Grande Ronde Valley Stream Gauging - Union County
Statement of Work and Budget FY2005

BPA Project Number:  1992-026-01
BPA Project Title:  Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program
Contract Number:   New
Contract Title:  Grande Ronde Valley Stream Gauging - Union County
Performance/Budget Period:  05/01/2005 to 6/30/2006

Technical Contact Name:  Shad Hattan
Technical Contact Title:  Union County Watermaster
Company / Agency Name:  OWRD
Street Mailing Address:  10507 N. McAlister
City, ST Zip+4:  La Grande, OR 97850
Technical Contact Phone / Fax:  541.963.1031/541.963.9637
Technical Contact email:  shad.l.hattan@wrd.state.or.us

Contracting Contact Name:  Shad Hattan
Contracting Contact Title:  Union County Watermaster
Company / Agency Name:  OWRD
Street Mailing Address:  10507 N. McAlister
City, ST Zip+4:  La Grande, Or.  97850
Contracting Contact Phone / Fax:  541.963.1031/51.4963.9637
Contract Contact email:  shad.1.hattan@wrd.state.or.us

Financial Contact Name:  Marlene Perkins  
Financial Contact Title:  Administrative Officer  
Company / Agency Name:  Union County
Street Mailing Address:  1106 K Ave.
City, ST Zip+4:  La Grande, OR. 97850
Financial Contact Phone / Fax:  541.963.1042/541.963.1079
Financial Contact email:  mperkins@union-county.org

Project Location:
Lower Catherine Creek (10th Street in Union) RM 17
Grande Ronde River above LaGrande RM 164   (USGS 1904-1989)

Objective:
The project objective is to continue stream flow gaging at two locations in the Grande Ronde Valley.

Project Description:

Introduction
The Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program Operations - Action Plan identifies both water quantity and quality as major issues/concerns in the Middle Grande Ronde (La Grande to Elgin) and in Catherine Creek (mouth to Union).  Stream flow gaging stations provide essential data for water management decisions and evaluating success of water conservation restoration projects.  Long-term continuous stream flow monitoring is necessary.  

Currently there are eight gaging stations in the Upper and Middle Grande Ronde.  All the stations have flow records dating back at least 10 years.  The Grande Ronde River near Perry river reach has continuously recorded flows since 1904 and provides near real time flow information via satellite telemetry and internet support provided by the National Weather Service.   The Upper Catherine Creek station has continuously recorded flows since 1912.  Five stations are cooperatively supported by the Forest Service (see USFS Gaging Station proposal) and operated out of the local Water Master office.  One site,  Catherine Creek near Union, is operated by OWRD out of the Baker office.  Two sites; Catherine Creek at Union, and Grande Ronde River near Perry are cooperative stations operated out of the local Watermaster Office.

Union County provides administrative support and a Watermaster Assistant position using funding from the cooperative program to run and maintain the cooperative stations under the supervision of the local Watermater.   This proposal addresses the operation of the Lower Catherine Creek station at 10th Street in Union and the Grande Ronde River near Perry station for the 2005 water year.

Existing Condition
The operation of gaging sites in the Upper Grande Ronde has depended on support from BPA and OWEB for the last few years.  In the past USGS and the BOR have either operated gaging stations or helped fund their operation.  The USGS discontinued operation of the upper Catherine Creek site and a station near Perry on Grande Ronde River several years ago.  OWRD has taken over the Catherine Creek station. The BOR is no longer able to partially support any of the stations in the Grande Ronde Basin.  At this time OWEB is not funding non-capital projects such as gaging.  Without funding assistance the continuous data record from the Perry and Lower Catherine Creek site would be lost.  

Specific Actions
Oregon Water Resources Department supervised staff will conduct all gaging station operations.  Operations consist of the following:
· Flow measurement and data collection - download data, perform physical flow measurements on 4 to 6 week intervals.  Service the stations and perform minor   maintenance as needed.
· Run levels - maintain set of elevation references to check against water stage references (periodically as necessary).
· Record workup and publication - process data into a record showing average daily discharge and other summary data, rating curves, and station report for the year (June   2007).

Deliverable:  Published discharge record for two sites, approximate date June 2007.

Benefits
The project will maintain continuous flow records at these stations.  The data from these  stations, as well as the other stations, will provide flow information essential to water management, water quality control, and evaluation of restoration projects in the Upper Grande Ronde and Catherine Creek watersheds.  

Work Dates:  
Operation and maintenance for the 2005 water year.