Lower Boise River Watershed Advisory Group (WAG)

Watershed advisory groups (WAGs) are groups of interested citizens that provide local public input and guidance to DEQ during the development of water quality improvement plans or "Total Maximum Daily Loads" (TMDLs) for water bodies that fail to meet water quality standards. TMDLs are designed to reduce the levels of pollutants, such as bacteria and sediment, in impaired water bodies.

The Lower Boise River WAG was formed to develop and implement TMDLs to improve water quality in the Lower Boise River. DEQ will consult with WAG participants on a regular basis throughout the TMDL development and/or five-year review process.

Lower Boise Watershed Council Website

Upcoming Meetings

Lower Boise Watershed Council TAC Meeting
Thursday, May 23, 2013, 9 to 11 a.m.
Meridian City Hall
33 East Broadway Ave.
Meridian
Agenda

Lower Boise Watershed Council Modeling Workgroup - Work Session
Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 10 a.m. to Noon
DEQ State Office
Conference Room D
1410 N. Hilton
Boise

Lower Boise Watershed Council TAC 319 Meeting
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 8 a.m.
Caldwell Farm Service Center Conference Room
2208 E. Chicago St.
Caldwell

Lower Boise Watershed Council Meeting
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 7 p.m.
Caldwell Police Station
605 Main St.
Caldwell

Lower Boise Watershed Council TAC Meeting
(Load and Wasteload Allocations)
TBD

Review Documents

Phosphorus

WAG/TAC Review Documents

Memorandum: Benthic Chlorophyll-a Target Recommendation for the Lower Boise River Total Phosphorus TMDL
Video: Idaho Rivers United Investigates Algae Growth on the Flooded Boise River
Conditions at Glenwood Bridge: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 (Photos provided by Idaho Rivers United)
Idaho Power Comments on Recommended Lower Boise River Nuisance Algae Target
Idaho Conservation League Letter to DEQ
Idaho Rivers United Lower Boise River Phosphorus TMDL Target and Metric Recommendations
Nutrient Target Development: Approach for the Lower Boise River (City of Boise, 2012)
Lower Boise Phosphorus TMDL Target and Metric Recommendations
Total Phosphorus TMDL Target Recommendations
2008 Integrated Report: EPA Partial Approval/ Partial Disapproval Letter - 02/04/09

