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Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5186

Sources of Phosphorus to the Carson River Upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, Nevada and California, Water Years 2001-02

By Nancy L. Alvarez and Ralph L. Seiler

Report availability: Portable Document Format (PDF).

CONTENTS

Abstract
Introduction
Background
Purpose and Scope
Acknowledgments
Study Area
Location and General Features
Geology
Soils
Surface-Water Hydrology
  • Stream Characteristics
  • Mean and Peak Streamflow
  • Storage Facilities
  • Diversions and Return Flows
  • Channel Stability
Ground-Water Hydrology
Water Quality
Land Use
Cycling and Transport of Phosphorus
Cycling
Transport
Potential Sources of Phosphorus to the Carson River
Geological Sources and Forested Areas
Soils and Sediment
Atmospheric Transfers
Ground Water
Animal Grazing
Agriculture
Treated Sewage Effluent
Urban Runoff
Sample Collection and Analysis
Location of Sampling Sites
Water Samples
Suspended-Sediment Samples
Streambank- and Streambed-Sediment Samples
Quality Control
Discussion of Results
Water-Quality Subunits
Phosphorus in Water
  • Phosphorus Concentrations
  • Phosphorus Loads and Yields
Phosphorus in Sediment
  • Suspended Sediment
  • Streambank and Streambed Sediments
  • Relation Between Suspended-Sediment Concentration and Total-Suspended Solids
Changes Across Specific Reaches
  • West Fork/Brockliss Slough
  • West Fork Ditch
  • East Fork
  • Mainstem
Storm Runoff
Phosphorus Sources
Summary
Future Directions
References Cited
Appendixes:
  1. Field measurements and chemical and suspended-sediment analyses for surface-water samples collected from the study area, water years 2001-02
  2. Chemical analyses for streambed- and streambank-sediment samples collected from the study area, water years 2001-02
  3. Chemical analyses for nitrogen species in surface-water samples collected from the study area, water year 2002

Supplemental Geospatial Digital Data

Areas permitted for irrigation, storage, evaporation, and disposal of treated sewage effluent in the upper Carson River Basin, Nevada and California, by Rose L. Medina and Deborah A. Dean
1:250,000-scale geology of the Carson River Basin, Nevada and California, by Rose L. Medina.

FIGURES

  1. Map showing location of Carson River Basin, Nevada and California
  2. Map showing generalized geology of the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir
  3. Map showing soils of the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir (A) clay content and (B) erodibility
  4. Map showing hydrologic features of the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir
  5. Schematic diagram of flow in the Carson River system upstream from Lahontan Reservoir
  6. Graphs showing mean annual discharge at sites along the Carson River
  7. Photograph showing typical low-head dam along Carson River
  8. Graphs showing monthly mean discharge as a percent of mean annual discharge at five sites along the Carson River
  9. Map showing land use in the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, 1990
  10. Map showing phosphorus concentrations in soil samples collected in 1987 from the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir
  11. Photograph showing unstable reach along East Fork Carson River in Carson Valley
  12. Photograph showing cattle near tributary to Carson River in Carson Valley
  13. Map showing areas permitted as of 2001 for storage, irrigation, evaporation, and disposal of treated sewage effluent in Carson and Eagle Valleys
  14. Photograph showing urban runoff in Eagle Valley Creek following a winter rainstorm
  15. Photograph showing golf course adjacent to Carson River in Carson Valley
  16. Map showing location of sampling sites in the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir
  17. Graphs showing total-phosphorus concentrations at selected sites in the Carson River Basin, 1988-2002
  18. Graphs showing ratio of orthophosphate to total-phosphorus concentrations at selected sites in the Carson River Basin, 1988-2002
  19. Graphs showing relation between (A) instantaneous discharge and total-phosphorus load and (B) daily mean discharge and time of sample collection for site 1, West Fork Carson River at Woodfords (10310000)
  20. Graphs showing relation between (A) instantaneous discharge and total-phosphorus load and (B) daily mean discharge and time of sample collection for site 17, East Fork Carson River near Dresslerville (10309010)
  21. Graphs showing relation between (A) instantaneous discharge and total-phosphorus load and (B) daily mean discharge and time of sample collection for site 34, Carson River near Carson City (10311000)
  22. Graphs showing relation between (A) instantaneous discharge and total-phosphorus load and (B) daily mean discharge and time of sample collection for site 39, Carson River at Deer Run Road (10311400)
  23. Graphs showing relation between (A) instantaneous discharge and total-phosphorus load and (B) daily mean discharge and time of sample collection for site 43, Carson River near Silver Springs (10312020)
  24. Graphs showing comparison of (A) discharge and (B) total-phosphorus loads entering and leaving Carson Valley
  25. Graphs showing comparison of (A) discharge and (B) total-phosphorus loads entering and leaving Eagle Valley.
  26. Graphs showing comparison of (A) discharge and (B) total-phosphorus loads entering and leaving Dayton-Churchill Valleys
  27. Graphs showing relation between phosphorus and suspended-sediment concentrations in samples from the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, 2000-02
  28. Map showing phosphorus concentrations in streambank-sediment samples in the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, 2001-02
  29. Map showing phosphorus concentrations in streambed-sediment samples in the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, 2001-02
  30. Graph showing relation between suspended-sediment concentration and total-suspended solids in samples from the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, 2002
  31. Graph showing relation between sand break and percent difference between suspended-sediment concentration and total-suspended solids in samples from the Carson River Basin upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, 2002
  32. Graphs showing discharge, phosphorus concentrations and loads, and suspended sediment (<0.062 millimeter fraction) at sites sampled during Winter synoptic survey (February 19-28, 2002)
  33. Graphs showing discharge, phosphorus concentrations and loads, and suspended sediment (<0.062 millimeter fraction) at sites sampled during Spring 1 synoptic survey (April 24-May 15, 2002)
  34. Graphs showing discharge, phosphorus concentrations and loads, and suspended sediment (<0.062 millimeter fraction) at sites sampled during Spring 2 synoptic survey (May 28-31, 2002)
  35. Graphs showing discharge, phosphorus concentrations and loads, and suspended sediment (<0.062 millimeter fraction) at sites sampled during Summer 1 synoptic survey (July 1-12, 2002)
  36. Graphs showing discharge, phosphorus concentrations and loads, and suspended sediment (<0.062 millimeter fraction) at sites sampled during Summer 2 synoptic survey (August 21-29, 2002)

TABLES

  1. Summary data for streamflow at selected sites in the Carson River Basin
  2. Summary of water-quality data for selected sites on the Carson River showing changes in water quality following cessation of treated sewage effluent discharge to the Carson River
  3. Irrigated acreage and population trends in the Carson River Basin above Lahontan Reservoir
  4. Location of sampling sites and gaging stations, and the types of data collected at each site
  5. Land characteristics for Carson River water-quality subunits.
  6. Statistical summary of phosphorus concentrations for water samples collected between 1988 and 2002
  7. Coefficients and bias correctors for total-phosphorus load regressions for samples collected between 1988 and 2002
  8. Estimated seasonal and annual loads, and average annual yields of total phosphorus at sites on the Carson River, water years 1980, 2001, and 2002
  9. Mass-balance calculations for the study area showing potential phosphorus loads from treated sewage effluent used for irrigation, 2000-02

Return to SIR 2004-5186 or the Abstract.

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