This is the Sabine River Authority Water Quality Report for
January 2004. Water quality sampling was performed January 12th through
January 15th. Recent weather (previous seven days) in the Sabine River Basin
was cool, with daytime high air temperatures (Fahrenheit) from the mid 30’s to
the mid 60’s at Lake Tawakoni and at Lake Fork.
Toledo Bend Reservoir and Orange
had daytime highs from the mid 40’s to the mid 70’s. Lows ranged from the low 20’s to the upper 30’s
at Lake Tawakoni
and at Lake Fork.
Toledo Bend and Orange
had lows ranging from the mid 20’s to the mid 40’s. The reservoir sites were mixed. During the 28 days since the December sample
run, the Upper Basin
received 0.51 and 1.56 inches of rainfall as recorded at Lake
Tawakoni and Lake Fork,
respectively. The week prior to the
sample run, Lake Tawakoni
recorded no rain and Lake
Fork recorded 0.02 inches
of rain. Toledo Bend and Orange received 2.37 and
3.0 inches, respectively, during the 28 days preceding the sample run.
Upper Sabine Basin
Above Toledo Bend Including Lake Fork
and Lake Tawakoni
For the January sample run, most parameter measurements at Upper Basin
sites were consistent with water of high quality. Chlorophyll a values at LT23D, LT23A, and LF3 were above screening levels for
lake sites. The nitrate value at SR14
was also above screening levels. No
sites exceeded the stream standards numeric criteria for E. coli.
Lower Sabine Basin
Including Toledo
Bend to Morgan Bluff
The January monthly sampling results were indicative of water
of high quality at most sites. The last
significant amount of rainfall the area received was three days prior to the
sample run. The level of Toledo Bend
Reservoir was recorded at 167.45 feet with no discharge from the spillway or
the generator at the time of sampling.
Most reservoir sites showed signs of stratification, with some pH and
dissolved oxygen differences throughout the water column. Nitrate values at TB8 and TB7A were above the
screening levels, but all other parameters in the Lower Basin
were within the stream standards.
Tidal Section of
the Sabine Basin below Morgan Bluff
Most sites sampled in the tidal portion of the Sabine Basin
had values that are consistent with water of high quality. The last significant rainfall the area
received was four days prior to sampling.
Most sites in this section of the Basin showed some signs of
stratification with oxygen and pH differences throughout the water column. No anoxic conditions were found at any tidal
station. Surface salinities were found
at all but the two most northern tidal stations. Among the stations with
surface salinity, the salinity values ranged from 2.0 to 3.0 ppt. The highest salinity, 14.0 ppt, was found at
station SRT1 at the deepest depth measured.
All parameters from the tidal sites were within stream standards.
This Report and additional data
for these monitoring stations are available on our World Wide Web site (www.sra.dst.tx.us).
If you have any questions or comments concerning this report, please contact:
Ø
Upper Sabine Basin
Terry Wilson, Upper Basin Field Office Coordinator
903-878-2420 (twilson@sra.dst.tx.us)
Ø
Lower and Tidal Sabine
Basin
Jerry Wiegreffe, Lower Basin Field Office Coordinator
409-746-3284 (jwiegreffe@sra.dst.tx.us)
Ø
If above are unavailable
John Payne, Special Projects Administrator
409-746-2192 (jpayne@sra.dst.tx.us)
or
Miles Hall, Resource Management/ Project Development
Division Manager
409-746-2192 (mhall@sra.dst.tx.us)