Palomar Airport Assessment

Flood Control Grant Project - McClellan-Palomar Airport Water Quality Basin: Effectiveness Assessment

Effectiveness assessment of the Palomar Airport Water Quality Basin included water quality monitoring, bioassessment monitoring, and photo documentation.

Water quality monitoring consisted of monitoring flow and collecting flow-weighted composite samples during storm events at the influent and at the downstream effluent locations, as water leaves the unit. The samples were then analyzed for the following constituents: dissolved cadmium, dissolved copper, dissolved lead, dissolved zinc, hardness, suspended sediment concentration (SSC), total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate, total phosphorus, dissolved ortho-phosphate, Diazinon, Chlorpyrifos, Methylene Blue Activated Substances (MBAS), oil and grease, and bacterial indicators (total and fecal coliform, enterococcus).

Water quality monitoring equipment consisted of American Sigma 950 OptiFlo Flow meters, 900MAX peristaltic samplers, and Sigma 1000 wireless modems. Rainfall data was compiled from the onsite airport rain gauge.
 
Bioassessment monitoring was conducted to assess the benthic macroinvertebrate (aquatic organisms) population in the stream, both prior to construction and following construction of the facility. The area chosen for bioassessment monitoring is located downstream of the proposed treatment facility where runoff is conveyed within an open channel, approximately ½ mile upstream of its confluence with Agua Hedionda Lagoon. By comparing the water quality of the influent water versus the effluent water, and changes in the downstream benthic macroinvertebrate population, an effectiveness assessment of the facility can be derived.
 
Photo documentation was conducted before, during and after construction at pre-established photo points to provide a qualitative assessment of the treatment facility effects downstream of the project area. Please follow the links at the bottom of this page to view reports on the effectiveness assessment of the underground water quality basin.

Installation of Sampling Equipment Post Construction	Construction of Detention Vault
Water Quality Sampling Equipment (installed in manhole)

[ Stream Bioassessment Summary ] [ Technical Approach Summary ] [ Photo Documentation ]

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