Technical Reports and Scientific Literature

Idaho Rivers United Comments on the Draft NPDES Permit for City of Boise West Boise Wastewater Treatment Facility
Scientific and Technical Basis of the Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Montana’s Wadeable Streams and Rivers
Water Quality Criteria for Nutrients and Algae
Guidance for Implementing Wisconsin's Phosphorus Water Quality Standards for Point Source Discharges (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2012)
Periphyton Nutrient Limitation and Maximum Potential Productivity in the Beaver Lake Basin (Ludwig, Matlock, Haggard, and Chaubey, 2012)
Response of Algal Biomass to Large-Scale Nutrient Controls in the Clark Fork River (Suplee, Watson, Dodds, and Shirley, 2012)
Seasonal Patterns in Nutrients, Carbon, and Algal Responses in Wadeable Streams Within Three Geographically Distinct Areas of the United States, 2007-08 (Lee, Lorenz, Petersen, and Greene, 2012)
Use of Biological Assessment in State Water Programs: Focus on Nutrients (Association of Clean Water Administrators, 2012)
Initial Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Algae References (2012)
Assessment Methodology for Determining Wadeable Stream Impairment Due to Excess Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels (M. Suplee and R. Suplee, 2012)
Periphyton Standard Operating Procedure (Montana DEQ, 2011)
Standard Collection and Laboratory Analysis of Chlorophyll-a Standard Operation Procedure (Montana DEQ, 2011)
U.S. EPA Memorandum About State Nutrient Reductions (2011)
Using a Computer Water Quality Model to Derive Numeric Nutrient Criteria (Montana DEQ, 2011)
A Weight-of-Evidence Approach to Define Nutrient Criteria Protective of Aquatic Life in Large Rivers (Smith and Tran, 2010)
Ecological Responses to Nutrients in Streams and Rivers of the Colorado Mountains and Foothills (Lewis and McCutchan, 2010)
Nutrient Limitation of Biofilm Biomass and Metabolism in the Upper Snake River Basin (Marcarelli, Bechtold, Rugenski, and Inouye, 2009)
EPA Response to DEQ - Lower Boise River and Ham Creek (2009)
How Green is too Green? Public Opinion of What Constitutes Undesirable Algae Levels in Streams (Suplee, Watson, Teply, and McKee, 2009)
Assessment of Chlorophyll-a as a Criterion for Establishing Nutrient Standards in the Streams and Rivers of Illinois (Royer, David, Gentry, Mitchell, and Starks, 2008)
Water-Quality Conditions Near the Confluence of the Snake and Boise Rivers, Canyon County, Idaho(Wood and Etheridge, 2008)
Limiting Nutrients for Controlling Undesirable Periphyton Growth (Wilcock, Biggs, Death, Hickey, Larned, and Quinn, 2007)
How Green is My River? A New Paradigm of Eutrophication in Rivers (Hilton, O'Hare, Bowes, Jones, 2006)
Phosphorus and Suspended Sediment Load Estimates for the Lower Boise River, Idaho, 1994-2002 (Donato and MacCoy, 2005)
Water-Quality and Biological Conditions in the Lower Boise River, Ada and Canyon Counties, Idaho, 1994-2002 (MacCoy, 2004)
Evaluation of Chlorophyll a Nuisance Thresholds and Targets for the Southwest Snake River and Brownlee Reservoir (Hoelscher, 2002)
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Relationships to Benthic Algal Biomass in Temperate Streams(Dodds, Smith, and Lohman, 2002)
Revised Protocols for Sampling Algal, Invertebrate, and Fish Communities as Part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (Moulton II, Kennen, Goldstein, and Hambrook, 2002
Relationship Between Chlorophyll a and Beneficial Uses (CH2MHill Draft Memo, 2001)
Ambient Water Quality Criteria Recommendations: Information Supporting the Development of State and Tribal Nutrient Criteria (EPA, 2000)
Establishing Nutrient Criteria in Streams (Dodds and Welch, 2000)
Eutrophication of Streams and Rivers: Dissolved Nutrient-Chlorophyll Relationships for Benthic Algae (Biggs, 2000)
Clark Fork River Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Program (Tri-State Implementation Council, 1998)
Clark Fork River U.S. EPA TMDL Approval Letter (1998)
Suggested Classification of Stream Trophic State: Distributions of Temperate Stream Types by Chlorophyll, Total Nitrogen, and Phosphorus(Dodds, Jones, and Welch, 1998)
Water-Quality Conditions of the Lower Boise River, Ada and Canyon Counties, Idaho, May 1994 Through February 1997 (Mullins, 1998)
Developing Nutrient Targets to Control Benthic Chlorophyll Levels in Streams: A Case Study of the Clark Fork River (Dodds, Smith, and Zander, 1997)
Phosphorus-Chlorophyll Relationship in Temperate Streams and its Variation with Stream Catchment Area(Van Nieuwenhuyse and Jones, 1996)
Effects of Nutrient Enrichment and Flood Frequency on Periphyton
Biomass in Northern Ozark Streams (Lohman, Jones, and Perkins, 1992)
Nuisance Biomass Levels of Periphytic Algae in Streams (Welch, Jacoby, Horner, and Seeley, 1988)
Experimental Enrichment of a Coastal Stream in British Columbia: Effects of Organic and Inorganic Additions on Autotrophic Periphyton Production (Perrin, Bothwell, and Slaney, 1987)

Sediment/Bacteria

Proposed Sediment Targets in the Lower Boise River Tributaries (DEQ, January 2013)
Proposed Sediment Targets for Indian Creek (Draft Technical Memorandum prepared by CH2M HILL)
- EPA Letter Commenting on CH2M Hill Technical Memorandum - 11/01/11
CH2M Hill Proposed Sediment Calculation
Water Quality Criteria for Freshwater Fish, J.S. Alabaster and R. Lloyd
Finely Divided Solids, J.S. Alabaster and R. Lloyd

