WATER-QUALITY IMPACTS FROM LOW WATER FORDS ON MILITARY TRAINING LANDS

Water quality impacts from two types of low water stream crossings (LW SC) were examined on the military training lands at Fort Riley, Kansas . The LWSC project was developed to enhance military training as well as improve the water quality of the streams. Water quality impacts of low water fords were quantified and compared to determine the effects of using rock to harden earthen fords. Both earthen and rock hardened low water fords were tested for the impact on stream turbidity, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, and settleable solids. Results indicate hardening earthen fords with rock can signif icantly reduce water quality degradation caused by vehicle movement ov er the ford. Turbidity caused by vehicles crossing earthen and hardene d fords was nearly sixteen times higher for earthen fords. Likewise, t otal solids, total dissolved solids, and total suspended solids concen trations were lower for hardened crossings. Total solids concentration s from earthen fords were nearly twelve times higher than concentratio ns from hardened fords. Hardening earthen fords not only provides the military with a more stable stream crossing for its soldiers to use, i t decreases water quality degradation and improves local stream ecolog y. Recommendations for constructing rock hardened LWSC are given.