. The evaluation will focus on in-stream treatment technologies and consider prior monitoring data and events. The study will also inform modifications to the Tribe’s Emergency Action Plan.
  • Scientific questions: What real-time monitoring activities and treatment technologies can help mitigate impacts of future release events? How can the Tribe’s Emergency Action Plan be modified to improve efficacy?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act Project funding: $150,000

Nutrient Loading Study

  • Project description: The Southern Ute Environmental Programs Division will conduct a two-year study to assess nutrient contributions from the Florida River to the Animas River. Previous monitoring indicates an elevated nutrient load from the Florida River.
  • Scientific questions: What are the sources and levels of nutrients in the Florida River, and how do they contribute to nutrient levels in the Animas River?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act Project funding: $50,000

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Utah

Lake Powell Coring Study

  • Project description: The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting sediment coring in the San Juan River and Colorado River deltas of Lake Powell. Coring was completed in late 2018, and 40 core samples were extracted, preserved, and shipped to the National Lacustrine Core Facility, where a preliminary analysis of the cores has been completed. The purpose of the study is to obtain an improved understanding of the concentration, loading, distribution, and bioavailability of metals in the lake and more accurately describe the source of these metals. In addition, the study will quantify the total volume of sediment and sedimentation rates in the reservoir. These data will also help UDEQ to evaluate impacts of metals concentration on water quality, human health, and aquatic life, and identify priorities and options for managing the environmental impacts of these metals.
  • Scientific questions: What is the total mass of metals deposited in the San Juan delta and how are they distributed? What is the bioavailability of metals? How does the San Juan River compare to the Colorado River? What is the potential for impact to the water quality of Lake Powell and what management options are available to mitigate impacts?
  • Outputs: Project data are available on request from Utah DEQ via Open Science Framework. A digital elevation model of Glen Canyon prior to flooding and high resolution geophysical data collected in 2017 are available from USGS. An initial summary report of the coring meta-data is expected in March 2020. Following this report, a sediment chemistry summary report will be completed and submitted in May 2020.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $915,014

San Juan River Watershed Communications and Watershed Model and Program Scoping

  • Project description: The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and tribal entities, is coordinating a watershed-based communication strategy for the San Juan River. UDEQ developed and continues to maintain a San Juan Watershed Monitoring Program webpage designed to provide updates on ongoing projects in the San Juan River watershed. In addition, UDEQ has developed project fact sheets, designed and presented a workshop on risk communication, and coordinated communication efforts for the ongoing Lake Powell Coring Study in an effort to communicate information about the watershed to the general public. UDEQ is also conducting an exploratory scoping effort to determine the steps required to complete a watershed-wide modeling effort in the San Juan River drainage. The effort is designed to develop a scope of work that entails: compiling of all water quality, sediment, and biological data in the San Juan Watershed; selecting models that are compatible with the goals of the modeling effort and the available data; calibrating and executing chosen models; and, compiling a report that details model findings. Development of both instream water quality models and watershed models would allow for the evaluation and prioritization of areas of water quality importance and identification of best management options designed to improve water quality in targeted areas of the watershed.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: UDEQ’s San Juan Watershed Program website is available here.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $45,314

Suspended Sediment Concentration Monitoring

  • Project description: The Utah Department of Environmental Quality is working with USGS to determine whether acoustic Doppler velocity meters (ADVMs) could be used as a real-time indicator of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and metals. Because turbidity is a poor surrogate for determining metals concentrations in the lower San Juan River, the use of ADVMs is being tested as a proxy for SSC and metals. The research is examining relationships between acoustic backscatter signals, streamflow, SSC, and metals to determine the potential for real-time monitoring of metals and estimation of loads to Lake Powell. This is a continuation of U.S. Geological Survey research initiated in October 2017. Equipment installation was completed in early 2018 and data collection began in April 2018. Future action items include completing data collection and beginning data analysis and interpretation. While up to 3 years of data collection are needed to build a robust statistical relationship, preliminary relationships are being examined, and indicate that acoustic backscatter is a surrogate for SSC.
  • Scientific questions: Can ADVMs be used as a real-time indicator of SSC and metals? What is the annual and seasonal loading of total and dissolved metals to Lake Powell?
  • Outputs: Data are available at the USGS NWIS Water Quality Samples for Utah website and the USGS NRTWQ website. Project updates and links will be periodically posted to Utah’s San Juan Watershed Program’s Suspended Sediments website.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $52,405