Sediment Information

Scientific Research

An Experimental Test of the Effects of Inorganic Sediment Addition on Benthic Macroinvertebrates of a Subtropical Stream (Marlon de Castro Vasconcelos and Adriano Melo)
Biological Effects of Fine Sediment in the Lotic Environment (Paul J. Wood and Patrick D. Armitage)
The Biological Effects of Suspended and Bedded Sediment (SABS) in Aquatic Systems: A Review (Walter Berry, Norman Rubenstein, Brian Melzian, and Brian Hill)
Can Stormwater BMPs Remove Bacteria? New Findings from the International Stormwater BMP Database (Jane Clary, Jonathan Jones, Ben Urbonas, Marcus Quigley, Eric Strecker, and Todd Wagner)
Channel Suspended Sediment and Fisheries: A Synthesis for Quantitative Assessment of Risk and Impact (Newcombe and Jensen, 1996)
Clean Water Services DNA Fingerprinting of Bacteria Sources in the Tualatin Sub-basin
Developing Water Quality Criteria for Suspended and Bedded Sediments (SABS) (U.S. EPA)
Direct and indirect effects of sediment pulse duration on stream invertebrate assemblages and rainbow trout and survival (E. Shaw and John Richardson)
Ecological Studies of Aquatic Organisms in the Mackenzie and Porcupine River Drainages in Relation to Sedimentation (Rosenberg and Snow)
Effect of silt, water and periphyton quality on survival and growth of the mayfly (Edwin Peeters, Bart Brugmans, John Beijer, and Rob Franken)
Effects of Sediment Addition on Macrobenthic Invertegrates in a Northern Canadian River (David Rosenberg and Allen Wiens)
Effects of Sediment on the Aquatic Environment: Potential NRCS Actions to Improve Aquatic Habitat (Janine Castro and Frank Reckendorf)
Effects of Sedimentation and Turbidity on Lotic Food Webs: A Concise Review for Natural Resource Managers (W.F. Henley, M.A. Patterson, R.J. Neves; and A. Dennis Lemly)
Environmental effects of sediment on New Zealand streams: A review (Paddy Ryan)
Fine-Grained Sediment in River Systems: Environmental Significance and Management Issues (P.N. Owens et al)
Fine Inorganic Sediment Effects on Stream Macroinvertebrates (Christina D. Relyea)
Guide to Selection of Sediment Targets for Use in Idaho TMDLs (DEQ)
The Effect of Inorganic Sediment on Stream Biota (Gammon)
Industrial Stormwater Permits Guidance on Establishing Natural or Background Conditions (DEQ guidance)
Influence of Fine Sediment on Macroinvertebrate Colonization of Surface and Hyporheic Stream Substrates (Carl Richards and Kermit Bacon)
The Influences of Inorganic Sediment on the Aquatic Life of Streams, (Almo Cordone and Don Kelley)
Landscapes and Riverscapes: The Influence of Land Use on Stream Ecosystems (J. David Allen)
Literature review: Biotic and abiotic factors affecting the distribution of freshwater macroinvertegrates (Letort Vanessa)
Mayflies and the assessment of ecological integrity: a methodological approach (Ernst Bauernfeind and Otto Moog)
Meeting Report: Knowledge and Gaps in Developing Microbian Criteria for Inland Recreational Waters (Dorevitch, Ashbolt, Ferguson, Fujiok, McGee, Soller, and Whitman)
Monitoring Discharge and Suspended Sediment, Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed, Idaho, USA (Frederick B. Pierson, Charles W. Slaughter, and Zane K. Cram)
Proposed Sediment Targets for Indian Creek (Draft Technical Memorandum prepared by CH2M HILL)
Protecting sediment-sensitive aquatic species in mountain streams through the application of biologically based streambed sediment criteria, (Sandra Bryce, Gregg Lomnicky, and Phillip Kaufmann)
Review of Published Studies to Characterize Relative Risks from Different Sources of Fecal Contamination in Recreational Water (U.S. EPA)
Review of UKTAG Proposed Standard for Suspended Solids (APEM Aquatic Scientists)
Sediment Effects on Macroinvertebrates Implications for the Indian Creek Sediment Target (Technical Memorandum prepared by CH2M Hill)
Selected Recreational Water Epidemiology Studies Based on Nonwastewater Effluent Sources of Fecal Contamination (U.S. EPA)
Suspended Solids and Turbidity Requirements of Freshwater Aquatic Life and Example Relationship Between TSS (mg/L) and Turbidity (NTUs) for a Treated Municipal Effluent (Robertson-Bryan)
Stream Insects as Bioindicators of Fine Sediment (Christina Relyea, G. Wayne Minshall, and Robert Danehy)
Understanding the influence of suspended solids on water quality and aquatic biota (G.S. Bilotta and R.E. Brazier)
Water Purity Standards for Fresh-Water Fishes (J.A. Krug and Albert Day)

