Testing/Results

Little Muddy Watershed Program Update

Our water sampling efforts have concluded for 2023, and we now have enough data to start looking at the health of the watershed. For the Little Muddy program, we sampled Blacktail Dam and three stream sites, and we’ve also been helping the Williston Parks and Recreation District on Epping-Springbrook Dam. Blacktail Dam was tested for metals, nutrients, conductivity, suspended solids, and chlorophyll; the streams were tested for nutrients, suspended solids, and E. coli. For Blacktail Dam the metals were very low and chlorophyll – a measure of algae in the water – was comparable with past years. Certain nutrients were high, which can contribute to algae blooms, especially when combined with summer heat. Suspended solids were also high, which can impact fish health, aquatic plant health, and negatively influence other parameters.

Stream results were largely acceptable except for Blacktail Creek. This site demonstrated increasing trends for most parameters, which can mean declining aquatic habitat quality and can impact water quality in the main channel of the river. We also saw spikes in many results early in the season. Even if trends are positive overall, these spikes can still put pressure on aquatic wildlife and recreation. Macroinvertebrate sampling – surveys for aquatic insect larvae – were also conducted and will give us a holistic measurement of water quality health when we receive the results in 2024. For more information on water quality parameters, the EPA’s Factsheets on Water Quality Parameters can be found online and are helpful and informative.

All water quality data is publicly available through the ND DEQ Surface Water Quality Data Portal. We will be using these results to assess the state of the watershed and guide our priorities for the program. By cooperating with local farmers and ranchers to put conservation on the ground, we can improve our watershed’s health and make it a better place for people, livestock, and wildlife.

In other news, our program has extended to include the portion of the watershed that is in Divide County. If you fall into the area on the map provided, you may be eligible for our conservation cost share program. There is no deadline to apply, and most practices are eligible for a 70% cost share rate.