Lake Powell Porewater Sample Analysis

  • Project description: The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service, will analyze porewater samples collected as part of the Lake Powell coring effort in 2018. Analyses of these samples from the Colorado and San Juan deltas of Lake Powell may help determine: the bioavailability of metals in bottom water environments of Lake Powell, based on porewater chemistry; the potential that metals related to the 2015 Gold King spill might be preserved in reduced porewater, rather than in deltaic sediment; the relationship between host sediment and porewater chemistry in bottom water environments of Lake Powell.
  • Scientific questions: What is the bioavailability of metals in bottom water environments of Lake Powell? What is the relationship between host sediment and porewater chemistry in bottom water environments?
  • Outputs: Outputs will be determined as plans for the project are finalized
  • WIIN Act project funding: $181,244

San Juan Watershed Program Activity Support

  • Project description: A representative from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s (UDEQ’s) Division of Water Quality will continue to lead and support efforts to assess options for developing a watershed plan, develop a vision and goals for the program, continue and reassess watershed-wide monitoring efforts, manage contractor activities on UDEQ WIIN-funded projects, and engage in communications and outreach activities. This funding also provides travel support for participation in relevant meetings and conferences.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: N/A
  • WIIN Act project funding: $64,323

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Watershed-wide Projects

Watershed Monitoring

  • Project description: Since fall 2018, EPA has been collecting water and sediment samples at 39 sites to better understand the condition of the watershed. In 2019, EPA expanded this effort to include benthic macroinvertebrate populations and physical habitat monitoring. The goals of this monitoring effort are to establish a consistent approach to collecting and assessing water quality and sediment data in the watershed, better understand water and sediment quality under different hydrologic regimes, build a more complete picture of how pollutants move through the watershed, identify annual trends, and allow EPA, states, and tribes to make more informed watershed management decisions. Sampling is occurring along Cement Creek, Mineral Creek, the Animas River, the San Juan River, numerous tributaries and diversion canals, and Lake Powell. Sites were selected based on state, tribal, or local priorities and concerns; locations used for previous or ongoing monitoring efforts in the watershed; and the extent to which historic data were available, allowing for comparison of conditions over time.
  • Scientific questions: What is the condition of the San Juan and Animas Rivers? How can states and tribes along the rivers make informed decisions on public health and environmental protection, based on monitoring data?
  • Outputs: Locations of and data generated by the watershed-wide monitoring are available on the San Juan Watershed interactive map and for download
  • WIIN Act project funding: $724,415

Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring

  • Project description: EPA is supporting the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in maintaining 12 sondes in the watershed, from Silverton, Colorado to near Bluff, Utah. The sondes continuously monitor water quality and transmit real-time data on temperature, pH, turbidity, and specific conductance every 15 minutes. Real-time data can inform real-time management decisions throughout the watershed, such as closure of drinking water intakes, and provide insights on trends over time.
  • Scientific questions: What is the condition of the San Juan and Animas Rivers? How can states and tribes along the rivers make informed decisions on public health and environmental protection, based on real-time data?
  • Outputs: Locations of and data generated by the sondes are available on the San Juan Watershed interactive map.
  • WIIN Act project funding: $305,676

Outreach and Communications Oversight

  • Project description: A representative from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality will provide leadership for all San Juan Watershed Program communications activities, including: development of communications and outreach products; development and delivery of a risk communications workshop and webinar, including a response plan for communicating risk from discharge events; coordination with local watershed groups throughout the watershed; and, coordinating with states and tribes in the watershed to effectively communicate ongoing watershed projects and related efforts with local stakeholders.
  • Scientific questions: N/A
  • Outputs: N/A
  • WIIN Act project funding: $85,898

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Additional projects funded by EPA

Colorado

  • Monitoring of State Waters. Colorado has been routinely monitoring the Animas River to evaluate water quality and sediment. Monitoring results from 2016 to 2018 can be downloaded from EPA’s Water Quality Portal (.csv).

