Falls River Project Water Use Plan Falls River Fish ... - BC Hydro

Falls River WUP Monitoring 2008/2009
Figure 5: Photos displaying piezometers bent by high flow (Incubation area 2)
In the current study, a metal sampling syringe was used to extract intragravel water samples from the
hyporheic zone to measure dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, temperature (C) and pH (see Figure
6). The metal sampling syringe was used in place of sampling from the piezometers and was utilized
throughout the sampling period at all the sample site locations to maintain consistency amongst
sampling locations. Piezometers were left in place at sample sites and will be utilized as indicators of
sample sites (i.e., place-markers).
The metal sampling syringe has three major components: (1) a perforated probe end, (2) a water
collection chamber, and (3) a plunger (Figure 6). The probe end of the syringe was pushed as deep
as possible (20 – 28 cm) into the substrate to extract hyporheic water (Figure 7b and 7c). Water was
extracted by pulling on the plunger and was then placed into a 250 ml graduated cylinder to obtain
physicochemical measurements. The syringe was also used to sample water column samples at the
time of installation to look at any equipment bias between non-syringe water column samples. This
syringe method did not allow for estimates of vertical hydraulic gradient (VHG) and hydraulic
conductivity (K).
In order to maintain consistency and allow for comparison between study years, the metal sampling
syringe will be used in years 2 and 3.
Figure 6: Metal sampling syringe used to extract intragravel samples.
Cambria Gordon and Metlakata Fisheries 10