Document text
SUNNY Temp: 59 °F Wind: SW at 3 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 30, 2003 Flyover research targets waterways By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune If you see a low-flying helicopter buzzing over the Rogue River and Evans Creek this week, no need to alert the black helicopter crowd. It’s merely part of a research project by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to measure surface water temperature, explained Bill Meyers, Rogue Basin water quality coordinator for the agency. Packing infrared equipment, the contracted aircraft is scheduled to begin flying the watersheds on Wednesday, completing the project on Friday. It will fly about 4,000 feet over the river from the Lost Creek Dam to the river’s mouth, but will drop as low as 1,000 feet over the much smaller Evans Creek, he said. Advertisement The aerial research will be coupled with the agency’s ongoing ground-based efforts to determine where the warm spots are and what is causing them, he said. "One of the water quality concerns in the Rogue is the water temperature," Meyers said. "We want to find where the warm water is coming in, from different causes like irrigation return or because of a lack of streamside vegetation." Warm water during the hottest time of the year has caused fish kills and pollution problems in the basin. Water quality in many local rivers and streams often does not meet state standards during this period, prompting public warnings about swimming or wading in the waterways. Research via a helicopter will provide a unique vantage point, enabling the department to cover a large area in a relatively short time, Meyers said. The research also will demonstrate where the cooler water surface locations are in the river and stream, he said. "What will come out of this will be a report with recommendations on how to address temperature problems in the Rogue and Evans Creek," he said. The analysis of the research will be completed in 2004, officials said. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times