Previous Meetings

Date: Materials
May 14, 2013 - Modeling Work Session: Summary; Potential NPDES Permits and WQ Data to be Included in Model Scenarios for WLAs; Reach Habitat Info Mockup; Use of Periphytic Chlorophyll a in Application of AQUATOX in the Lower Boise River TMDL Analysis
May 9, 2013 - TAC 319: Agenda
May 9, 2013 - Meeting: Agenda
May 2, 2013 - Load and Wasteload Allocations: Summary of Allocation Options and Examples in Idaho (presentation by Tom Dupuis)
April 30, 2013 - Modeling Work Session: Summary; Lower Boise TMDL Modeling Decision Log; General Periphyton Data Questions (presentation); Lower Boise NPDES Permits; Lower Boise River Periphyton Controls; Pebble and Shade Normalization Example; Periphyton Biomass Per Unit Area
April 25, 2013 - TAC Meeting: Agenda (draft); Phosphorus and Effluent Trading Discussion (Presentation by Scott Koberg, Ada SWCD); Best Management Practice Effectiveness on Phosphorus Removal from Field Surface Irrigation Return Flows; Proposed Best Management Practices to be Applied in the Lower Boise River Effluent Trading Demonstration Project (Carter, 2002)
April 23, 2013 - Modeling Work Session: Summary; Lower Boise TMDL Modeling Decision Log; Lower Boise River Periphyton Community Composition Analysis (March 2007); Periphyton Community Analysis Summary: Boise River Study (March 2007); Phytoplankton Community Analysis: Boise River at Parma (March 2007); A Study of the Diatom Flora of Boise River, Idaho (Spring 2007); Modeling Algae with AQUATOX (Richard Park)
April 16, 2013 - Modeling Work Session: Summary; Aquatox Model Segmentation Diagram; Lower Boise Aquatox Model Segmentation; Preliminary Comments on Segmentation (Jack Harrison, HyQual); Lower Boise TMDL Modeling Decision Log; March 20, 2013 WERF Webinar: Modeling Approaches to Developing Site Specific Nutrient Goals, Criteria, and Management
April 11, 2013 - Watershed Council Meeting: Agenda (draft); Lower Boise River TP TMDL Adjusted Timeline - April 9, 2013 (draft); Mass Balance Model Data; Groundwater Gains and Losses - August
April 9, 2013 - Modeling Work Session: Summary; Workgroup Documents
April 4, 2013 - TAC Meeting: Agenda (draft); Snake River/Hells Canyon TMDL; Bear River/Malad River TMDL; Portneuf River TMDL; Clark Fork River Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Program; WI Guidance for TP Point Source Discharges; Oregon's 2010 Integrated Report 303d listing for Phytoplankton in the Snake River/Hell's Canyon Complex; Lower Boise River TP TMDL Adjusted Timeline - April 3, 2013 (draft); DEQ TMDL Template Example
April 2, 2013 - Modeling Work Session: Summary; Agenda (draft); EPA AQUATOX Technical Note 1: A Calibrated Parameter Set for Simulation of Algae in Shallow Rivers; Initial Four-Segment AQUATOX Run on the Lower Boise River; EPA AQUATOX: Modeling Environmental Fate and Ecological Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems User's Manual
March 21, 2013 - Modeling Workgroup Meeting: Agenda (draft); Scenarios
March 14, 2013 - Watershed Council Meeting: Agenda; Preliminary Fivemile and Tenmile Creek 2012 Water Quality Sampling Results (Jack Harrison presentation); Fifteenmile Creek Data; Proposal to Modify the Lower Boise River Total Phosphorus TMDL, Benthic Chlorophyll-a Target Period Based on Additional Analyse
February 28, 2013 - TAC Meeting: Agenda (draft); Benthic Chlorophyll-a Target – Applicable Timeframe (DEQ presentation); Total Phosphorus Mass Balance Model (USGS presentation); Lower Boise River Total Phosphorus Chlorophyll-a Target Addendum
