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Water Quality Monitoring
Between May and November 2008 and January and March 2009 monthly stream monitoring was completed on three streams. These streams included South Fork Powder River, Murphy Creek, and Willow Creek. All of which are listed as impaired for selenium by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. (WDEQ) Below are a few finding from the 2008-2009 monitoring season.
South Fork Powder River
· Selenium concentrations exceeded the WDEQ standard during the entire sampling period. The highest concentrations were measured in May 2008, while the lowest concentrations of selenium were found in October and November 2008.
· Overall, selenium concentrations were comparable to those measured between 2003-2006
Murphy Creek
· Murphy Creek was monitored as a background sited due to the lack of irrigation and industry along the stream
· Overall, this site exceed the WDEQ selenium standard 7 out of the 9 samples.
· In general the lack of irrigation and industry on Murphy Creek confirms the natural presence of selenium in the steam.
Willow Creek
· The site on Willow Creek was selected based on its location upstream of irrigation.
· During 2008, all samples measure non-detect for selenium. However, during winter sampling the February 09 sample exceeded the selenium standard.
For a complete copy of 2008-2009 Stream Water Quality Analysis please contact the PRCD.
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