Horizon Report
Surface water quality data for Whiskeytown were collected by eight agencies (i.e., California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Health Services, California Department of Water Resources, California Water Resources Control Board, National Park Service [WHIS and Water Resources Division], UC Davis, USDI Bureau of Reclamation, and US Geological Survey), between 1962-1998 (NPS-WRD, 2000). Numerous sites throughout the reservoir (Whiskeytown Lake), as well as 12 streams, 4 springs, and 2 mines (NPS-WRD 2000, pages 45-47) were sampled during this time period. A total of 128 stations were sampled and all but 17 stations were either sampled once or intensively for a single-year (NPS-WRD 2000). The 17 relatively long-term stations were located at numerous sites around the reservoir, or on Clear and Willow Creeks. Many of the 203 parameters assessed between 1962-1998 (NPS-WRD 2000, pages 48-51) were potential indicators of water quality problems associated with (1) human recreational activities and waste disposal, and (2) point source pollution due to past mining activities and clandestine-illegal marijuana cultivation. These water quality parameters continue to be monitored (1999-present). A Horizon Report for WHIS is available at: (http://nrdata.nps.gov/WHIS/nrdata/water/baseline_wq/docs/WHISWQAA.pdf).
Additional Activities
Water quality related activities at Whiskeytown also include four recent projects not covered by the NPS-WRD (2000) Report. In 1996, Whiskeytown began a cooperative watershed restoration partnership with Shasta College and Salix Applied Earthcare, a natural resource consulting firm, both located in Redding, California. The cooperative project was titled “Watershed Restoration and Logging Road Removal Project in the Paige Bar Demonstration Watershed” and was designed, in part, to demonstrate the capacity for restoring watershed water quality and fish habitat. The project received the National Park Foundation Environmental Conservation Award in 1999. USGS Project CA598 was designed to identify and characterize contaminant “hot spots” in Whiskeytown due to past mining activities, and to examine the potential adverse effects of mercury and other heavy metals on aquatic biota. This project, begun in April, 2002, examined 15 sites throughout Whiskeytown and concluded in September, 2004 (Hothem et al. 2002-2004). In February, 2004, USGS Project 9VL22 was initiated to assess the aquatic biology, habitat, and water quality conditions of the major Whiskeytown watersheds (May and Brown 2004-2006). This project will conclude in September, 2006. In 2002, USGS personnel surveyed and inventoried the presence of amphibians and turtles in 12 Whiskeytown streams and one pond. Amphibians and turtles were again surveyed and inventoried in 2004, in nine Whiskeytown streams and one pond, and in five arms of the reservoir. Fisheries activities in Clear Creek at Whiskeytown have been associated with a larger effort concerning the restoration of anadromous fish in the Sacramento River drainage area (NMFS 1997, USFWS 2001, CDFG 2002).
Resource Management Water Quality Concerns
1) ArcGIS feature datasets of aquatic resources within the park unit boundary have yet to be completed
2) Disturbance and contamination of stream habitats due to clandestine-illegal marijuana cultivation
3) Introduction of nonnative fish and wildlife (particularly bullfrogs) species
4) Spread of exotic plant species within Whiskeytown Lake
See Attachment I for WHIS water quality and fisheries inventory, monitoring and research study references.
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