• identify how citizens should participate in 

 the program. 



Water quality specialists assisting in the preparation 

 of this report have suggested that a minimum of four 

 monitoring stations are needed to measure long-term trends in 

 Clark Fork water quality. As an example, the following 

 monitoring program has been suggested: Four key monitoring 

 stations (Deer Lodge, Turah, Alberton, and Whitehorse 

 Rapids) should be maintained in the Clark Fork. Study 

 parameters might include pH, EC, TSS, VSS, hardness, 

 alkalinity, temperature, total recoverable and dissolved 

 metals (As, Cu, and Zn) , daily sediment (at Turah and 

 possibly Alberton) , and biota (monitored once per year at 

 Turah and Deer Lodge) . Water quality should be monitored 12 

 times per year based on streamflow, and established stream 

 gaging stations should be maintained at Deer Lodge, Turah, 

 and Whitehorse Rapids. A new gaging station would be needed 

 at Alberton. The USGS estimates that such a program would 

 cost $91,000 the first year and $86,000 per year thereafter. 



Ground Water 



Ground water is a widely used resource in the Clark Fork 

 Basin, and a number of investigators have characterized the 

 quantity and quality of the ground water system. However, 

 very little ground water work has been done in the lower 

 river, and specific ground water quality issues remain in the 

 upper and middle river. The following studies are recom- 

 mended to address these issues. 



1. Conduct ground water studies of the lower Clark Fork. 



a. Further water management objectives by making long- 

 term observations in the lower Clark Fork Basin in 

 areas where changing land uses, increased consump- 

 tive water use, and other cultural activities may 

 influence ground water availability and quality. 

 Most of the ground water monitoring emphasis in the 

 Clark Fork Basin has been focused in the upper 

 basin. However, not all monitoring needs are tied 

 to the areas of historic mining impact in the 

 headwaters. 



b. Conduct a reconnaissance ground water study of the 

 lower river (from Huson to Lake Pend Oreille) to 

 gather basic information about the local aquifers 

 and their relationship to the Clark Fork. A 

 number of new monitoring wells may be required. 



5-21 



