Monitoring Methods for the Snake River at Flagg Ranch, Wyoming

A crane, reel, and DH-95 suspension sampler are used to collect water samples when the river is non-wadeable. Photograph is from the Snake River at Moose, WY. NPS

Water Chemistry

The Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network collects water samples monthly during ice-free periods generally following depth and width-integrated protocols outlined in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data.

In wadeable depths, we use a 1-L, hand-held DH-81 sampler affixed to a 1-m wading rod to collect depth and width-integrated water samples. During non-wadeable flows, samples are collected from a bridge using a bridge-board or crane, reel, and DH-95 suspension sampler. At multiple locations along the river's cross-section, we collect water using vertically integrated sampling techniques. Samples from the 1-L bottle are mixed into an 8-L churn splitter; we use the churn splitter to homogenize and dispense a representative subsample into laboratory-provided bottles. These bottles are then shipped overnight to an EPA-certified commercial lab for processing.

A handheld, multi-parameter instrument is used to collect water quality parameters: temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. NPS

Core Water Quality Parameters

In addition to water samples, water quality parameters (temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity) are collected in situ using a handheld, multi-parameter instrument (e.g., YSI EXO 1 sonde) at four representative locations on the river cross section. Collection of water sample core parameters and rationale for testing nutrients and suspended solids is described in the approved Greater Yellowstone Network Regulatory Water Quality Monitoring Protocol (O'Ney 2006).

River Discharge

Discharge (river flow estimates) and water temperature data from the Snake River at Flagg Ranch, WY, sampling location are available online from the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Information System and listed under station USGS 13010065. This station is located in John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

Greater Yellowstone Network Water Resources Protocols

Read the full protocols and standard operating procedures for water quality and discharge here.

Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures

Source: NPS DataStore Collection 7853. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Part of a series of articles titled
Water Resources Monitoring in the Snake River at Flagg Ranch, Wyoming, 2021.

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Snake River Water Quality at Flagg Ranch, Wyoming

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Water Quality Criteria for the Snake River at Flagg Ranch, Wyoming

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