Tributary Water Quality Monitoring Program, 2003-2007

Ryan, Roslyn

This report summarizes the results for the Tributary Water Quality Monitoring Program from January 2003 to December 2007. Results for the sampling events prior to January 2003 can be found in the “Las Vegas Wash Monitoring and Characterization Study: Results for Water Quality in the Wash and Tributaries” report published in January 2004 (Zhou et al., 2004)... INTRODUCTION The Las Vegas Wash (Wash) is the sole drainage channel for the Las Vegas Valley. Flow in the Wash is comprised of four components: urban runoff from tributaries, treated wastewater effluent, shallow groundwater discharge, and stormwater. Discharge of the Wash into Lake Mead presents potential concerns due to the presence of certain chemical and biological constituents typical of urban influence. The Tributary Water Quality Monitoring Program was designed to quantify the effects of the urban runoff component on the water quality in Lake Mead and the overall health of the Wash and its developing wetland ecosystem. Water quality samples were collected quarterly at a total of nine sites in seven urban tributaries and two groundwater seeps to the Wash (Tributaries/Seeps). Samples were analyzed for major ions, nutrients, metals (including selenium [Se]), bacteria, perchlorate, and organic contaminants. Field parameters, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), specific conductance (SC), and turbidity were measured at each site during each sampling event. This report summarizes the results for the Tributary Water Quality Monitoring Program from January 2003 to December 2007. Results for the sampling events prior to January 2003 can be found in the “Las Vegas Wash Monitoring and Characterization Study: Results for Water Quality in the Wash and Tributaries” report published in January 2004 (Zhou et al., 2004).

Tributary Water Quality Monitoring Program, 2003-2007

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