Rueger Springs Rueger Springs Monitoring Monitoring LimitationsLimitations

Spring water is Spring water is collected in a collected in a “French drain” “French drain” complex.complex.

Perforated Perforated collection pipes collection pipes drain into a 36-drain into a 36-inch culvert.inch culvert.

Culvert Culvert transfers water transfers water to hatchery.to hatchery.

Spring Spring discharge is discharge is measured in the measured in the culvert prior to culvert prior to entering the entering the hatchery.hatchery.

Prior to 1983, Prior to 1983, spring water spring water was was impounded impounded behind an behind an earthen dam. earthen dam.

Water was Water was transmitted transmitted via gravity via gravity overflow.overflow.

Measuring Measuring point prior to point prior to 1983 is 1983 is unknown. unknown.

Two problems with Two problems with calibrating to spring calibrating to spring discharge at Rueger discharge at Rueger

SpringsSprings

1.1. Spring CaptureSpring Capture

2.2. Discharge MeasurementDischarge Measurement

Capturing Spring WaterCapturing Spring Water

Springs emanate from American Springs emanate from American Falls Lake Beds, with the most Falls Lake Beds, with the most probable source being fractures in probable source being fractures in the underlying volcanics (Stearns et the underlying volcanics (Stearns et al., 1938).al., 1938).

Results in a spring discharge area, Results in a spring discharge area, not a discrete spring location.not a discrete spring location.

Note the distribution Note the distribution of vegetation.of vegetation.

Capturing Spring WaterCapturing Spring Water During During

excavation to excavation to install a new install a new flow meter, a flow meter, a de-watering de-watering pipe was pipe was “discovered.“discovered.””

This pipe is This pipe is assumed to assumed to discharge to discharge to the settling the settling pond.pond.

An unknown An unknown amount of amount of spring water spring water is not is not captured, captured, and is not and is not measured. measured.

Direct Direct discharge of discharge of ground ground water.water.

De-watering De-watering pipe.pipe.

Abandoned Abandoned raceway.raceway.

Flows Flows appear to be appear to be seasonal.seasonal.

Measuring Spring Measuring Spring DischargeDischarge

Measuring device performance may be Measuring device performance may be problematic. problematic. The previous impeller meter was observed The previous impeller meter was observed

in various states of malfunction including in various states of malfunction including nitrogen build-up and moss growth.nitrogen build-up and moss growth.

New meter installed in 2009 may not be New meter installed in 2009 may not be functioning.functioning.

The measuring point location may be The measuring point location may be problematic.problematic. A single access port necessitates the use of A single access port necessitates the use of

measuring devices that employ several measuring devices that employ several assumptions (friction loss, average velocity, assumptions (friction loss, average velocity, full pipe flow) - none of which are known.full pipe flow) - none of which are known.

ConclusionsConclusions

All spring water is not captured.All spring water is not captured. Inability to capture all spring water Inability to capture all spring water

may obscure seasonal discharge may obscure seasonal discharge variation at the measuring point.variation at the measuring point.

Meter performance may not be Meter performance may not be suitable for calibration data.suitable for calibration data.

Measuring point location may not Measuring point location may not allow for better data collection.allow for better data collection.