Juanita Creek Site 0446

View water quality graphs :: View metals graphs :: Download water quality data

King County Water Quality Monitoring

King County monitors the ecological health of Juanita Creek in a variety of ways including collecting and analyzing water, sediment, and benthic invertebrate samples. Since 1976 water quality samples have been collected monthly from two sites along Juanita Creek. Station 0446 is located at the USGS gauging station north of Juanita Park. Station C446 is located at the bridge on NE 128th, east of 100th NE. Sediment samples have been collected from Juanita Creek as part of the Streams Sediment Monitoring Program starting in 1987.

From time to time special studies have been conducted at various streams in King County. (Click here for information about Special Studies involving Juanita Creek.)

Juanita Creek Watershed

The mainstem of Juanita Creek originates east of Interstate 405, and flows approximately five miles west and south entering Lake Washington on the west side of Juanita Beach Park. The Juanita Creek drainage basin is roughly 4,000 acres. There are three main tributaries flowing into Juanita Creek, an upper West (Simonds Tributary), a lower West, and a lower East (Totem Lake Tributary).

Land use in the area has changed rapidly over the last 20 years. In 1981 only 40 percent of the basin was characterized as being "urban/suburban" (PSCOG, 1981). Since then, much of the basin has been developed and the basin is now described as "highly developed" (Greater Lake Washington Technical Committee. August 22, 2001).

Fisheries

Historically, cutthroat trout have been found throughout the basin along with small populations of coho and chinook salmon. Electro fishing conducted in 1998 found both coho salmon and cutthroat trout (Kerwin 2001). Both species are believed to use the entire length of the mainstem of Juanita Creek from Lake Washington to Interstate 405. Volunteers in the King County Salmon Watcher Program have consistently sighted kokanee, sockeye, and coho salmon. Cutthroat trout have also been spotted on occasion.

In 1989 Juanita Creek was rated as “fair” for salmon habitat suitability condition (METRO September 1990). Removal of riparian vegetation during development in the basin was cited as a primary factor leading to declining habitat conditions. In-stream habitat complexity is significantly degraded and measures of complexity factors (e.g. large woody debris, channel form, pool quality) show lower frequencies than values determined for "natural" conditions (Kerwin 2001).

Water Quality

Water quality samples are analyzed monthly for temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, conductivity, turbidity, total suspended solids, ortho-phosphorus, total phosphorus, ammonia, nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen, and fecal coliform bacteria (FC). Results are compared to State water quality standards. Water quality standards are designed to protect public health and aquatic life. Comparing monitoring results to water quality standards allows an understanding of how safe the creek is for recreational contact as well as for aquatic life. (See link at top of page to view current water data.)

State water quality standards were revised in 2003. Juanita Creek is considered a “Class AA” water body under the 1997 rules. As the 2003 rules become effective Juanita Creek is categorized as “Core Salmon Migration and Rearing Habitat” for aquatic life use and “Primary Contact” for recreational use. As part of the updated water quality standards, the creek has been assigned an additional “Supplemental Spawning and Incubation Protection” temperature criteria of 13 ºC to be applied from September 15th through May 15th. Both sampling sites in Juanita Creek are listed on the 2004 Washington Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) 303(d) list for violation of dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, and fecal coliform (FC) bacteria standards. See Table 1 for a summary of water quality violations in the creek during the most recent water year.

To view charts of current data for Juanita Creek, visit the links above.

Long-term Trends

A 25-year (1979 – 2004) trend analysis was conducted with baseflow water quality data showed some significant changes in the water quality since 1979. Water quality has declined over this 25-year period with significant increases in water temperatures and conductivity at both sampling sites. Other indications of declining water quality are a decrease in DO at the mouth (0446) and a decrease in pH upstream (C446). Decreased total suspended solids (TSS), and decreased nutrient concentrations (ortho-phosphorus and total nitrogen) at both sites indicate some improvements in water quality in the same 25-year period. In addition, fecal coliform bacteria decreased at the mouth of the creek and nitrate-nitrogen decreased at the upstream station.