February 21, 2013 - Modeling Workgroup Meeting: Agenda (draft); Potential AQUATOX Applications for Lower Boise TP TMDL Modeling (presentation); Modeling LBR Periphyton (attached algae) ... Some Background (presentation); QUAL2Kw (presentation)
February 14, 2013 - WAG Meeting: Agenda; Benthic Chlorophyll-a Target-Applicable Timeframe (DEQ presentation); Proposal to Modify the Benthic Cholorphyll-a Target Period for the Lower Boise River Total Phosphorus TMDL: July 1 - November 30 with additional modeling
January 24, 2013 - WAG and TAC Combined Meeting: Agenda (draft); Benthic Chlorophyll-a Target-Applicable Timeframe (DEQ presentation); Total Phosphorum Mass Balance Model - Lower Boise River (USGS presentation); 2012 Integrated Report: Assessment Unit-Cause Combinations Delisted; Water Quality Data for Tributaries to the Lower Boise River for Consideration in the Draft 2012 Integrated Repor t; Category 1: Waters Wholly within Wilderness or Roadless Areas Where Standards are Presumed to be Attained; Category 2: Waters Attaining Some Standards; Category 3: Waters with Insufficient Data to Determine if Any Standards are Attained; Category 4a: EPA Approved TMDLs; Category 4b: Impaired Waters Expected to Meet Standards; Category 4c: Waters Impaired by Pollution, Not a Pollutant; Category 5: Impaired Waters Needing a TMDL; New Listings to Category 5 for the 2012 Cycle
January 17, 2013 - Modeling Workgroup Meeting: Fresh Science for CWA Section 304(a)(1) Responsibility; Total Phosphorus Mass Balance Model - Lower Boise River (USGS presentation); Agenda (draft); Mass Balance Model Data; Map: Synoptic Sites
January 10, 2013 - Watershed Council Meeting: Memorandum: Benthic Chlorophyll-a Target Recommendation for the Lower Boise River Total Phosphorus TMDL; Agenda (draft); Proposed Sediment Targets in the Lower Boise River Tributaries (DEQ, January 2013); Plans for 2013 Integrated Report (presentation)
January 3, 2013 - TAC Meeting: Total Phosphorus TMDL Target Development (presentation); Agenda (draft); Target Selection Point Paper
November 29, 2012 - TAC Meeting: Total Phosphorus TMDL Target Development (presentation); Agenda (draft); Sediment Targets in the Boise River Tributaries (presentation); 1999 Lower Boise River Sediment Target Summary (presentation)
November 28, 2012 - Modeling Workgroup Meeting: Boise River: Total Phosphorus Mass Balance Model (presentation); Agenda (draft); Summary of Previous Lower Boise River Water Quality Modeling (presentation); U.S. EPA NPDES Permit Modification for the West Boise Wastewater Treatment Facility (fact sheet)
October 11, 2012 - Watershed Council Meeting: Sediment and Nutrient Reductions in Constructed Water Quality Ponds (presentation)
September 27, 2012 - TAC Meeting: Perspectives on Selecting Water Quality Targets and Allocations (presentation)
August 23, 2012 - TMDL TAC Meeting: Lower Boise River TMDL Target and Metric Identification & Assessment Process (draft); Total Phosphorus TMDL Overview of Strategy (presentation)
July 26, 2012 - TMDL TAC Meeting: Lower Boise Watershed Phosphorus TMDL Addendum Strategy Paper (draft); Lower Boise Watershed Tributary TMDL Addendum Strategy Paper (draft)
July 19, 2012 - TAC Meeting: Agenda
June 14, 2012 - TAC Meeting: Minutes
April 12, 2012 - Watershed Council Meeting: Minutes (draft)
Attendance List
Proxy Form
April 6, 2012 - TAC Meeting: Lower Boise River Phosphorus TMDL (Presentation by Lauri Monnot, DEQ)
Boise River Phosphorus TMDL (Presentation by Lance Holloway, DEQ)
What Does USGS Research Tell Us About Phosphorus in the Boise River? (Presentation by Alexandra Etheridge, USGS)
March 16, 2012 - Watershed Council Meeting: Elements of a TMDL (Handout); Pollutant Trading 101 (Handout)

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