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Navajo Nation

  • San Juan River Water Quality and Sediment Monitoring. In addition to ongoing routine monitoring activities, Navajo Nation EPA has conducted water quality and sediment monitoring in the San Juan River, Fruitland and Hogback canals, and major tributaries between Farmington, NM and Mexican Hat, UT, including the Chaco and Mancos Rivers and McElmo Creek. Results are available on request.

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New Mexico

  • Aztec Reservoir #1 Sediment Coring Study. The New Mexico Environment Department contracted with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to identify and assess constituents of concern in sediment in the City of Aztec Reservoir. Study results will be available as a data release in USGS Science Base and uploaded into appropriate database by USGS. NMED also anticipates developing and publishing a scientific journal article.
  • Groundwater Level Monitoring and Groundwater Quality Monitoring. The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources conducted a hydrologic assessment of the alluvial aquifer adjacent to the Animas River in New Mexico, from the Colorado state line to Farmington, NM. A project report was published in 2017.
  • Benthic Microbes and Macroinvertebrate Assessment. New Mexico conducted an assessment of the impacts of metals in the Animas and San Juan Rivers on biota. A project report was published in 2018.

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Southern Ute Indian Tribe

  • Monitoring of Tribal Waters. The Southern Ute Tribe has monitored tribal waters to evaluate potential impacts of heavy metals on tribal waters, including groundwater, sediment, and macroinvertebrate and fish populations. Monitoring results from 2016 and beyond can be downloaded from EPA’s Water Quality Portal (.csv, 3.2 MB).

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Utah

  • Water Quality and Sediment in the San Juan River and Lake Powell. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) evaluated water quality and sediment in the San Juan River and Lake Powell against state standards for aquatic life and agricultural use. The final report and project factsheet are available on Utah’s San Juan Watershed Program Analysis of Water Quality and Sediments webpage.
  • Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments. UDEQ conducted human health and ecological risk assessments in the San Juan River and Lake Powell. The final reports are available on Utah’s San Juan Watershed Program Human Health and Ecological Risks webpage.
  • Source Identification and Tracking. The University of Utah conducted a study to differentiate mining versus non-mining sources of metals in the lower San Juan River and determine whether sediment layers in Lake Powell illustrate distinct chemical signatures that can be traced back to watershed sources. A project description is available on Utah’s San Juan Watershed Program Mining Inventory and Source Identification webpage. Phase 1 results are presented in a 2019 paper titled “Source Identification of Particulate Metals/Metalloids Deposited in the San Juan River Delta of Lake Powell, USA” authored by Logan Frederick and available upon request.
  • Sediment Trap Monitoring. UDEQ is conducting sediment trap monitoring in the San Juan River delta of Lake Powell to further the understanding of how watershed scale processes are integrated. The data will also test the proposed seasonality of sediment composition and help to characterize sediment contribution from side canyons in the San Juan River delta. A project page will be added to the San Juan Watershed Program webpage in the near future.
  • Monitoring of State Waters. Utah has been routinely monitoring the San Juan River to evaluate water quality and sediment. Monitoring results from 2015 to 2016 can be downloaded from EPA’s Water Quality Portal (.csv).

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Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe

  • Monitoring of Tribal Waters. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has been routinely monitoring tribal waters to evaluate water quality. Monitoring results from 2015 and beyond can be downloaded from EPA’s Water Quality Portal (.csv).

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