Water Quality Index

A Water Quality Index (WQI) rating system was developed by the State Department of Ecology that evaluates several water quality parameters and gives a single rating of “high,” “moderate,” or “low” water quality concern. Juanita Creek stations have been rated “high” to “moderate” concern during the last six water years water years. High nutrients and high fecal coliform bacteria compromise water quality in Ebright Creek. To see how Juanita Creek ratings compare with other stream sites, visit the Water Quality Index page.

A review of the 2008 data shows the following violations of State water quality standards:

 

Hydrology

King County maintains three streamflow gauges on Juanita Creek: Juanita Creek at the mouth (27a), Juanita Tributary 0236 above Simonds R/D (27e), and Juanita Tributary 0241 above High Woodlands (27f) and one water temperature gauge: Juanita Creek Rain Gauge (27u).

Stream Sediment

Sediment samples were collected from four stations approximately a mile apart, along a four mile reach of Juanita Creek in the summer of 2005 (see Map). Chemical concentrations in three samples were above at least one sediment quality guideline. The concentration (bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate) at station 0446 was at levels that would likely result in adverse effects in sediment-dwelling animals. Concentrations of PAHs, metals and an organochlorine pesticide (chlordane) at three stations (0446, LL446, and MM446) suggest that adverse effects associated with these chemicals are uncertain. PAHs are combustion byproducts that can be found in vehicle exhaust. Additional data were collected (AVS/SEM ratio) that suggests metals are bioavailable, however the potential for effects is still uncertain.

The presence of chlordane in Juanita Creek sediments is troubling since production of this organochlorine pesticide was discontinued in the 1970s. Like DDT, it is persistent in the environment and can bio-magnify in the food chain and show up at elevated levels in fish that live in both in this creek and in Lake Washington. There is currently a fish advisory that suggests limiting the consumption of some fish from Lake Washington due to high levels of some contaminants. The sediments at site 0446 consist primarily of sand, and have very little silt and clay. This suggests that the chlordane was transported from upstream in the basin to this locaiton. It is possible that this persistent chemical could have been used decades ago and then been sequestered under layers of soil or sediment. When this soil or sediment is disturbed, the chemicals in the soil can be re-mobilized and be washed down into the stream through storm or other urban runoff.

The presence of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, PAHs, and metals probably represents more recent sources. Vehicles are a source of metals and PAHs, which can be washed off of streets and roads and into streams during storms or other urban discharges, such as landscape irrigation runoff, washing cars in residential streets or driveways, and illegal discharges such as washing house-paint equipment among others. Phthalates, present in many consumer products, are often found in urban runoff.

Special Studies

Swimming Beach Monitoring

Juanita Creek is monitored in the summer as part of the summer swimming beach bacteria monitoring program.

Streams Toxicity/Pesticide Study

In 1999, King County conducted a pesticide study on Juanita, Lyon, and Lewis creeks. The County collected water samples for analysis of pesticides, other organic compounds, metals, suspended solids, and toxicity (Ceriodaphnia dubia - a zooplankton, and Selenastrum capricornutum- an algae). A total of 24 pesticides were detected over the course of the year in Juanita Creek. Toxicity to S. capricornutum was observed in the Juanita creek samples during spring, summer and early fall. Toxicity observed during the spring sampling event appeared to be associated with copper. The cause of toxicity during the rest of the year was unclear; however, it was associated with the particulate fraction of the samples.

Habitat Inventory and Assessment

In August of 2000, habitat on Juanita Creek was assessed using methods derived from standard assessment protocols. The goals of the assessment project for Juanita Creek were threefold: (1) characterize instream and riparian habitat quality - primarily for salmonids; (2) establish a baseline for future evaluation of trends in habitat quality and watershed function; and (3) provide information for process of prioritizing areas for restoration and preservation. The habitat assessment results indicate that channel and habitat structure in a number of the Juanita Creek segments are degraded relative to values from published "properly functioning conditions" for the Puget Sound or the Pacific Northwest region. This decreased quality of slow water rearing habitat may limit juvenile carrying capacity as well as hinder upstream migration by adult salmon. More information about this assessment can be found in the Habitat Inventory and Assessment of Juanita Creek in 2000 Report.

Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 8

In WRIA 8, citizens, scientists, businesses, environmentalists and governments are cooperating on protection and restoration projects and have developed a science-based plan to conserve salmon today and for future generations. Visit the WRIA 8 Web page to see how this creek is part of this WRIA 8 planning process.