Water Quality Sampling and Analysis
With limited water availability, water quality is an important issue in Nevada. Surface and ground water can be contaminated by a variety of sources such as agricultural runoff, erosion, and municipal and industrial discharges. RCI’s professional environmental staff relies on decades of experience and training in compliance with the Clean Water Act of 1972 to assist private, governmental and tribal organizations with water quality issues. Our services include:
- Surface & Ground Water Monitoring
- Water Quality Sampling & Analysis Plans
- Agency Coordination
- Water Quality Standards Review
- Statistical Analysis
- Hydrologic Studies & Analysis
- Non-point Source Assessment & Management Plans
Heavenly Mountain Resort Water Quality Improvements
Resource Concepts has provided extensive design and construction supervision for stormwater improvement projects at the Heavenly Mountain Resort. The primary project objective is to achieve the storm water discharge standards for the construction of new facilities within the Tahoe Basin via upgrading existing storm water facilities.
RCI designed extensive stormwater improvements for Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Boulder and California lodges. The Boulder Lodge has approximately 10 acres of paved parking located partially in a stream environment zone (SEZ). Edgewood Creek flows beneath the parking area through a large culvert. The project was constructed from 2003 through 2005 as a three-year phased project. Design features and concepts included:
- Designing special snow storage areas with equipment access ramps for performing annual maintenance
- Modifying the existing storm drain systems to intercept and route parking lot runoff to a new 50,000-gallon pretreatment vault prior to discharge to Edgewood Creek
- Construction of a new bypass storm drain and channel to route Tahoe Village runoff through the parking lot rather than into the parking lot storm water collection system
- Minor reshaping of the parking lot paving to ensure routing of parking lot runoff to new drop inlets
- Minor modifications to existing utilities related to the installation of new storm drains
- Construction of a new dumpster enclosure with a direct connection to the sewer system
The California Main Lodge has approximately 14 acres of paved parking located partially in a SEZ. The old storm drain system, installed in 1989, included 4,000 to 20,000 gallon sedimentation vaults and a restored wetland to treat runoff. RCI design a BMP retrofit for this existing system including:
- Re-routing the collection system to separate parking lot runoff and up-gradient clean water flows
- Parking lot runoff that receives pre-treatment in existing sediment vaults are routed to a series of new treatment units using cartridge technology for nutrient removal
- Enhancement of the snow storage areas to reduce sediment transport and improve snowmelt water quality
- Installation of automated sampling for the completed system
Due to the implementation of RCI designs and concepts, Heavenly Mountain Resort received an erosion control award from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for the installation of their comprehensive stormwater treatment system and receiving wetland for stormwater runoff from the lodge and parking lot.
RCI continues to assist the Heavenly Mountain Resort with project related permit applications and supporting information for multiple agencies including: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Lahontan Regional Quality Control Board, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Army Corps of Engineers, US Forest Service, City of South Lake Tahoe, as well as El Dorado and Douglas Counties.
Austin Gold Venture – Austin, Nevada
RCI has assisted the owner of Austin Gold Venture with water quality monitoring, discharge compliance, and mine closure over the last 13 years. Professional services are currently provided on an on-call basis. Austin Gold Venture was a gold mine and mill, which was closed in 1989. The mine is located in the Reese River Valley and in the Birch Creek watershed of the Toiyabe range. RCI provided mine closure and reclamation design addressing erosion control, drainage control, free draining mine pits, final overburden dump configuration, final tailings impoundment configuration, well abandonment, and overall site revegetation. Austin Gold Venture was one of the first mining operations in Nevada to have their closure accepted by NDEP and obtain a post-closure permit. RCI currently provides post-closure water quality sampling, maintains the 12-year surface water quality database, and coordinates on compliance issues with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the US Forest Service.
Silver State Industries Ranch – Dairy Operation / Nevada Department of Corrections – Environmental Services for Effluent Reuse and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
The Nevada Department of Corrections operates a 500-acre ranch, small dairy, and 500-head wild horse holding facility at their Stewart Facility in Carson City, Nevada. The ranch irrigates with treated effluent supplied by Carson City and qualifies as a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), due to the number of horses in the 40-acre Wild Horse Holding Facility. RCI has assisted the Ranch with permit applications as the facility has expanded, groundwater quality and nutrient management compliance issues, as well as quarterly monitoring and reporting. Environmental permits obtained for the facility include a Zero-Discharge Permit for sprinkler and flood irrigation with treated effluent, including an effluent management plan identifying hydraulic loading, nutrient loading, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the irrigated areas. RCI has also helped the facility to obtain a state CAFO permit and has applied for a federal NPDES permit in accordance with amendments to the Code of Federal Regulations. Reporting requires a field-by-field evaluation of nutrient loading on an annual basis, which is prepared by RCI. Engineering design has also been provided for groundwater monitoring wells and a lined retention basin (capturing the 25-year, 24-hour design storm).