Continuous Stream Flow Monitoring and Water Quality Analysis

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The Kalispel Tribe has received financial assistance in previous years from Reclamation to help the Kalispel Natural Resources Department (KNRD) establish and maintain continuous stream flow monitoring and water quality analyses in and around the reservation. The KNRD water resources monitoring program operates about 65 water quality monitoring sites with continuous flow recording at 9-12 of the core sites consistent with the Kalispel Water Monitoring Strategy. This grant will provide continued assistance in funding laboratory costs for water analyses and partial support of a hydrologic technician needed to operate and maintain stream flow monitoring sites including development of their flow rating curves for the continuously recorded sites. KNRD will continue to monitor several streams throughout the Kalispel ceded land for instantaneous flow and field parameters such as turbidity, pH, temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. Samples will assess nutrients, suspended solids, bacteria, and dissolved metals in the Pend Oreille River. KNRD will continue to: (1) operate continuous stream flow monitoring sites; (2) perform stream flow transect measurements; (3) check the pressure transducer calibration; and (4) download recorded stream stage data. Flow rating curves necessary to calculate stream flow discharge data are prepared annually using the Aquarius Hydrometric Workstation software.

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