WATER QUALITY IMPACTS FROM LOW WATER FORDS ON MILITARY TRAINING LANDS1

ABSTRACT: Water quality impacts from two types of low water stream crossings (LWSC) 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 significantly reduce water quality degradation caused by vehicle movement over the ford. Turbidity caused by vehicles crossing earthen and hardened fords was nearly sixteen times higher for earthen fords. Likewise, total solids, total dissolved solids, and total suspended solids concentrations were lower for hardened crossings. Total solids concentrations from earthen fords were nearly twelve times higher than concentrations from hardened fords. Hardening earthen fords not only provides the military with a more stable stream crossing for its soldiers to use, it decreases water quality degradation and improves local stream ecology. Recommendations for constructing rock hardened LWSC are given.