turtle river watershed assessment

 Turtle river preliminary data turtle river implementation  turtle river watershed

               

Van Dorn Grab Sampler                         Cobbled Streambed

The Turtle River Watershed Assessment Project began in December, 2005 by taking water samples from the Larimore Dam Reservoir.  Eight stream sampling sites were added during Spring 2006 ice and snow melt runoff.  Measurable stream characteristics, such as temperature, amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, stage (height of the water in the stream), and flow (speed of the water in the channel) combined with subjective assessments of stream channel conditions such as bank stability, water appearance, and constitution of streambed material were documented as well.  Fieldwork concluded in November 2007.  The information gathered during the assessment project was used by the North Dakota Department of Health to determine the ability of the Turtle River to support beneficial uses such as fishing, wild life habitat, farming, cattle ranching, or communities.  Eight reaches of the Turtle River and its tributaries and the Larimore Dam Reservoir were determined to be unable to support or in danger of not supporting fish and other aquatic life.  The preliminary data provided to the North Dakota Department of Health which is still undergoing analysis is available on the above links.